When She Realized Her Community Needed Her

When I escaped my abusive husband, five survivors of domestic abuse donated an apartment full of furniture for me to have to start over. With many others in need, I donated all of it to charity for other survivors of domestic abuse to have a start.

My parents are pastors of a small church in Lodi, CA. While their congregation is not large, they have many kids who attend or are connected to the church in some way. I saw an opportunity to organize a community event that could bring kids together in a safe environment, offering activities or even a community meal to attract attention. So, I decided to host a summer outreach featuring food and water slides, and we had a tremendous turnout. Many neighborhood kids came out and had a great time. I also make an effort to visit twice a year to organize similar events, helping to keep the community engaged and promote positivity in the area. I reside in Southern California so it's about a 7 hour drive. It is no easy task, but I see the difference it makes in the community to bring people together. I've been doing these different events for the last 6 years.

Our lives are not always about us, but about the people we love and the lives we can touch...

When I was asked to co-chair the museum's gala as a brand-new board member, I said yes before I felt ready. Ready showed up later, somewhere between the first planning meeting and the fifth spreadsheet.

My pastor had been watching my husband and me and knew of our experience in youth ministry, so he asked us to create and lead a new youth group. What began as a simple request grew into a thriving ministry with 50 young people and 14 adult leaders, including four members of law enforcement.

Recently, with an upcoming audit and my supervisor on vacation, I stepped up to help lead our team through a large number of pending items that needed to be completed within a week. I made sure the key assignments were addressed before the deadline so my supervisor could return and finalize the remaining actions.

When our program was left without a steward, our community's progress hung in the balance. While someone opened the door for me, true leadership meant choosing to walk through it, honoring the foundation laid before me and building the bridge ahead so no one climbs in isolation.

I don't think there was one defining moment when I realized my community needed me. It was more of a growing realization that I had been blessed with gifts, experiences, and opportunities that I wasn't supposed to keep to myself. As an artist, I know what it feels like to have a dream and not always have the resources, connections, or someone who believes in you enough to help you pursue it. I saw my son and so many other talented young people in our community who simply needed access, encouragement, and a safe place to discover what they were capable of. That's part of what led me to establish Forward Progress Arts & Entertainment Center, Inc. in 2013. I wanted to create the kind of space where creative dreamers could become authentic artists, where their circumstances didn't have to determine their possibilities. I didn't start out thinking I needed to be a community leader. I just knew I could do something, and doing nothing wasn't an option for me. And somewhere along the way, I realized that while I was helping others pursue their dreams, I was walking in my own purpose, too. Over the years, I've learned that sometimes God places you in a position to be the very person you once needed. My philosophy has always been that you can make forward progress at any age. If I can help someone recognize their gifts, believe in their purpose, and take that next step toward their dream, then I'm doing what I believe I've been called to do.

Many of us are walking a road of grace, hoping for mercy. But what we fail to realize is that grace is much more than our destination, it is the journey manifested in every breath that we take. Grace surrounds us, whirls about us like the wind and falls on us like rain. Grace sustains us on our journeys, no matter how perilous they may be. We need not hope for grace, we merely need to open our eyes to its abundance. Grace is all around us, not just in the hopeful future, but in the miracle of now. If we travel well, we will become as grace and learn the lesson meant from the journey, not to dismiss error but be willing to forgive the err-er, to generously share the balm of mercy and love for before the eyes of Heaven, we all walk as fools. And the more that we exercise our portion of grace, the better we will receive it. The abundance of this grace is only limited by us, so we cannot receive that which we are unwilling to accept, be it for ourselves or for others. To extend forgiveness is to burn the very bridge that we ourselves must cross so that by grace, there are corners of Eden that God left on this earth for us to enjoy.

Early in my career, I began to realize that making a difference meant more than simply doing my own job well. Working in nursing and progressing into Director of Nursing roles, I saw how much of an impact strong leadership, teamwork, and knowledge could have on the people we served and the staff who cared for them. I have always believed that knowledge is power. The more you understand about the operations of an organization, the better equipped you are to contribute, solve problems, support your team, and make meaningful decisions. I wanted to understand not just what we did, but why we did it and how we could do it better. As I grew professionally, I became passionate about sharing that knowledge with my staff and helping them see their own potential. I believe in empowering people, giving them the tools to succeed, and helping them understand how their individual contributions affect the bigger picture. When people feel valued, supported, and confident in what they do, they become stronger employees and a stronger team. Over time, I realized that the same philosophy that helped me grow as a leader was what allowed me to build successful teams. I have been fortunate to work alongside people who grew with me, challenged me, and helped create results that none of us could have achieved alone. Their success became part of my success, and that is something I take great pride in. For me, leadership was not a single defining moment. It was a progression of recognizing needs, seeking knowledge, taking on greater responsibility, and learning that my greatest impact often came through other people. I learned that being a strong leader does not mean having all the answers. It means being willing to learn, share what you know, recognize potential in others, and create an environment where people can thrive. That is the kind of leader I have worked to become throughout my career: someone who understands the operation, invests in her people, and knows that the strongest results come when everyone has the opportunity to shine.