Tell us about yourself.
I am deeply passionate about this community. For me, that shows up in the values I instill at home, at work, and in my neighborhood. This value of community and connection is something that took me a while to fully understand as a young person, but I’ve come to know that its really about authentically sharing our lives with one another and co-creating a community that reflects us all. I enjoy celebrating the uniqueness of our region with weekend farmer’s markets, family getaways in Lake Country, the experience of great food at my favorite downtown spots, and spending time with my family and friends.
I get to share in all of life’s moments with my husband and our precocious but sweet, preschool-age son. I believe that every family should have access to enjoy the things that make our community a great place to live—safe and stable housing, food that meets their needs, education, financial stability, good physical and mental health, and the social connection that lets us know we belong. And because of my role at United Way of Cass-Clay as Director of Community Impact, I get a “behind the scenes” perspective of the strategy that stewards the generosity of our community in proactive and collaborative ways. It’s the intersection of these values that give me so much purpose.
What impact did your participation in the program have on you both professionally and personally?
During the program, I had a baby under two, a new role in an organization and work I was proud of, and was feeling ready to refocus some of my energy inward. I think this desire for self-reflection and growth opportunities is a commonly shared experience among women entering this program. But until I completed the program, I hadn’t fully expected just how life-changing it could be. I gained dear friendships, and access to a network of leaders in our community to continue learning from, while I cultivated and celebrated my strengths, and developed a practice of reflection. But maybe most important of all was the incredible gift of time— time to do some introspection, consider the intersection of my personal and professional paths, and intentionally think about ways to pour this growth back into my community and my family.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
If you’re interested in learning more about how United Way is working toward solving some of our community’s most challenging issues such as preventing homelessness, making sure more families have access to nutritious food, preparing our kids to succeed in school, and making sure more people have access to mental health services they need, our team at United Way would love to hear from you! Reach out to me or anyone on our team to learn more.
