James J. Rye

 
The Empowerment Center's Executive Director, Mr. James Rye, began as a member on its advisory Board in 1995.  Under Rye's leadership The Empowerment Center has enjoyed immense expansion and success in providing people support services based on the expressed needs of the people they serve.  Mr. Rye wrote the original bylaws and successfully applied for New York State incorporation and not-for profit status for the organization in 1998.  Mr. Rye has worked for eight years with The Empowerment Center.  During his tenure the Empowerment Center has quadrupled its budget, expanded 
into three counties, trained over 300 people, hired over 40 people who have received mental health services and served thousands of people through out New York State.
 
Mr. Rye presently sits on the Board of Directors of Pathways to Housing - a housing first organization.  He is a Board of Director’s of The Mental Patient Liberation Alliance, a person-centered, mutual support advocacy organization.  Mr. Rye participates on various committees locally and through out the state.  Mr. Rye has participated in Patch Adams' workshop on changing the paradigm of life to Joy rather than fear and pain. 
 
Mr. Rye was reared Catholic, attended Catholics schools for 12 years.  He earned his undergraduate Bachelors of Science from Central Michigan University and a Masters Degree in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
 
Mr. Rye has learned through his life, employment and educational experiences that the most important entity a person must acquire to be effective in helping others is the ability to meet others on their own terms.  On their own terms meaning, listening and believing in what a person is experiencing to be true and real.  A person's feelings and thoughts should never be dismissed or dishonored as delusions or “inappropriateness”.  A person’s thoughts and emotions need to be respected and accepted as natural responses to their environment, to pathologicalize a person’s behavior is to trivialize that person’s experiences.   Respecting and believing a person's expressions furnishes the support and  trust people need to pursue  the formidable task of living in harmony with their world.