OMAHA, Neb. — The Metropolitan Community College Foundation has named local social worker Tera Kucera winner of the 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award. The award is given annually to a graduate whose achievement, service, and commitment to MCC and the community is exemplary.
Kucera is a 2016 MCC graduate with an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts. She enrolled at the College at the same time as her two daughters. While at MCC, she was student Ex Officio for MCC Board of Governors, received multiple scholarships and awards, and served more than 1,800 service hours at Care Corps Family Services (later renamed Care Corps’ LifeHouse), where she was later hired as a case manager.
Since working at Care Corps’ LifeHouse, Kucera has brought many changes to the Fremont nonprofit organization. She has expanded the services to include emergency, transitional, and permanent supportive housing, a food pantry, aftercare programs, life skills and workforce readiness programs, and a thrift store. She also helped secure a $3 million grant to build low-income housing units for Fremont families with wraparound care services. All Kucera’s work has led her to become CEO of Care Corps’ LifeHouse.
Kucera is the sixth recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award. She joins Tim Nicholson (The Boiler Room), Hubert Charles Ahovissi (African Culture Connection), Jon Queen (Berkshire Hathaway), Marian Holden (Designer’s Touch) and Cory Johnson (AIT Worldwide Logistics).
About Tera Kucera
Kucera was an interior designer and Feng Shui consultant, as well as a retail manager, for many years before enrolling at Metropolitan Community College. After volunteering for Care Corps Family Services, she went to work for the organization as a caseworker at the emergency shelter.
Her leadership skills quickly lead her to become the interim executive director after only a few months. Within her first year, the organization was able to bring on a Rapid Rehousing program, geared toward moving individuals and families out of homelessness and into housing as quickly as possible. She also helped form the partnership between Care Corps Family Services and Low-Income Ministry to form Care Corps’ LifeHouse.
Today, Kucera is CEO of Care Corps’ LifeHouse and has grown the programs exponentially, helping Fremont and Dodge County families find sustainable housing and services.