3 minute read
Partners in Wellness
Throughout my career, and now as I take the helm as president and CEO of Grand Rapids Community Foundation, I have known that community work is hard work. It is our hope that all our partners—donors, nonprofits, leaders, doers and more—are pouring into themselves as they pour into this community. The old saying holds true, “You can’t pour from an empty cup.”
Grand Rapids Community Foundation works hard to foster trust and actively demonstrate our commitment to the well-being of our staff and our partners as we work together to pursue racial, social and economic justice for everyone who calls Kent County home.
As we care for our community, we know we must also care for ourselves. So, we are modeling what we want to see from each of you. By leaning into the people and experiences that bring us joy—that fill us up—we will have the sustenance we need to give of our time, talent, treasure and testimony to make this a West Michigan we can all be proud of.
For me, wellness looks like spending quality time with my husband, kids and grandbabies. Their unconditional love and support fills me up and inspires me to love, lead and serve, even on the hard days. At this stage in my life, wellness also looks like giving myself permission to always show up authentically. The freedom to just be LaSandra from the east side of Detroit (Go Lions!), who finds joy in the simple things and loves her people and her community with everything she’s got, has done so much for my overall wellbeing. It has made me a better leader, strategist and advocate for social justice.
The Community Foundation team and I would love to hear how you are being intentional about prioritizing your own wellbeing. Drop us a note at Communications@GRFoundation.org or on social media at @GRCommFound. We love to explore new ways to practice self-care while we care for community.
In this issue of PARTNERS in community, we explore the Community Foundation’s investments in wellness, learn about the critical work of our partners at Our Mental Health Collective, explore how donor partners are leveraging their Donor Advised funds, and I share a little about the person behind the new president and CEO title.
In the months ahead, I am looking forward to connecting with you to learn more about who you are, what inspires your partnership with the Community Foundation and how you see us moving toward the realization of our North Star—making opportunity, prosperity and belonging accessible to us all.
Thank you for instilling your trust in me. Let’s get to work!
