“We all need help at one point or another in our lives,” says Cathy Wyatt, executive director of Northern Valley Catholic Social Service, Inc. (NVCSS). NVCSS helps families and individuals struggling against poverty, injustice, or inequality. From nine office locations throughout six North State counties, NVCSS helps approximately 70,000 people per year access housing, mental health services, immigration services, foster youth support and more.
(left to right) Executive director Cathy Wyatt and Program Development Director Amy Diamantine work hand in hand to serve the North State and make a difference in their work with Northern Valley Catholic Social Services.
Creating a trickle-down effect of trust
As executive director, Cathy leads the non-profit’s response to many of the complex socio-economic challenges the North State faces. Thankfully, however, Cathy doesn’t believe in leading alone. “Just because I’m in this position certainly doesn’t mean that I know everything,” she says. “I learn so much from my phenomenal team and from our community partners.” Amy Diamantine, an NVCSS regional director of program development, describes Cathy’s leadership style as one of trust in her team, creating a “trickle-down effect” of trust within the rest of the organization.
Leaning into an unfamiliar area
After the 2014 Boles Fire in Weed, CA, Cathy led NVCSS to expand into disaster response services. Like always, Cathy relied on her staff’s expertise and a range of partner organizations in order to build an effective and robust service. “There’s no way one entity could respond to these fires; they’re just so massive and so devastating it really takes a community,” Cathy says.
Amy believes NVCSS succeeded in stepping into disaster response thanks to Cathy’s emphasis on building relationships with community partners. “It’s unique when a leader of an organization is willing to lean into an unfamiliar area and become familiar with it,” Amy says. “Cathy is full of great ideas, but she also empowers others to make things happen. She’s very humble, and that helps keep her grounded. She shows our staff how to also be humble leaders.”
Serving people in their most vulnerable moments
Cathy’s leadership style arises out of a deep sense of honor in being entrusted with some of the biggest changes in families’ lives. Growing up in a house full of medical experts inspired Cathy to undertake the sacrifices and rewards of serving people in their most vulnerable moments. “It’s a gift to work with people when they trust you with things that are very difficult to share, so I see it as a privilege to serve other people,” Cathy says. From earning her license in clinical social work to spending seasons in psychiatric care, hospice care, social services, high school counseling and senior services, Cathy has invested her career in helping people in their hours of need.
Supporting a journey back to health
Among the many stories Cathy has participated in over the years, she especially recalls working with a particularly struggling young mother. The woman’s partner was incarcerated, and her addiction perpetuated decisions that “weren’t in the best interest of the family.” With counseling and resources Cathy helped her find, however, she began a journey back to health.
Before Cathy’s eyes, the young woman “went from having zero confidence and really struggling with addiction to getting totally clean, going to all her parenting classes, and getting back custody of all four of her children. She called me after her therapy had ended to let me know she had a job, and her oldest had graduated from high school.” Beyond beating addiction, this mom rebuilt relationships with her children and got them through school. “I was really proud of her,” Cathy says. “We hear about the bad news a lot, but there are so many inspiring stories.”
Amy admires how Cathy remains unwaveringly mindful of the people NVCSS serves. When making financial decisions or considering a new program, Cathy focuses on how each option will affect the people of the North State.
There’s always a way to make a difference
Although uniquely positioned to enact change on a large scale, Cathy “hope[s] that people know it doesn’t matter the title, position, or if you’re working for a non-profit; you can make a difference.” While raising her son Michael as a single parent, Cathy made every other year a “giving Christmas.” The two would volunteer for Meals on Wheels, delivering meals to homebound seniors. “He didn’t always like it as a kid,” Cathy chuckles, “but it helped him build a service heart, and I like to think that’s how he ended up as a healthcare professional.”
Whether starting within your own family or reaching out to a larger audience, Cathy encourages North State parents with these words: “If you see something that you think could be better in your community, there’s always a way, no matter how small, that you can start moving in that direction to solve that problem, to make it a healthier community and lift people up.”
Posted in: Be The Change
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As a NVCSS employee I can affirm the great leadership of both of these women, Cathy Wyatt and Amy Diamantine. I’m proud to be a part of organization that does so much good for the North State.