When Cathe Dykstra was four years old, she wanted to be a medical missionary. Unfortunately, a few years later, Cathe learned that travel to developing countries required a series or multiple series of shots. While this was quite a set-back, Cathe continued to have a heart for service and involved herself in activities in her church, her schools, including Wake Forest University, and through Girl Scouts that allowed her to help others on the home front.

Over the years, Cathe had the opportunity to learn that the problems of the world are both more complicated and more simple than she imagined. She worked with senior citizens needing financial management in order to stay in their homes; she worked with special needs infants needing extra attention to accelerate their development; she worked with disadvantaged and inexperienced parents needing a little help to be their children’s first and best teachers. In the process, she found that the solutions to the problems were often discernable if you listened closely to those in need.

While employed at the Center for Women and Families as the Director of the Economic Success Program, Cathe focused on asset development for victims of domestic violence and recent immigrants fleeing violence in their home countries. In 2005, Cathe joined Family Scholar House (then called Project Women) to lead strategic capacity-building initiatives that not only empower single-parent students to earn their college degrees, but also integrate graduates into the community as employees, homeowners, and active volunteers. Over the past six and half years, her title has changed but her role has remained the same. Cathe describes her position as Chief Possibility Officer; and, under her leadership, Family Scholar House has experienced rapid growth in programs and has completed construction of three campuses providing housing for 167 disadvantaged single-parent families. Throughout this growth, Cathe has emphasized the importance of changing the focus from short-term assistance to long-term solutions.

Cathe loves her family and friends. She is a daughter, wife, mother, best friend, and an active volunteer and board member for other organizations. Cathe readily acknowledges that she gets far more than she gives and she points to Family Scholar House’s annual graduation party as one of the highlights of each year.