Never Done Alone

I’m writing out a few stories of the transformative moments around my journey at NeighborLink as a way to reflect, document, and share how NL has been such an integral part of life for me. I end my time as Executive Director on January 29th, 2021 after 13 years.

One final public reflection as I closed this volume in the book of life and begin a new one revolves around the team of board members, co-workers, and long-term volunteers that coached, supported, and worked alongside me. The reality is, there are many people that are NeighborLink, not just me.

I really struggled to take the job at NL in the first place because I wasn't sure I was ready to be the only employee and be responsible for an entire organization. I had never done that before and I certainly didn't really know what a nonprofit was. I was assured that I was not alone and that I would have a dedicated board of directors and volunteers who would help me figure it out. I knew I could do the day-to-day work that was needed and I had confidence that I could bring some things that could be used. This all proved true and I've glad I took the chance.

I owe so much to John Barce, who co-created NL in 2003 and has served as Board President ever since. He and I have had lunch at least once a month for 13 years. I don't know a more humble, dedicated, generous, and hardworking person. He alongside the rest of the long-time board members has always created an environment that was stable and supported my vision and energy to explore the boundaries of our mission. I know my experience has been drastically different from many other nonprofit leaders because of their leadership, and I'm grateful.

I was the only employee for 6 full years and by the end of that, I was nearly burned out and was regularly overwhelmed by the number of requests, the activity, and the burden of carrying all the issues people expressed directly to me. Over 80% of the projects that get posted every year come through our phones, so we talk to thousands of people every year, each one having their own complicated situation that you knew for many would not be improved without a miracle. I'm grateful that miracles did and do happen every day.

It was a glorious day when I could offer Jeff Shatto a job 7 years ago. He was my number one volunteer and long-time friend at that time and he was the perfect fit. From there we begin adding other team members over the years. Some stayed for a short time and others stayed for a few years. I'm grateful for each one of them, their contributions, and the lessons they taught me about how to lead others, build an organization, and how to build or to define organizational culture.

I know I've been the worst co-worker/boss some people have had and I know I've been one of the best. Growing and leading the staffing side of NL has been one of the most stressful and transformative parts of the past 7 years and am grateful for the experiences because I'm a better human because of them. I've worked hard over the past two years to better understand and articulate the NL culture while developing it alongside our current team of co-workers.

The hardest part of this transition is leaving both the board of directors and my co-workers as our team is really dialed in now. It'll be one of the things I await the Lord to reveal in the coming months. However disappointing, I know they are all as dedicated as I was to the mission and are weaving their own life into the work every day. The person that becomes executive director after me or those that join the NL team in the coming year is going to have an incredible team of co-workers to work alongside.

There have to also be a hundred people that I could list out that played a role in loving me, coaching me, opening a door for me, doing work for me, donating because I asked, inviting me to places, putting in a good word for me, celebrate me, work alongside me, and many other ways to describe how others support us along the way.

If you have served as a board member, a co-worker, a long-time volunteer/supporter, a professional peer, and a mentor THANK YOU. I did nothing on my own and I can only share any positive spotlight that has been pointed towards me or the organization with many others.

PS... there just aren't enough pictures of everyone together. We should have done more of that!