Derie McClure and I sat down and listened to gospel music before we even started our conversation. That time set the tone for both of us to relax into our conversation and set the stage for our talk. This interviewer nominated Derie for this well-deserved honor, sharing with staff that Derie has an ever-present “what do you need me to do to help” work ethic and a professional willingness to step into any project / need to provide support. Every single time his colleagues need him, Derie steps in to lend a much-needed helping hand.
Derie grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina in a church going family; he is the next to the youngest of 6 children. His father lived in a different state and at 10 years old, Derie walked from his mother’s home to the airport where his father had purchased a ticket for him to fly to New York to live with him. Derie has always been strong minded! He only stayed in New York for a little while and eventually moved back to his mother’s home.
At 12, Derie tried again to live with his father and moved to Southern California to join his dad. His father was a stern disciplinarian that demanded obedience. Derie moved back and forth between his parents’ two households for years and finally decided to stay in Northern California with his dad in 1976. In 1979 Derie graduated from Oakland High School.
The years between 1979 to 1998 were filled with low self-esteem and struggle. Not really living but merely existing in a life of addiction. In 1998 Derie threw up the flag of surrender to addiction and entered Walden House for a 12-month addiction treatment program “to experience life like everyone else.” In 6 months, Derie became a peer counselor. “My career picked me. God knew that my destiny was to support others like me who’s life I could identify with. I only look down on people as I am helping them get up.” Walden House awarded Derie an employee of the year award which came with a 2-week vacation to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Derie initially turned down this honor because it was a trip for one (his wife could not go). Two days later, the employer changed their policies and allowed his wife to go on the trip to help Derie celebrate his accomplishments at Walden House. Derie became an actor with Soapstone Productions where the actors’ portrayed parts of their lives in front of live audiences. “It was fun acting out some of the good and not so good parts of my life in front of people.”
Derie was introduced to Asian Neighborhood Design (AND) by an old Walden House Employee that was employed there. He started working there in 2005 as a Case Manager. “I really didn’t know what the position required, other than it would help lift folks up.”
Due to funding shortages, that position terminated in 2018. That same year Success Centers merged with AND. A Success Centers employee reached out to Derie 4 months later to see if he would be interested in working with Success Centers. He began his Success Centers career that same year as a Case Manager. In this role, Derie also took on additional responsibilities as an Outreach Coordinator. He was promoted to that position in 2023.
To our unofficial “Whatever you need done Ologist, Derie McClure, Success Centers recognizes his outstanding contributions, unwavering dedication, and positive attitude. His work ethic honors his commitment to the organization and also inspires those around him. Derie consistently goes above and beyond, and this award is a well-deserved acknowledgment of the incredible impact that he makes every day to the community and Success Centers. Congratulations, and thank you for being an essential part of the team. Please join Success Centers in a big CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR DERIE MCCLURE!
