When Cathy first moved to Lincoln, she didn’t know anything about Head Start.

A Head Start teacher asked if she had heard of the program and whether she would be interested in enrolling her son. That simple conversation was the beginning of a relationship with CAPCIL that would eventually span nearly 30 years.

At the time, though, Cathy was simply a mom trying to build a life for her family in a new community.

Three of her four children would eventually attend Head Start—in 1986, 1992 and 1996. She remembers watching each of them grow through the program, especially when it came to social skills, independence and being ready for school.

“They blossomed,” Cathy said.

Head Start also gave her something she needed at the time. Being new to Lincoln, she was able to meet people, develop friendships and find support. CAPCIL became part of her own journey toward becoming self-sufficient.

And then she started volunteering.

It Started on a Head Start Bus

For a year, Cathy rode the Head Start bus with her youngest son as a volunteer bus monitor.

It wasn’t something she did because she thought it would lead to a job. She was simply getting involved with the program her family was already a part of and encouraging her youngest son to be excited about going to school.

What Cathy remembers most from those early days is feeling respected and valued. Eventually, someone encouraged her to fill out an application.

So she did.

A year after volunteering as a bus monitor, she was hired as a bus driver.

When asked if she ever imagined that volunteering would turn into a career with CAPCIL, Cathy's answer was pretty straightforward:

“No.”

But that is exactly what happened.

Over the years, Cathy has worked in different areas of the agency, including Meals on Wheels and CAPCIL’s former Homemaker Program. Her work eventually shifted from primarily serving older adults to working with children and families.

Now, 29.5 years later, Cathy has experienced CAPCIL from just about every side—as a parent, a volunteer and an employee.

That matters when she sits down with a family today.

“I understand the families because I was one.”

She Has Been in Their Shoes

There is a difference between knowing what a program is supposed to do and knowing what it feels like to be the person receiving the help.

Cathy knows both.

She remembers being new to the community. She remembers needing support. She remembers being the Head Start parent and the volunteer. She also knows what it took to keep moving forward and eventually become self-sufficient.

Today, Cathy shares parts of her own story with families when it helps them feel more comfortable or understood.

That personal connection is one of the things she values most about her work.

When Cathy sees a family reach a milestone, she celebrates right along with them. After almost 30 years working in the community, she still runs into people she helped years ago. They remember her, stop her and talk about where life has taken them.

Those are the moments that stick with her.

And Her Own Kids? They Grew Up, Too.

One of Cathy's favorite parts of looking back is seeing where her own children are today.

Three of her children attended Head Start, but her oldest was already in Kindergarten by the time Cathy first learned about the program. Even though she wasn't a Head Start student herself, CAPCIL still became part of her story.

As Cathy became more involved with the agency, the values, resources and support she gained through CAPCIL had an impact on her entire family. Her oldest began volunteering with CAPCIL while she was still in high school—a connection she has continued into adulthood as a regular donor and supporter of the agency. Like her siblings, she went on to attend college and build a successful career of her own.

Cathy’s three Head Start children also went on to college or vocational training and became self-sufficient adults.

Two now work for the Department of Corrections as Public Service Administrators. Another has built a career right here at CAPCIL and is now the agency’s Director of Weatherization.

For a mom who first came to Head Start knowing almost nothing about the program, that is quite a full-circle moment.

She saw firsthand what Head Start gave her children—not just academically, but socially. They learned independence, how to interact with other children and the skills they needed to be ready for school.

Years later, Cathy gets to see those same kinds of changes happen for other families.

Nearly 30 Years Later

So, what keeps someone at the same organization for almost three decades?

For Cathy, the answer is simple: the mission and the families.

She believes in the work because she has lived it.

Cathy's story didn't start as an employee. It started as a mom who learned about Head Start, enrolled her child, got involved and volunteered. One opportunity led to another, and somewhere along the way, what started as volunteering became a career.

It is also a good reminder of why parent involvement and volunteer opportunities matter.

You never really know where that first step might lead.

There is one lesson from her years at CAPCIL that she especially holds onto:

“Sometimes when it is dark for others, you are their one candle. Shine bright!”

That is what Cathy has tried to do for the families she has worked with over the years—help when she can, listen when they need it and remind them that where they are right now doesn't have to be where their story ends.

For a parent considering Head Start, she has a message too:

“Let us be your child’s second teacher. You are their first.”

And for someone thinking about volunteering or applying for a job with CAPCIL?

“You won’t be sorry.”

Looking back at nearly 30 years, four children raised, three Head Start graduates, countless families served and a career she never expected to have, there is one thing she knows for sure.

Cathy would do it all over again.

Celebrating Cathy McIntosh

In recognition of Cathy McIntosh’s nearly 30 years of dedication to CAPCIL, we are proud to share her story. Pictures were submitted by Cathy and feature herself and her family.

Written by Breann Titus, Chief Visionary Officer