(Macomb, Illinois, June 23, 2023) – Western Illinois Regional Council (WIRC) officials are pleased to announce they have recently promoted one of their team members to a leadership position. As of June 1, Jamie Roth is the Community Services and Public Relations Director for the nonprofit agency. She now directs many of the social service programs offered by WIRC and oversees marketing communications to promote services agency-wide.
Roth has been with WIRC for just over five years, and previously held the role of Public Relations and Tech Support Manager. In that position, she created all Agency communications and also assisted with technology issues in the office. She has assisted with and coordinated several programs across various departments, including programs of the Community Services department which she now directs. One notable WIRC program she has coordinated for several years is Project Santa, which helps parents to provide coats and gifts to their children during the holiday season.
As the Community Services and Public Relations Director, she is now managing and marketing many important social service programs that help people in need living across five Illinois counties: Hancock; Henderson; Knox; McDonough; and Warren. The programs offered tend to change from year-to-year, but they all focus on lifting eligible lower-income households out of poverty.
Roth said she is excited to bring innovative programs to WIRC’s service area that will have a positive impact. “I am thankful to be in a position now where I can directly help with creating, implementing, and promoting new program ideas based on data and feedback from our customers and grant funders,” said Roth. “I also look forward to growing more community partnerships that share our mission of helping people and communities.”
Roth continued that she wants to remove the stigma of asking for help by creating a welcoming environment where people apply for social services. “I personally remember what it felt like to ask for help and to be treated as more of a number or annoyance than a person,” said Roth. “That was years ago, but that awful feeling has stayed with me after all this time. When people come to visit me or anyone at WIRC, I want them to feel safe, seen, and respected. There should be no shame in asking for help; we all need help sometimes.”
Funding is provided by the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO).
WIRC is a nonprofit that helps people and communities in multiple western Illinois counties. For more information about their services, find them on social media, visit their website at wirpc.org, or call 309-837-2997. The Agency is an equal opportunity provider and employer.