Meet Our Women of Hope: Ralphetta Moses-Johnson and Betsy Comerford
Ralphetta Johnson-Moses joined the Providence House Board of Directors in 2020. According to Ralphetta, “In my youth, I volunteered to go the prisons and pray with the inmates. I was approached by Francis Sullivan, who heard about this work, and thought I would be a good fit for Providence House. Learning about Providence House immediately rekindled my desire to help people reentering society.”
Ralphetta is a champion for our work, particularly with respect to our Women’s Justice Program. She volunteers regularly and her passion for our mission was pivotal in recruiting several new board members earlier this year. “I have lived experience with this work, having close family members struggle with mental health challenges and homelessness. I know what it is like for the whole family and how hard it is to overcome these challenges. When I was approached to join the Board and got to see the programs, I knew right away I wanted to be a part of it.”
Since joining the Board, Ralphetta has maintained a clear vision for the Women’s Justice Program. For her, it is about safety. Providing a safe and supportive environment is the cornerstone for rebuilding their lives. But it is also about opportunity. Ralphetta is committed to helping us create education and employment opportunities for our population.
“It seems everything in society is ‘Jobs, Jobs, Jobs’. It is important that we understand and embrace this fact. My biggest goal in the coming years as a board member is developing meaningful connections with employers who see the value in our residents and are committed helping them obtain self-sufficiency through employment.”
Ralphetta has a lot of big ideas for the Women’s Justice Program. In addition to helping us build out education and employment components, she is committed to seeing us deepen our work with families impacted by the justice system by offering more support to mothers who want to reunify with their children.
“Last year, I was truly inspired by my fellow board member, Afi Turner, who shared her story so eloquently. Afi was a resident of Providence House many years ago after returning from incarceration. Her full-circle story gives hope. But what stood out most was how she described this organization as her home. I think that is the key. We do not just provide housing, we provide a home, and with that comes love. We truly care for the women we serve and are invested in their success. That is what makes this place so special, and that is why I am so proud to serve on the Board.”
Betsy Comerford retired as Managing Director of JPMorgan Securities in 2021. Upon retiring, she joined the Providence House Board of Directors. According to Betsy, “I was drawn to Providence House because of its focus on women. Throughout my career, I have mentored women. I find great joy and pride in doing what I can to make sure women are supported. I was so moved by Providence House and its mission to help at-risk women and families during their greatest time of need.
Betsy is representing the Providence House Family Transitional Program, which provides housing and support services for 59 families in Brooklyn and 10 young mothers in New Rochelle. When she first visited our program, she was impressed with the homelike atmosphere and emphasis on helping families gain self-sufficiency. She recently participated in a Mommy and Me celebration at our Brooklyn site where she had the opportunity to engage with residents in family-centered activities. According to Betsy, “It was an amazing experience. Providence House is doing so much for these women to ensure that they are safe and secure and that their needs are being met. Having opportunities like this, to do arts and crafts and create warm memories for mothers and their children is so important to that.”
Betsy is a dedicated advocate of Providence House who has opened us up to her network of friends and family, educating them about our work. In the coming months, she will be helping reengage with the many women she has mentored over the years to help us recruit volunteers and build out our Associate Boar. According to Betsy, “I think mentoring is so valuable. It is important for Providence House to remain focused on keeping women safe and healthy. I think a mentoring program, once they have stabilized, could really help them on the journey to self-sufficiency. I would like to be a part of making that a reality.”