Partner Directory
Your guide to partner organizations and faces that share space at the Cooper Community Resource Center!
Oberlin Community Services
OCS runs Lorain County’s largest food pantry, providing food to thousands of local families each year. It provides emergency financial assistance to southern Lorain County households struggling to cover rent, utilities bills, and other basic needs. It also offers workshops, internships for at-risk youth, runs summer day camps for children, provides December gifts for Oberlin children who otherwise may not have happy holidays, runs a back-to-school supply program to ensure Oberlin City Schools students have the classroom tools they need for academic success, and distributes Narcan and fentanyl test strips.
Margie L. Flood, Executive Director (R13)
margie@oberlincommunityservices.org
Margie grew up in Oberlin and after many years away moved back to town in 2010 to work at OCS as a part-time receptionist. She became executive director at the end of 2018. Her job is to ensure that OCS and the Cooper Center flourish, and that the OCS staff have the resources they need to excel at their jobs.
Kathy Burns, Client Services Coordinator (R11)
kathy@oberlincommunityservices.org
Kathy has been with OCS since 2007 and holds a master’s degree in social work. She meets with OCS clients who need emergency financial assistance such as rent or utility bill assistance, assessing their situation and providing whatever help she can. She also helps clients with non-financial needs, such as guidance on government paperwork.
Jason Hawk, Communications and Development Coordinator (R12)
jason@oberlincommunityservices.org
Jason is in charge of publicity using the OCS website, social media accounts, and our monthly newsletter. He organizes special events for OCS, writes grants, and works to cultivate relationships with our donors. As a local print journalist for 20 years, he also has contacts with local media outlets. If you want OCS’ help promoting your events at the Cooper Center, Jason’s your guy.
Marla Brewer, Resilience Coordinator (R12)
marla@oberlincommunityservices.org
Marla’s main focuses are education and outreach initiatives that help clients improve their long-term wellbeing. The goal is to help folks grow to be more resilient against future hardships. To further this goal, Marla is also the Oberlin community coordinator for the Rural Response Network, a group formed to help southern Lorain County families dealing with the trauma caused by opioid addiction.
Marcus Hill, Office Coordinator (FD)
ocservices@oberlincommunityservices.org
Marcus is the first person most clients see when they visit the Cooper Center. Stationed at the front desk, he oversees the day-to-day operation of the lobby, answering phones, assisting visitors, checking in food pantry clients, monitoring security cameras, handling mailings and printer projects, and keeping vital OCS records. If you have a question, Marcus can point you to the right OCS employee for an answer.
Suzette Sanchez, Food Programs Coordinator (P1)
suzette@oberlincommunityservices.org
Suzette is in charge of the choice food pantry, warehouse, food deliveries, curbside service, the federal senior box program, special holiday food distributions, and all other programs involving food. As a native of Puerto Rico, Suzette is also our go-to staff member when it comes to helping people who primarily speak Spanish.
Eli Butler, Assistant Food Programs Coordinator (P3)
elib@oberlincommunityservices.org
Eli is in charge of food rescue and gleaning programs, including arranging for donations from area farms, gardens, cafeterias, co-ops, and businesses. Eli (who uses they/them pronouns) also works with interns to cultivate and harvest food at Firefly Farms in New London to supplement the fruit and vegetables available in the OCS pantry. Bonus: They are a passionate advocate for the fight against tuberculosis.
Rosa Gadsden, Volunteer Coordinator (P2)
rosa@oberlincommunityservices.org
Rosa is in charge of the vast volume of volunteers who expand OCS’ ability to meet client needs, from extra hands in the warehouse to front desk coverage, client-facing help during pantry hours, weekend volunteer assistants, and extra muscle for special events. She works with the Bonner Center at Oberlin College, area courts, faith-based groups, civic groups, public schools, sports teams, retirement communities, corporations, and more.
Henry Yeager, Lead Gardener (P4)
henry@oberlincommunityservices.org
Henry prefers to be outdoors — between February and November, you’ll see him getting dirty, plowing land, planting, watering, weeding, and harvesting gardens. Henry’s primary responsibility is growing fresh food for the OCS pantry; he also works on landscaping, conservation, and educational opportunities.
Rick Flood, Interim Facilities Coordinator
richard.dl.flood@gmail.com
(262) 305-7508
Rick oversees Cooper Center maintenance and facilities troubleshooting on a contract basis. This includes handling issues with lighting, heating, water infiltration, and other issues. He is also the liaison to contractors hired to perform additional maintenance or construction projects, such as roofing or parking lot improvements.
Nijyl Brewer, Custodian
If you happen to be in the building after hours and hear noises, it’s most likely Nigyl cleaning the lobby, pantry, community room, hallways, bathrooms, and other spaces. He serves as custodian for OCS on a contract basis, focusing on publicly-accessible areas of the Cooper Center, and also helps clear sidewalks of snow and ice during the winter.
Providing Oberlin With Efficiency Responsibly
POWER helps Oberlin Municipal Light and Power System customers upgrade their homes, making living spaces more energy-efficient. Weatherization and utility improvements lower both long-term energy usage and bills, and make homes more comfortable for the people who live there. POWER’s work also aims to reduce pollution and carbon dioxide emissions in line with the city of Oberlin’s Climate Action Plan.
Greg Jones, Energy Advocate (R15)
greg@poweroberlin.org
On request, Greg will provide free home inspections for OMLPS customers, performing a walkthrough energy assessment. Based on immediately visible needs, he’ll schedule a free audit with a certified energy specialist contractor. Greg will work with homeowners to identify and schedule projects that can often be completed with POWER financial assistance.
Stephanee Koscho, Program Administrator (R15)
power@poweroberlin.org
Stephanee makes sure POWER’s many day-to-day administrative duties are covered, including grant-writing, bookkeeping, records, correspondence, event organization, newsletter development.
Colors+ Counseling
The culturally competent clinicians of Colors+ Counseling provide a range of mental health services, resources, and education. They are trained to treat both adults and youth for individual counseling, family counseling, and all types of relationships including monogamous, non-monogamous, and polyamorous. In addition to traditional talk therapy, Colors+ clinicians offer art therapy, music therapy, and EMDR to treat a wide range of issues that are unique to each person.
Lital Ruderman, LPCCS (R6)
lital@colorscounseling.org
Lital (they/them) is a licensed professional clinical counselor with the supervisor designation and a doctorate in cognitive psychology and a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling. As a lifelong scholar and a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, they’re passionate about decreasing the stigma around mental health concerns and providing a safe and empowering space for clients to explore their identity and their authentic self.
Brylee Jones, LISW (R4)
brylee@colorscounseling.org
Brylee specializes in treatment with the LGTBQIA+ population, trauma, anxiety, depression, sports/performance anxiety, and chronic illness. She uses an empathetic, anti-oppressive, client-centered approach to support clients toward their own identified goals. As a member of the queer community, her goal is to create a safe and affirming space for people of all sexualities, relationship types, and gender identities.
Januzzi Counseling
A team of clinicians that offers services covering a broad range of needs focused on individually designed assessment, intervention, therapy, and treatment plans for all ages. Counselors focus on building connections across various settings such as home, school, and community.
Joseph Januzzi, LICSW (R7, sharing with Working with a Purpose)
januzzicounseling@gmail.com
Joe is a dual licensed clinician who specializes in working with children ages 4-18, with experience addressing anxiety, depression, mood disorders, ADHD, learning disabilities, bipolar disorder, autism, and more. In addition to individual counseling, Januzzi offers parent support services, family counseling, and behavior support services and intervention planning for home and school.
Working with a Purpose
Working with a Purpose helps employers with recruitment, employee training and development, performance management, and offers support with compliance and regulations. It also helps job-seekers with career coaching, resume writing, interview preparation, and skills development, all designed to enhance marketability and confidence.
Chad Grude, Chief Partnership Officer (R7, sharing with Januzzi Counseling)
workingpurposefully@yahoo.com
Home Instead
Home Instead specializes in care for older adults and their families, sending professionals who help seniors accomplish activities of daily living, such as bathing, doing laundry, and meal preparation. One-on-one attention helps older adults maintain their independence and dignity as they age in place at home. It also offers vital companionship to prevent loneliness and isolation.
John Burkley, Director of Client Relations and Strategic Development (R1)
John.burkley@homeinsteadohio.com
John began his career assisting the aging population in the long-term care arena and found his passion in memory care. He managed an in-home, community-based memory care program, then expanded his role to memory care manager overseeing the operations of an assisted living memory care residence. In 2021, John returned to community-based care and oversaw the operations of meals-on-wheels, transportation, and Lifeline emergency response for a social service agency.
Stina Kiefer, HR Recruitment (R2)
stina.kiefer@homeinsteadohio.com
Stina joined Home Instead as part of the HR recruitment team, bringing a fresh perspective and dedication to connecting with top talent. She graduated in May 2024 from Ohio Wesleyan University with a degree in business and a concentration in marketing. Before joining Home Instead, Stina gained valuable experience in a nursing home, where she contributed to the administrative team in various roles.
Riveon and Let’s Get Real, Inc.
Riveon (formerly The Nord Center and The LCADA Way) offers comprehensive behavioral health services, bringing mental health and addiction treatment together under one umbrella in Lorain, Erie and Cuyahoga counties and surrounding communities. Let’s Get Real, Inc. provides information, education, and resource assistance to families and loved ones in their journey from addiction to recovery. It assists in finding detox and treatment, providing a family group and group for children impacted by substance abuse, as well as other sober support groups.
Riveon and Let’s Get Real, Inc. share an office as partners in the Rural Response Network. This consortium works to reduce overdoses and overdose deaths and strengthen and expand the capacity of Oberlin, Wellington, and surrounding rural townships to engage high-risk populations and provide substance use/opioid use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery support services.
Shannon Perry, Riveon Prevention Specialist (R9)
sperry@riveonhealth.org
Shannon provides education, screening, referral, and harm reduction resources to people of all ages and backgrounds. Her goal is to provide direct access to mental health care to rural residents, with hopes of eventually having Riveon education groups and workshops at the Cooper Center. She invites partners to collaborate with Riveon for referrals.
Amanda Roman. Let’s Get Real Certified Peer Support Specialist (R9)
Amanda guides people to sobriety, connecting clients with detox and treatment options. A certified peer recovery supporter (or recovery coach) is a person with significant lived experience who has overcome issues with chemical dependency, substance abuse, and/or mental illness. Amanda draws on this lived experience, giving her a unique perspective and expertise to help others.
Legal Aid Society of Cleveland
Legal Aid's mission is to secure justice, equity, and access to opportunity for and with people who have low incomes through passionate legal representation and advocacy for systemic change. At the Cooper Center, its attorneys hold a free brief advice clinic on the second Tuesday of each month from 1:30-4 p.m. using the second floor conference room and cubicles. Legal Aid attorneys meet with Lorain County residents by appointment to discuss civil issues such as divorce, custody, property disputes, employment disputes, contracts, landlord-tenant claims, small claims, and personal injury.
Jennifer Kinsley Smith, Esq.
Jennifer.kinsleysmith@lasclev.org
Previously a supervising attorney in Legal Aid’s Health & Opportunity Practice Group, Jennifer recently transitioned to the role of managing attorney for Lorain County. She is working to increase Legal Aid’s partnerships with community partners, courts, and bar associations in Lorain County while also continuing her work with the Health & Opportunity Practice Group.