Last year, following an extensive search, Torbin Green was officially named as St. Francis Neighborhood Center‘s next Executive Director, although his time with the Center first began roughly a decade beforehand as a volunteer.
Impressed with the free, high-quality programs being offered to neighborhood families and the Center’s deep roots in the community as an anchor institution in West Baltimore, Green took the first open position that became available. Starting out as an instructor with SFNC’s flagship after-school program, known as the Power Project, he worked his way up through the organization, acquainting himself with nearly every aspect of the operation along the way.
When it came time to select a new leader for the organization in 2022, Green — then serving as Program & Operations Director — was tapped to take on the role. The preceding years were a true test of determination and capability, as Green was instrumental in overseeing the Center’s extensive, multi-million dollar expansion project as well as ensuring that essential services and resources remained accessible to the community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and construction.
“Torbin, despite the pandemic and operating in a challenging environment, brings a powerful level of commitment to St. Francis. Now, he can take us to the next level,” said Kevin Apperson, Board President, at the time of Green’s confirmation as Executive Director. Green’s institutional knowledge, strong relationships, and dedication to SFNC’s mission to end generational poverty are enormous assets to the organization as the Center prepares to expand once again to serve more Baltimore families than ever before.
Connect with Torbin on LinkedIn
Kevin Apperson is the Chief Information Officer of Maxim Healthcare Services and a long-time resident of the Reservoir Hill community that St. Francis Neighborhood Center serves. He first became involved with the organization when its late founder, Father Tom Composto, recruited his assistance with the Center’s computer lab. Apperson officially joined the Board of Directors of St. Francis Neighborhood Center in 2002 and has remained dedicated to the execution of its mission by providing crucial guidance through challenging transitional periods for the organization, particularly in the wake of Composto’s untimely death in 2011.
As Board President, he brings a lifetime of professional expertise to his role, coupled with a valuable perspective as a community member. Today, St. Francis owes much to Apperson’s unwavering commitment to seeing Composto’s vision for the Center through to fruition.
Connect with Kevin on LinkedIn
Interview questions:
Q1: What does St. Francis Neighborhood Center mean to you?
Q2: What does St. Francis Neighborhood Center mean to the community?
Q3: Why do you think the Center is still going strong, even after 60 years?
Q4: How is St. Francis celebrating its 60th anniversary and highlighting its history this year?
Q5: Which upcoming initiative(s) are you most excited for SFNC to embark on?
Q6: In your time with SFNC, you’ve worn many hats. Which experiences have been the most rewarding?
Q7: What is the greatest challenge you have faced on behalf of SFNC?
Q8: What is your biggest source of inspiration for this field of work?
Q9: When you envision the Center 10 or 15 years from now, what do you see?
St. Francis Neighborhood Center (SFNC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community-based organization founded in 1963 as an outreach center for two local churches, and was later incorporated in 1972 as a neighborhood nonprofit corporation, independent of any religious affiliation. Due to its unwavering dedication, the Center has become an iconic presence within the Reservoir Hill/Penn North community and has touched countless lives through the decades. SFNC’s mission is to end generational poverty and, for the past 60 years, it has provided critical resources through free holistic intervention programs for youth and families at no cost to the neighborhood to meet that goal. Driven by community, SFNC continuously evolves and develops programs that mirror emerging and enduring needs.
Since its inception, SFNC has conducted regular food and resource distributions and was the only distribution hub within the community in the wake of the 1968 riots. Over the years, SFNC has offered various forms of community development and revitalization programs as well, from neighborhood clean-ups to green-ups; from community stoop nights to resource festivals; from addiction recovery programs to community safety patrols; and from afterschool programming to college and career readiness internships for local high school students. SFNC takes pride in rising to the challenge of meeting the evolving, dynamic needs of the community.
On October 30th, St. Francis Neighborhood Center will celebrate 60 years of continuous service with its 3rd annual “Composto Classic” Golf Tournament & After Par-tee fundraiser — named for its founder and long-time director, Father Tom Composto — at the Elkridge Club. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available online, with proceeds directly supporting SFNC’s free community programming in Baltimore City.
Recent News: https://www.stfranciscenter.org/what_we_do/news/
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