Deisha Finley, Senior Corps Manager of Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee Office on Aging, is a 2020 recipient of YPK’s Outstanding Young Professional Award.
Deisha Finley fights for things she cares about every day. As the manager of the local Senior Corps team, she champions the cause of older adults daily. Senior Corps is comprised of three groups of senior volunteers who number over 300 and help make Knoxville a better place. During the pandemic, Deisha led the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) volunteers to pivot to making Senior Care Calls to older Knoxvillians who needed a friendly phone call to help alleviate their isolation. Over 100 local older adults now have the support of a phone call or two each week that is simply dedicated to chatting with them and ensuring that they have the services and resources they need. We all want to be seen and heard. As we age, those experiences dwindle down to a trickle sometimes.
In addition to supervising a staff of four, Deisha leads a major annual fundraising event to support the Senior Companion program called the Snowflake Ball. The dinner dance and silent auction are always a big hit in the community. These funds help keep Senior Companions active in serving. This fundraiser has been extremely successful - growing each year since its inception several years ago. Last year it grew out of its space and had to relocate to accommodate the overwhelming response and had its best year ever.
As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Deisha reaches back to support students who follow that path. She hosts several UT students each year in engaging internships. These internships are not a staple fest. She takes them on actual hands-on visits and allows them to take the lead and get their feet wet in real-life experiences. Deisha also serves on the board of the National Foster Grandparents Association where she has been instrumental as an advocate for the program and active in working for progressive improvements to support those volunteers.
Deisha treats her staff equally and with equanimity and is an excellent leader. She plays to her team’s diverse strengths and leads by example. They are challenged and stretched while always knowing that they have her unwavering support. She gives them opportunities to grow and develop and is always quick to publicly praise the great work they do. It’s no wonder that they always join her in the passionate fight for ensuring the dignified support of older Knoxvillians.
About Deisha Finley
As an immigrant who moved to the United States in her teens, Deisha quickly learned that in order to thrive, she must learn to communicate in English and embrace the American culture. Her childhood spent with her grandparents in India left a lasting impression on the importance of valuing the knowledge and experience of elders. As the Senior Corps Manager at the Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee (CAC) Office on Aging, she has spent more than a decade working to improve the quality of life for older adults. Her mission to empower seniors to meet local community needs mobilizes over 600 senior volunteers each year in Knox and Blount County, TN. As a Master’s Level Social Worker, her work includes community organizing, coalition building, and advocating at the local and national levels to reshape attitudes and implement policies that allow individuals to age with adequate resources, compassionate support, and dignity.
ABOUT THE OUTSTANDING YOUNG PROFESSIONAL AWARD
YPK’s Outstanding Young Professional Award goes to young professionals (age 21-40) working and/or living in the Knoxville area who have contributed to making their community a better place. Outstanding Young Professional winners give back to the community and have achieved a certain level of accomplishment in their professional fields. These young professionals exemplify leadership and inspire those around them to leave a lasting impact.