Leaving the Five Towns and its community center

After almost 40 years of service to the Five Towns Community Center, Executive Director Bertha Pruitt will leave her position on Sept. 30. The search for her replacement is under way.

Pruitt worked in the center’s Youth Services department for 34 years. In 2009, she was asked to temporarily take over as executive director until a replacement was found, and she worked with a team of administrators to help fill the position. Eventually, however, she was offered the position permanently.

“That was a very challenging and daunting change, having worked in programs as a supervisor and direct service provider for most of my adult career,” she said. “In looking back to five and a half years ago, great strides have been made.”

There is no single moment that she will remember the most, she said, because there have been so many that have given her joy. Working with young people, she added, there are never dull moments. “When you stay as long as I have, you’ll always cherish the memories and milestones of program participants and hope that you would’ve made a difference and been a positive part of their development,” she said. “After years have passed and individuals return to the center to visit, I’ve had many opportunities to spend time reminiscing about good and tough times.”

Pepper Robinson, director of the Five Towns Early Learning Center, said that Pruitt was particularly helpful to the families in her program after Hurricane Sandy, making sure they had food, clothing and shelter. Pruitt was also instrumental in sending Robinson assistance from the Town of Hempstead’s Summer Youth Employment program, which the community center supervises.

“We’ve had wonderful experiences with the young people who were sent to work at my center through her program,” Robinson said. “We even hired some of the program participants after the program ended. It was a win-win — the young people benefited from the employment, and the center benefited from the work of the young people.”

Pruitt would advise her eventual replacement to get to know, listen and respond to the communities of the Five Towns — and their various cultures and ethnicities — and encourage people to use the community center’s services. It is also important, she said, to collaborate with other community organizations, schools and businesses in order to initiate and maintain good working relationships.

Also, she said, “It will be extremely important to explore and develop new funding opportunities due to elimination of some reliable past funding resources.”

Bob Block, director of the Five Towns Community Chest, said that Pruitt’s acts of kindness will always be remembered. “Bertha Pruitt shines when it comes to the children,” Block said. “Her decades of service at the community center revolve around the development of hundreds of youngsters. She took pride in their growth and accomplishments.”

Pruitt and her husband are planning to relocate to Maryland, where, she said, she looked forward to spending time with her family, and getting involved in service agencies and programs there. “I want to remain active, utilize my skills and provide support for young people, who have been my life passion,” she said. “I feel good about the accomplishments, and grateful for the opportunity to have served the agency in this capacity.”