Tuesday, May 07, 2019
West Chicago, IL – Lucinda Hurt, Community Planner for The Agency on Aging of Northeastern Illinois, has been recognized as a 2019 Outstanding Young Person of Illinois by the Illinois Jaycees. For over 50 years, the Illinois Jaycees has hosted The Outstanding Young Person (TOYP) of Illinois program which recognized individuals between the ages of 18 and 40 who excel in their chosen fields, endeavors and show a great commitment to their respective communities.
Lucinda is being recognized in the category of Humanitarian and/or voluntary leadership. She is director of Wesley United Methodist Church food pantry, Wesley’s Table. Lucinda recruits and organizes volunteers, manages food pick-up and distribution and much of the day-to-day operations including outreach.
As a Community Planner for the Agency on Aging Northeastern Illinois, Lucinda oversees the Adult Protective Services (APS) program where she advocates for protecting vulnerable older adults and adults with disabilities by keeping them safe from abuse, neglect and exploitation. Lucinda shares her experiences as a former APS caseworker through her participation in community self-neglect task forces and advisory committees. She was instrumental in creating a Dementia Friendly community in Kankakee County which received national recognition by Dementia Friendly America earlier this year. Ms. Hurt also works with the Veterans Independence Program which provides consumer-directed home and community- based services for Veterans at risk of institutionalization.
“We are so proud of Lucinda for being recognized for this award” said Marla Fronczak, Executive Director of the Agency on Aging Northeastern Illinois. “Her willingness to volunteer and collaborate with local organizations ensures that older adults have access to support services so they can live safely and independently in their community”.
She graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor Degree in Social Worker from Arizona State University. She is currently pursuing her Masters of Gerontology, Management of Aging Services from University of Massachusetts-Boston.
The Agency on Aging of Northeastern Illinois is a nonprofit organization responsible for developing and coordinating a network of services for older persons throughout an eight county area in northeastern Illinois. The Agency informs and advises public and private agencies and the general public of the needs of older persons living in the area, and acts as an advocate on their behalf. The agency serves DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties. Other information about the agency and other topics of interest to older adults and links to other resources are available at the agency’s web site: www.ageguide.org.
