The Edward A. Myerberg Center hired a new director last month, Kevin Large.
“We conducted a couple rounds of interviews with multiple candidates, and we felt that Kevin’s extensive experience across government [and] the private sector made him an excellent fit for the Myerberg,” said Kari Gorkos, the vice president of aging programs and services at CHAI, the agency of The Associated that oversees the Myerberg Center.
Large grew up in Pikesville, attending Baltimore Hebrew Congregation. After getting his bachelor’s in political science from Towson University, he went to work at the Maryland lieutenant governor’s office. After roughly eight years working in different positions, Large decided to take a job in the nonprofit space at Greater Baltimore Medical Center. From there, he worked at No Kid Hungry Maryland, Baltimore City Community Action Partnership and more until 2022, when he took on the role as director of operations at Sol Levinson and Bros.
“I worked in the nonprofit space previously on childhood hunger advocacy and expanding meals for children throughout the state of Maryland,” Large told Baltimore Jewish Times. “I really enjoyed that work, that on-the-ground work … helping to strengthen communities, strengthen families and help children … through their school years.”
Large said when he saw an opportunity to work at the Myerberg Center and expand his outreach within the community, he was thrilled.
“My career has been dedicated to serving and strengthening communities,” he said. “Just seeing how vibrant and active the Myerberg is and all that’s offered here really got me excited to be able to work with a really active community, to serve them, to find new opportunities, and pull together all my experience and resources and hopefully connections to strengthen what’s already offered here.”
Gorkos said that the Myerberg Center’s biggest goal right now is to grow its membership. After COVID, the center saw membership numbers drop. However, today, membership numbers have recovered to the same numbers they were before the pandemic.
“We’re focused on continuing to grow our membership, and I also know we’re focused on long-term planning,” added Gorkos. “[Large is] asking … all the right questions. He is busy immersing himself in the data and background of the center as we look to then take it into the future.”
Large said his goal for the next few months is to get to know the team at the Myerberg Center, speaking with volunteers, instructors and members. Long term, he said his goal is to maximize funding, keeping the building up to date and maintaining the “welcome, friendly, inviting and bright space” the building offers.
“We have such a large and vibrant older community, and to be able to have this space for them designed to meet their needs, to meet their passions, their interests, it’s so important,” he said. “Also, it’s a welcoming space that people can come to see their friends, especially during the winter months when it’s colder. We need to make sure that there’s spaces that people don’t feel that they’re closed in or shut in.”
The position for center director opened up in the fall due to former director Inbal (Innie) Neun taking on a new role in CHAI’s housing communities.
“It’s always a challenge when you have a leadership position open in an agency,” Gorkos said. “The team really came together, and we were able to manage while we did our search for a new center director, and we all were really excited about looking forward and what the future has to offer for the Myerberg.”
“People can come here for — obviously — great classes throughout the day, or just come in to hang out or to be with friends,” Large said. “It’s a really welcoming, important space for our older adults in the area.”
