Mid-Iowa Community Action has named Clarissa Thompson as the agency’s next executive director following the retirement of 42-year MICA veteran Arlene McAtee.

Thompson was chosen after a national search process with the assistance of the Iowa Community Action Association. She joined MICA in 1995 as an AmeriCorps member and has served the agency in multiple capacities including youth development coordinator, early childhood programs professional development coordinator, community liaison and most recently, family development director, a position held since 2012.

Thompson has a wide-range of experiences from providing direct services to leading major federal, state and local initiatives designed to improve outcomes for children and families. Her most recent work has been focused on a two-generation approach to addressing rural childhood poverty as well as the scaling up of MICA’s premier summer learning program, Bobcat University, which Thompson co-designed. She led MICA’s disaster recovery efforts serving over 750 families after the July 2018 tornado.

“I do not look at the new position as a challenge but rather as an opportunity to continue what we have started and to make our services even stronger,” Thompson said. “We are a strong agency and I want to continue on that success and see where that takes us.”

Saying that her 23 years of service to MICA will help her know what is going on at the agency, she added that going into the executive director position is one where, you know and you don’t.

“This is a great opportunity to get to know more about all of our services and to see how everything works together. There is a lot to learn, but I am looking forward to the opportunity,” Thompson said.

McAtee said there had been many changes in her 42 years and huge changes in her 15 years as executive director.

“In the last decade and a half there have been huge changes in technology and practices, in public policy that influence what the agency does, and in research telling us what is most effective and where we could have the greatest influence in helping families affected by poverty,‚” McAtee said. “We have tried to keep up with these changes and I think MICA has stuck to its core values, but it is also much different than 15 years ago.”

McAtee said they have been able to have a more integrated approach to services.

“When I began as director most of our people were funded to act as if they were their own little organization within the larger organization. That has changed dramatically throughout the years. We now operate as a single organization with everyone having a common mission of what we as an agency are about. We integrate our services and our training as much as we can.”

McAtee said clients are also different from her early career at MICA.

“In 1977 most of the people we saw were elderly and those receiving cash assistance. Today most are working families who fall below the poverty level and cannot make enough to get by,” she said.

MICA serves Marshall, Hardin, Tama, Poweshiek and Story counties directly, but provides services through partners to approximately 30 counties. Its mission is “To increase the safety, security and stability of people in volatile situations.”

Approximately 24,000 people were served by MICA in the last fiscal year.

“The agency is very complex to manage, McAtee said. “But it is good Clarissa grew up here, anyone new stepping in to the position would have had a great challenge. We have a good staff to manage, but Clarissa has a good connection with staff and the many partners that make our programs

and services work.”

McAtee talked about her decision to retire on Wednesday.

“I have done a lot and seen our staff grow. The agency is good to go on in whatever the next direction is and I am ready to go on in whatever the next direction is for me,” McAtee said. “Sure there is a slight note of bitter-sweetness, but I have no fears in where the agency is headed.”

Thompson said she is absolutely ready.

“We are well trained and have the support on what we need to know and how to proceed. Our board is fabulous and they are a great asset.”