Service Spotlight: Lucinda Peterson

15 Jan Service Spotlight: Lucinda Peterson

Lucinda came to New Hope 28 years ago when she was still a college student looking to earn some money. It was the only job she applied for at the time and she was excited to begin serving others as a direct support professional (DSP). She remembers coming to orientation as the only new hire and watching a lot of training videos by herself. After she graduated with a degree in Human Development, she was promoted to Team Leader, overseeing the same homes that she had been working in for years. Lucinda went on to earn her masters degree in management and has enjoyed serving the same individuals ever since. After 28 years, you might think that the same job would get boring or that you might get burnt out, but Lucinda says that you come to love the mission. Literally. You fall in love with serving others. It’s such a meaningful way to spend your career that you can’t bring yourself to leave. Lucinda enjoys her work and seeing the joy on the faces of the individuals she and her team serve.

The women who live in the homes that Lucinda manages are passionate about many things. One home feels like family, taking vacations together, raising money for common causes and working toward common goals. The other feels like a collection of roommates, living cohesively but spending their time alone or in pairs in order to do the things they enjoy most. Learning how to best serve each person the way they want and need is a constant challenge that Lucinda enjoys. It’s rewarding to be able to make an impact in the lives of those she serves.

Away from New Hope, Lucinda has a busy household. She and her (very patient) husband have two daughters and one granddaughter who all live with them. Even Lucinda’s mother lives with them. But Lucinda wouldn’t have it any other way. She enjoys spending time with her family and keeping busy. To relax, she enjoys quilting and teaching ballet every week to students from age 7-adults. In whatever she’s doing, Lucinda exemplifies New Hope’s values of integrity and creativity, and we are so appreciative of her years of dedication to our mission and to those we serve.