Working at North York Community House – Maxine’s Story

Hello, my name is Maxine McKoy. I have been a staff member of North York Community House (NYCH) for the last 12 years. I started my career with NYCH in 2009 as a volunteer coordinator, working with community members to match them to the various programs offered by the organization to newcomers to Canada and under-resourced communities. In 2007, due to increasing responsibilities, I became NYCH’s Volunteer Program Manager with a focus on building the organization’s partnership with the United Way Day of Care Program. In 2021, I successfully landed the position of Program Manager for the Settlement, Employment and Mentorship programs. This was a fairly easy transition for me as in my Volunteer Manager’s role, I worked closely with all the programs under my current portfolio. I have genuinely enjoyed my career at NYCH and appreciate the mentorship and professional and personal growth I have experienced being a part of the NYCH family.

What made you successful at NYCH?

My success lies in the fact that I do not have a silo mindset, I try to engage and collaborate with many of the programs and staff at the organization. As a Volunteer Coordinator, I learned the importance of doing this early on in my career and it was essential to my success with the Volunteer Program. This is still very much something I aimed for in my new role, as I believe in contributing not only to the success of the programs in my portfolio but also of the organization as a whole.

What has been your proudest moment at NYCH?

In my 12 years at NYCH, I must say my proudest achievement was that within 3 years of working as a Volunteer Coordinator, NYCH was accommodating up to 10-12 United Way Day of Care activities yearly. This was unprecedented for the organization and for other non-profits and was accomplished with the support of many of the Program Managers and staff, especially the Language and Community Garden programs.

What advice would you like to give job seekers who are thinking of joining NYCH?

If you are seeking a career in the non-profit field, it is important to understand that relationships are vital in this field ─ a good, caring working relationship with your colleagues, partners, and communities you serve is essential to you being successful in your career. Success should be tangible and intangible, as it is that feeling of making a difference and accomplishment that keeps you engaged and always ready to give 100% to your work.