Benn takes on new role at The Neighborhood Center

UTICA, N.Y. — The Neighborhood Center, Inc. has promoted Jennifer Benn to director of development and public relations, a newly created position at the agency.

“I look forward to working with our incredible team to showcase all they do for our community by utilizing social media, news coverage, and business partnerships,” Benn said in a press release announcing her new position. “My goal is to increase awareness of the agency’s services to better serve the many individuals who remain in dire need.”

Benn joined The Neighborhood Center as a daycare registrar shortly after graduating from Utica University in 2008. In 2010, she was promoted to a supervisory role, where she oversaw both the day care registration department and the Child and Adult Care Food Program.

Since joining The Neighborhood Center, she has also served on the fund development/special events and employee-recognition committees and also maintained the agency’s social-media accounts.

During the pandemic in 2020, Benn was featured weekly on the center’s Facebook page to promote children’s activities.

“Although Jennifer will greatly miss the clients and staff she has worked with for 15 years, we are excited for her to bring her passion for the agency to the community,” The Neighborhood Center Executive Director Sandy Soroka said. “We have had rapid expansion over the past few years and are excited that Jennifer can step into this newly created full-time role to match the growing needs of the agency.”

The Neighborhood Center says it works to enrich lives through cooperative opportunities, resources, and advocacy that embrace diversity, promote empowerment, and foster responsible citizenship. Services include childcare and family services, behavioral health-care services, and a mobile crisis-assessment team.