Michael Vickery
Executive Director
Phone 815.588-6130
Fax 815.588-6159
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In
The News
Executive Director Michael Vickery Receives
the Jefferson Award from the American Institute For Public Service
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Seven
years ago, Michael Vickery's wife suffered a brain injury from
a car accident. Vickery resigned from his job and dedicated
10 hours a day working with her as her personal rehabilitation
therapist. His wife recuperated; but he admits he couldn’t have
gone it alone. He was so awed and impacted by the outpour of
love and support his family received from community-based friends
and strangers alike that he vowed to pay it back above and beyond
anyone’s expectations. |
| He has succeeded. Vickery founded
the Institute for Community, a non-profit organization dedicated
to building relations in the community. He has worked tirelessly
to meet the needs of his community in a myriad of ways by providing
programs that that include, but are not limited to: a community
garden which fosters bonds and a feeling of rootedness between
renters and homeowners alike; the High Point Therapy Dog Club,
where trained canines visit hospitals, nursing and assisted
living-homes to cheer up their residents and the Friendship
Centre, which provides recreational programs for persons of
all ages; and an early childhood and family resource center.
He is also a leader in many organizations. All in all, Vickery
provides resources, support groups and educational programs
for more than 10,000 people each month. Vickery took a tragic
event and found his passion and as a result thousands of people
have been helped. |
| On
the local level, a nationwide network of Jefferson Awards media
sponsors -- newspapers, television stations and cable systems
-- solicits nominations of people who work to better their communities
through volunteer and community services. They are ordinary
people who do extraordinary things without expectations of recognition
or reward.By honoring the Jefferson Award recipients, it is
the goal of the American Institute for Public Service to inspire
others to become involved in community and public service. |
Innovators Mike Vickery & Rick Harb
We recently spent time with Mike
Vickery, Executive Director of the Institute for Community, and
Rick Harb, Managing Partner, Marquette Companies. The two collaborated
on the High Point Community project in Illinois. |
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