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Wayne's Story | Mark's Story
Wayne's Story
Following his faith and his family, Wayne Abraham learned long ago the importance of being a public servant and volunteer. He has dedicated his life, both personally and professionally, to those ideals as an advocate for people with HIV/AIDS, juvenile offenders, volunteers and nonprofits.
"I think giving back to the community is kind of a worn-out phrase," said Abraham, who nevertheless has done just that both through his work with a variety of organizations and community groups. "I just think of it as taking seriously my obligation to help make the world a better place. My family instilled in me the notion of public service and volunteerism. And I've always held it as a value for me personally that following the principles we learn in terms of our faith should be lived out in our lives, not just talked about."
Abraham is the executive director and one of the founders of Personal Care, Inc., a home aide care company service that seeks to provide holistic care to people who require in-home medical care.
"We look at what we do from more of a social work perspective as opposed to a strictly medical perspective," he said. "We're not just dealing with a person's medical situation but with all their physical and emotional needs and their family members." Abraham moved to Greensboro with his family as a teenager in 1977.
He attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and graduated magna cum laude in 1981 with a triple major in sociology, psychology and political science. After college, Abraham received a certificate from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn., for its Education For Ministry program offered through the Episcopal Church. He pursued his graduate education at UNCG as well, earning a Master's Degree in Business Administration from the Bryan School of Business in 1987.
Starting in 2003 Abraham was appointed by the Greensboro City Council to serve on the Human Relations Commission. The Commission's purpose is to improve the quality of life for all Greensboro residents by encouraging fair treatment and promoting mutual understanding and respect among all people. Abraham has worked on the Commission on issues of fair housing, citizen complaints regarding the police, improving race relations, and other important issues facing the community.
While still a graduate student at UNCG, Abraham cofounded Triad Health Project, which provides emotional and practical support to individuals living with HIV/AIDS, to their loved ones and to those at risk for HIV/AIDS. The influential organization also offers education programs about HIV/AIDS to the community and to those at risk and advocates locally, regionally and nationally for individuals and groups infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS. He has remained active with Triad Health Project throughout its 20-year history, most recently as the organization's secretary from 2001 to 2003.
In addition to his work with Triad Health Project, Abraham has devoted his time and expertise to a number of other community programs and organizations. During most of the 1990s, he worked exclusively with volunteer organizations and nonprofits.
From 1990 to 1992, he was administrator of the volunteer program for the Guilford County Department of Social Services. In fact, he started the program and built up a large volunteer base. From there, he moved on to a position as executive director for Forsyth Court Volunteers, a United Way agency that works with juvenile offenders.
From 1993 to 1994, Abraham was president of the North Carolina Association of Volunteer Administration. During that time, he increased the association's membership, improved its annual conferences, implemented a certification program and helped the association qualify for 501(c) 3 tax-exempt status. From 1995 to 1997, Abraham was a consultant to nonprofits, and he also worked as the grants administrator for the Greensboro Housing Authority.
While employed in the private sector as a customer service representative for Oakwood Homes Insurance and Escrow Department, Abraham took on his current role with Personal Care, Inc., joining forces with another community activist he met through Triad Health Project.
Despite the demands of that job, Abraham has remained active in the community. He is a recent graduate of "Other Voices," a nine month leadership and diversity training program sponsored by the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce.
Mark's Story
Mark Barton's interest in healthcare dates back to high school and to an elective vocational program that allowed him to work as a nurse's aide.
"I discovered that I really liked the work and became licensed as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)," he said.
While enrolled in West Virginia's Concord College where he earned degrees in Business Administration and Education, Barton discovered that his father was very ill with cancer.
"The VA hospital where he was treated was next door to my college, so I was able to be there every day," Barton said. "I was able to use what I learned about nursing to make certain he got the care he deserved."
After completing his undergraduate degrees, Barton took a job teaching first-graders with the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, while after-hours he earned a master's in education from North Carolina A&T State University. In 1996 he moved to the Guilford County Schools – working first as a teacher and then as a reading specialist for first-graders at risk.
"I discovered that the county planned to close the reading program I was leading, so I had to decide whether to go back into the classroom or to do something different," Barton said. "I decided to join with friends who were ready to try something new, and we formed Personal Care, Inc."
During the formative years of the firm, Barton again was able to put his nursing background to use.
"I was service director for the company and presided over the quality of care we delivered," he said. "I followed up with our clients and made certain they had a personal link back to the company that went above and beyond their relationship with their homecare aide."
As Personal Care, Inc. grew, Barton decided to pursue both his loves – teaching and healthcare. Today he is vice president of the Personal Care, Inc. board of directors and continues to oversee homecare quality. But he also has returned to the classroom as a teacher in one of Guilford County's Middle Schools.
As someone who is happiest and at his best when leading a full and busy life, Barton is also furthering his own education by pursing a doctorate in administration.