I was employed by the City of Philadelphia in the mid 60s, starting as a Clerk Typist, then moved up to Clerk Stenographer. My first job was with the Free Library of Philadelphia – the Northeast Regional Library. Some years later I worked at the Philadelphia General Hospital , followed by Health District #1, Broad & Lombard. In the late 70’s I became the Secretary to Mrs. Victorina Peralta, Director of Adult & Aging Services. It was this position that changed the direction of my life. Mrs. Peralta was a brilliant woman who challenged every skill I possessed. She was also a religious woman who was deeply committed to her work.
Her irascible personality caused many of her secretaries to transfer to other departments with little notice. It took months of patience and prayer for me to understand why the Lord had allowed our paths to cross and to “choose” to be His vessel despite many days of frustration. Like the others, I often contemplated leaving or transferring. But the Holy Spirit would remind me of His purposes for our lives….. to shine. I felt embarrassed and humiliated many times by an abrupt answer, but God said “be still”.
In 1980, Mrs. Peralta was asked by President Jimmy Carter to move to Washington, D.C. for 18 months to work on the 1981 White House Conference On Aging – held once every 10 years. President Carter had planned to include her in his staff had he won the next election. Mrs. Peralta asked the White house to hire me stating, “I’ll get more accomplished as Mary understands my accent”. She told me, “Mary, you bring peace” THAT was a testimony to the Lord.
I was finally approved under the Intergovernmental Personnel Act ( personnel are assigned to the government “on loan” and then returned to their city/positions. I was packed and moved by the U.S. government and salaried. This would not have happen, had I quit the first time I felt humiliated. I served the White House Conference on Aging for 18 months. My last position was under President Reagan as Coordinator of over 4,000 volunteers.
We returned to our City positions and I was encouraged to attend Antioch University where I received a BA in Human Services. Mrs. Peralta retired and she and her husband moved to Spain. Project: Head II was, part of my practicum, was transferred to the Mayor’s Commission On Aging, but there was NO BUDGET. I choose to direct it WITHOUT a Salary…it was 10 years before
While at the Mayor’s Commission on Aging I became first Director of the Medicare-Medicaid Assistance Program (now Apprise) for the Mayor’s Commission On Aging (Albert Einstein covered other parts of the City). The Apprise Program was funded which produced a salary for me. I also was Director of Health Care Fraud. During those years I conducted a six-module training, every Saturday at the Seminary (Gerontology In Seminary Training) as well as a one day workshop at Temple Unversity where I conducted a workshop for a group of professors from Sweden.
I became involved with the Philadelphia Senate On Aging in my position as Coordinator of Project: HEAD II. I gave senior citizen clubs assistance in setting up senior clubs with Parliamentary Procedure and setting up orograms.
Many of the Philadelphia Senate on Aging members became Apprise and/or Health Care Fraud counselors or presentors. The former coordinator had assisted them in setting up their 501-C3.
Upon retiring from the Mayor’s Commission on Aging, I continued working with the Philadelphia Senate On Aging and began serving as the Executive Director. I used my administrative experience to arrange programs and to train members in counseling and gathering information that would be pertinent to the elderly.