After just one year at the helm, Horizons Community Services Executive Director Frank Oldham has resigned.
Oldham is returning to New York to work again in the public sector, on HIV/AIDS issues impacting people of color.
"It is the epicenter of the epidemic in the U.S., and I feel the need to be back there," Oldham told Windy City Times.
Oldham is also returning to his home state to be closer to his parents. He has had to return to New York frequently this year to care for his ailing father. He expects to leave Horizons by mid-January to start his new position.
Horizons has seen extensive changes this past year, with top management and staff layoffs, allegations of racial insensitivity from the South Side youth program, and a funding crisis all too common among non-profits during this economic downturn.
But even prior to Sept. 11, 2001, Horizons had gone through staff turnover starting at the top. It has had three executive directors in five years, and had no leadership for several months between executive directors Elizabeth Huesemann and Roger Doughty.
Oldham came to Horizons after a short time as managing director of the Los Angeles gay center. Prior to that, he was Assistant Commissioner on HIV/AIDS issues for the Chicago Department of Public Health. Indeed, most of his career has been in the public sector, including more than nine years at New York's Department of Public Health.
Horizons also faces a split mission as it develops the community's Center on Halsted while at the same time maintaining its current programming and outreach offerings.
"The Center on Halsted has always been seen as an inspiration for Horizons," Oldham said, adding that it did not take away from the core mission of the agency. Horizons serves as the "steward" for the project, which has its own steering committee under Horizons.
"It was not a distraction from my role. As the economy and layoffs occurred, so much attention had to be put into Horizons--so my time was not spent on the Center," Oldham said.
As Horizons heads into its 30th year in 2003, Oldham said he believes it is strong enough to face the problems stemming from the bad economy.
There had been rumors for many months of unhappiness with Oldham's performance, but both Oldham and board members of Horizons say he was not forced out of his post.
"For all non-profits, it has been a difficult time. However, I have been, and continued to be, supported by the people who brought me to Horizons. The leadership has been only supportive. We have diversified the staff even more, in terms of ethnic diversity. We received record high scores from the Chicago Department of Public Health [for grants], and the quality and attendance at programs has been high," Oldham said.
As for the problems which occurred after South Side youth coordinator Otis Richardson was fired, Oldham said he believes the new youth director, Steve Miller, has alleviated the concerns of youth of color and that many of the youth who picketed the agency have returned.
"We did a lot of work on staff development and building staff cohesiveness and morale. That has been a major success here, especially considering we had major layoffs in July," he said.
Oldham started at Horizons Dec. 3, 2001. He said that managing a community-based organization like Horizons has been "a rewarding and educational experience. You really are at the grassroots of the community. It has been a different experience for me than working where there are 150 staff, and a $42 million budget--and the city infrastructure to support you."
As an African-American gay man himself living with HIV, Oldham believes he brought a unique perspective to his role at Horizons. He said he believes the board will remain committed to working on race issues no matter who the next director is.
But it is because of his race and HIV status that Oldham feels compelled to return home. "I am an HIV+ African American gay man--the one group in the U.S. where you have infection rates as high as people in Subsaharan Africa. It is the No. 1 cause of death for African American men between 15 and 45. I feel it is an urgent thing for me personally and professionally. And it is an opportunity where I can make a big difference."
But while his experience with Horizons added to his skills, Oldham said his passion has always been for government work. His longest tenure was with the New York Department of Health for more than nine years, prior to coming to work for Chicago's health department for more than two years.
Board response
As for a transition plan, the Horizons board has not had a chance to meet. Modesto "Tico" Valle is the person next in line at the agency, and there are rumors that he may be asked at least to step in as acting director.
Board Treasurer Dave Halverson said the board will be meeting "very shortly" to discuss a succession plan.
"It is with both reluctance and best wishes that the board of Horizons Community Services has accepted the resignation of its executive director, Frank Oldham," said Denise Foy, Horizons' board chair, in a prepared statement.
"The board is grateful for the tireless work and energy Frank has contributed to the agency and for the results he has accomplished. The latest example of which is our obtaining the highest-ever agency rating from the Chicago Department of Public Health when they performed their last recent review," said Foy.
"Frank, along with the executive committee of the board, Horizons' management team, and representatives of the staff are all working on a transition plan which will insure the uninterrupted integrity of our organization," said Foy. "We are all confident that the programs of Horizons will continue to be provided with top-notch professionalism as we work through this period. We are truly sorry to see Frank go, but highly commend him for the job he has done and understand his deep personal commitment to rid the world of HIV and AIDS," said Foy.
Oldham's last day is Jan. 17.