My name is Dr. Vernisha Finch, I am a 32-year-old mother of two. I am the Chief Executive Officer of Serving Older Adults through Changing Times (SOACT), preventing senior isolation through programs and activities. I have been a part of SOACT since I was a kid due to the organization being a family ran business, but I haven’t always made the best decisions. I grew up running the streets of Avondale landing myself in a gang, fighting, and making poor choices in friends and activities. As a result of that behavior, I got into some legal trouble where I had to decide what I wanted to do with my life. I attended The Avondale Diversion Court program with Mr. Connell Anderson where I was summoned to do 100 hours of community service and later rediscovered my passion for the business. I then went on to attend Wright State University and after several attempts of applying for the nursing program I decided being a nurse was not what I wanted to do. I went on to Kaplan University obtaining an associate’s degree in medical assistance and interning for a private family practice who serviced a predominantly older population and learning all I can about medicine and the anatomy of older adults. 

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Once I returned to Cincinnati after 5years of living in Dayton, OH, I became a Home Health Aid caring for the elderly. I later moved on to become a service coordinator/project manager for the Jurisdiction wide Resident Advisory Board (JRAB) helping Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) residents with barriers and resources including advocating for the senior citizens and helping them navigate the system. Once I exceeded my time there, I joined UMADAOP of Cincinnati, obtaining a license as a Certified Prevention Specialist Assistant, Qualified Mental Health specialist and Case Manager for the youth attending Cincinnati Public Schools struggling with conflict resolution, family, and community trauma, all while running SOACT and being a full-time mom. Two-years later, I resigned from UMADAOP of Cincinnati and resumed my education at the University of Cincinnati receiving a certificate in Gerontology May 2024. In June of 2024, I accepted the position as Chief Executive Officer for SOACT operating the business full-time. I have since made huge strides in my community by providing unlimited resources, full wrap around services to older adults, and the youth in the urban communities of Hamilton and Butler County. My passion for helping others has been my drive through it all. Including the passing of my grandmother Rosalyn in 2018 who was near and dear to my heart and motivation to keep her name alive by living up to her expectations. I will continue to walk by faith and give 110% until I pass the torch to the next generation when I become an older adult.