Charlene Willard retired this week from the City of Raleigh’s Community Services department after a 25 year career. I was very happy I could attend her retirement party Thursday afternoon.

Charlene has been a big influence in my life. It was one morning in 2008 when I first spoke with Charlene when she was calling to tell me I had been accepted into the city’s Raleigh Neighborhood College (RNC) program. Originally there had been no openings but Charlene told me another participant had just canceled, making a spot available to me. I enjoyed the next 12 weeks of RNC classes with Charlene and then went on to work closely with her as the Community Services liaison during my three years as chair of the East CAC.

Charlene’s is the kind of person who has to be involved in something so I expect we’ll see her keep busy with some deserving projects around the area. Hopefully I’ll get a chance to work with her again!