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Rebecca “Becky” Reynolds is the executive director of Little Dixie Community Action Agency. She has more than two decades of experience in the community-based nonprofit space. She is committed to working diligently to alleviate the causes and conditions of poverty and changing the odds for families in Southeast Oklahoma.
During this Women's History Month, we asked her a few questions we think might help other women who are earlier in their careers.
How has the work of community development and affordable housing changed during your professional career?
I began my career in the community-based nonprofit field 22 years ago. The community development and affordable housing field has been ever-evolving. The focus remains the same — working with low-income and underserved communities — but the struggles faced by people in poverty have not.
What’s your advice for women in this field?
Have a good sense of humor and take it easy on yourself. This is serious and awesome work. You can become overly passionate and burn out; the combination of passion for social justice and the stresses of managing an organization can cripple the strongest. So take it easy on yourself; be gracious to both yourself and others in both success and failure.
Has this advice been important to your success? Why or why not?
Yes, the passion for the work equates to a baseball metaphor: bat a thousand.
When I grew up, our entire family had a love for baseball. As a family, our outings and vacations were focused around baseball. I believe if you are passionate about what you do, then you strive to bat a thousand and you will have more success than you ever imagined.
What has been your biggest career obstacle and how did you overcome it?
My biggest career obstacle was myself. I overcame it by taking charge, believing in myself, being driven and determined to succeed, and working very hard toward attaining the goals I set for myself.
How has technology affected the way we do community development and affordable housing work?
I think technology is a game changer, from management to marketing. The growth in technology is essential to designing and delivering products and programs that are critical to community and housing development issues.
If you had the chance to have dinner with or ask advice of anyone throughout history, who would it be and why?
I think I would choose Sargent Shriver, as he was one of the “architects” who helped President Johnson create the economic opportunity act to establish programs to address poverty in our country. His work has changed, for the better, so many lives, and has been doing so for more than 50 years.
What’s your favorite book?
I don’t know if this book is my all-time favorite but it definitely has made an impact on me recently: “Act Like a Leader, Think Like a Leader.” The author turns the philosophy of “think first and then act” on its head by arguing that redefining your job to make more strategic contributions, diversifying your network and becoming more playful with your ideas will help you learn through action and expand your viewpoint.
During this Women's History Month, we asked her a few questions we think might help other women who are earlier in their careers.
How has the work of community development and affordable housing changed during your professional career?
I began my career in the community-based nonprofit field 22 years ago. The community development and affordable housing field has been ever-evolving. The focus remains the same — working with low-income and underserved communities — but the struggles faced by people in poverty have not.
What’s your advice for women in this field?
Have a good sense of humor and take it easy on yourself. This is serious and awesome work. You can become overly passionate and burn out; the combination of passion for social justice and the stresses of managing an organization can cripple the strongest. So take it easy on yourself; be gracious to both yourself and others in both success and failure.
Has this advice been important to your success? Why or why not?
Yes, the passion for the work equates to a baseball metaphor: bat a thousand.
When I grew up, our entire family had a love for baseball. As a family, our outings and vacations were focused around baseball. I believe if you are passionate about what you do, then you strive to bat a thousand and you will have more success than you ever imagined.
What has been your biggest career obstacle and how did you overcome it?
My biggest career obstacle was myself. I overcame it by taking charge, believing in myself, being driven and determined to succeed, and working very hard toward attaining the goals I set for myself.
How has technology affected the way we do community development and affordable housing work?
I think technology is a game changer, from management to marketing. The growth in technology is essential to designing and delivering products and programs that are critical to community and housing development issues.
If you had the chance to have dinner with or ask advice of anyone throughout history, who would it be and why?
I think I would choose Sargent Shriver, as he was one of the “architects” who helped President Johnson create the economic opportunity act to establish programs to address poverty in our country. His work has changed, for the better, so many lives, and has been doing so for more than 50 years.
What’s your favorite book?
I don’t know if this book is my all-time favorite but it definitely has made an impact on me recently: “Act Like a Leader, Think Like a Leader.” The author turns the philosophy of “think first and then act” on its head by arguing that redefining your job to make more strategic contributions, diversifying your network and becoming more playful with your ideas will help you learn through action and expand your viewpoint.
