COMMUNITY OUTREACH FOR THE DEAF, INC.
About Community Outreach for the Deaf, Inc.
Our Vision
To stand in a community free of barriers for the Deaf and/or Hard of Hearing individuals and their families.
To provide equal opportunity to deaf and hard of hearing individuals so they can participate in everything that Broward community has to offer.
To provide equal access, support, and resources available to Deaf individuals through advocacy, referral services, and training.
Creating equal opportunities for the Deaf community, and extending knowledge from the youngest to the eldest in the Deaf community.
Elaine Lenon, MS, NAD, NIC, Founder
Elaine is a native Floridian and would prefer to live no other place! The Deaf community has been apart of her life for 26 years. Elaine currently holds an AA in Elementary Education, an AS in Sign Language Interpreting, and holds a BA and Master's degree in Psychology. She is currently Certified with NAD (National Association for the Deaf and NIC (National Interpreting Certification).
As a warrior for Christ, it is her desire to be an advocate and encouragement for the Deaf Community, and stand up for the rights they have so often been denied.
Freadda Zeigler (Mathews), Ph. D., Board Member
Dr. Freadda is also a native of Florida but spent her early school years in Denver Colorado. Freadda has 25 years experience working in leadership, people/organizational management and social services. She is well known in South Florida for having a passion for the community and serving Seniors in the community.
Freadda has a doctorate degree in Psychology with the area of study towards the development of a modified structured intervention to clarify the characteristics and risk factors associated with toxicity in the workplace, and increasing the utilization of processes in organizations to work toward a psychologically healthy workplace.
As a warrior for Christ, Freadda enjoys encouraging any population that is in need of help and direction, and focuses her efforts on teaching soft skills and leadership/managerial skills to individuals, groups and partner agencies.
GOD'S VESSELS
Earline Blumhagen, Treasurer
Blumhagen, as many affectionately refer her to, is one of the most energetic and effective teaching speakers for Deaf Youth, Women, Families, Educators, and Church Cultures today. She delivers a message that feed the soul, calm the spirit, and tickle the funny bone! Earline is a PK (preacher's kid,) who started speaking publicly at the age of 5, and thousands of lives have been changed as a result of her humor-filled teachings about Passionate Servant Leadership.
Earline has a degree in Business Management and Marketing from Southern College, is a certified Partner In Policy Making for the State of Florida, a certified Parent Education Specialist through the former National PIRC (Parent Information Resource Center), and certified as a Bereavement Facilitator through both Florida Hospital and Belhaven University.
Earline has served her community well in a myriad of positions to include serving as a committee member and as the chair of the United Way and Citizen Review Panel Fund Distribution Process. She has also been successfully effective in helping churches establish, grow and/or rebuild their Deaf ministries through her passionate Deaf Servant Leadership programs.
Vivian Maiden, Partner, Secretary
"I love God and His people. It is my prayer that my brothers and sisters in the Deaf community desire to know my Lord and Savior Jesus and learn to love Him even more than I do. He's an awesome Savior! There is no greater honor, other than my own personal salvation than to win the lost for Christ. This has been my focus, my mission for more than 35 years”.
Carolyn Bass, Ph.D., Advisor
Dr. Carolyn M. Bass is a native of New Orleans, LA, where she attended Southern University of New Orleans. In 1991, she replanted in Georgia, where she become an active member of the United Methodist church. In 1997 she was Ordained to the Office of Minister.
Dr. Bass has served in the Prison ministry, and obtained her PhD in Family Counseling, from Christian Life School of Theology (which is now Beacon University).
As a student of ASL and a Heart for the Deaf, a motivational speaker, and Abstinence Educator for our youth, her favorite quote comes from Romans 8:28:
“And we know that all things work together for the good of those that love the Lord and are called according to His purpose”.
