Zathoe Sexton, Board President for Gabriel’s Horn Homeless Shelter, has always had a passion for helping people in the Duneland community. From after school programs that had a reach out into the community, to working for a philanthropic organization like Gabriel’s Horn, Sexton has made strides to extend her helpful and caring reach throughout Northwest Indiana.
Born and raised in Valparaiso, Indiana, Sexton attended Valparaiso High School and participated in an afterschool program called the Y-Teens.
“It was an afterschool program with the high school,” Sexton explained. “What we would do is go out and do things within the community.”
She didn’t end up in this career right away, but she eventually found that path. Sexton continued her education at Indiana University Northwest and there, she studied Sociology and minored in Women’s Studies, continuing her passion for community work which began when she read about “The Mother of Social Work.”
“When I read about Jane Addams in a magazine, that’s when I decided that I wanted to work in this career,” Sexton said.
Sexton continued on to Western Michigan University, where she completed her Masters in Social Work.
The Valparaiso native became a member of Altrusa International, Inc., an organization that focuses on community service, more specifically, literacy, which led to not only more volunteer experience for Sexton, but also an opportunity that she couldn’t pass up.
“Gabriel’s Horn applied for a grant from Altrusa to receive funds,” Sexton explained. “So we awarded Gabriel’s Horn the grant. But as it turns out, one woman who worked there, Danielle, and I had worked together a few times before.”
Sexton met Danielle, who was a case manager, while she was working for an agency, Globe Star, LLC., that provides services to people with intellectual and mental disabilities years before. As the two crossed paths again, Danielle mentioned the shelter’s need for a new Board Member.
“They were looking for a new Board Member and she asked if I would be interested,” Sexton said. “So I said yes and this is my third year now being on their board.”
It was this past December that Sexton became Gabriel’s Horn’s Board President. As the Board President for the homeless shelter, which offers services and shelter to women and children, Sexton makes sure the organization reaches the guidelines set, has a strategic plan set in place, and is also in charge of fundraising for the shelter.
While it can be a difficult career to be in, Sexton loves the opportunity to help people and work with some amazing people like her co-workers at Gabriel’s Horn.
“I love all it,” she said. “I really enjoy doing everything I get to do every day: meeting the people who we serve, the women who come into the shelter, and of course, working with Mignon and Marcia in the office.”
But her passion for this work comes from a desire to help anyone who needs it.
“There are so many homeless people that we are not even aware of,” she explained. “There are just not enough services out there for them. And the hard truth is that it could happen to anyone of us.”
When she does get some free time, Sexton loves to quilt, golf, crochet and read biographies and historical fiction books.
She also loves spending time with her daughters and her seven grandchildren and her two great-grandchildren, who are her world.
But like a true philanthropist, Sexton is continuing to expand her care throughout the community. Along with being the Board President, Sexton also works at Globe Star, LLC as a Quality of Mentoring Life Servant Leader.
It is not common that you meet someone with so much care and compassion for their community. But Zathoe Sexton is one of those rare people who does this sometimes difficult and demanding work, all because it’s the right thing to do.
For more information about Gabriel’s Horn, go to www.gabrielshelter.org.