Switchboard of Miami's community role more critical than ever as Catherine Penrod takes over leadership of 40-year-old agency
After 40 years here, Switchboard of Miami continues to thrive as a community resource, says new CEO Catherine Penrod. The organization has only grown more relevant since its days as the "Hippie Hotline," she says, offering suicide prevention services, a gang hotline and resources for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans-gender communities, among other services. The organization last year received 180,000 phone calls, more than 700 of them suicide related.
After 20 years in the non-profit field, Ms. Penrod knows Switchboard will only be more necessary during the ongoing economic downturn. She hopes to beef up funds, recruit more volunteers and increase awareness of the organization as she takes the reins.
She was interviewed in Switchboard's 27th Avenue offices by Miami Today staff writer Risa Polansky.
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