President's Perspective - April 2023

Leadership, ducks and my grandma

A Rockford love story

I graduated from the Leadership Rockford program in 2011. I was 25, only about three years into my Rockford journey, and the executive director of IGNITE. e program opened my eyes to so many sides of Rockford I had no idea existed. As a Byron native, I knew Rockford as the place I went for everything my small town couldn’t provide – clothes, the movies and an amazing egg roll at Royal Dragon (gosh, I miss that place.)

A er immigrating from Germany, my grandmother lived in Rockford for most of her adult life. She was a regular at the YMCA along the river, a proud volunteer at Klehm Arboretum, a docent at Anderson Gardens and a fervent walker of the Sinnissippi bike path. She was a volunteer usher at the Coronado and dined at Rockford’s hip spots with her friends.

She introduced us to her Rockford as kids. We would take old bread down to the river and feed the ducks (a pastime I’ve learned is frowned upon but holds a wonderful memory in my heart). We gawked at the Rock Men, smelled all the roses in the rose garden and peered into the flower clock. We enjoyed shows at the Coronado, threw pennies into the Colonial Village Mall fountain and rode the giant escalator in the middle of Cherry Vale Mall when it was time to meet my mom by the big clock.

When my grandmother was battling dementia in her later years, I found joy in taking her to her favorite stomping grounds. Anderson Gardens—a place she had love—suddenly was new for her. Witnessing that rebirth for her was both a beautiful experience and a heartbreaking one for me. Now, she has a memorial brick near the roses at Sinnissippi Gardens, and it makes the place even more magical for me.

My childhood and early-adult life are tied to two different sides of Rockford — the original Rockford and the “bigcity” convenience Rockford. Leadership Rockford was the seamstress that wove those two Rockfords together for me.

Whenever I bring up Leadership Rockford in casual conversation, I’m frequently regaled with stories of the program that impacted the lives of so many in the Rockford region. Leadership Rockford is a jovial, impactful and inspiring program for all those who have had the pleasure of attending. It introduces long-time Rockfordians to new organizations and projects they didn’t know existed and gives newcomers a better understanding of who-does-what in a city that is somehow big and small at the same time.

This month, we have the honor of graduating another class of participants. Having been involved in the program for more than 10 years (as a participant and then on the administration side), I have made life-long friends, learned new things every year and am re-energized every time I attend a session. While my involvement with the 2022/2023 class was limited, I am so excited to celebrate them and welcome them as members of our new Leadership Rockford Alumni Program.

My grandma passed away in December of 2018, but so much of her spirit lives on in so much of Rockford. She would be proud of all that our community has accomplished. She would be thrilled that I created a life here—a life I love, am proud of and nd meaning in. As I continue my love a air with Rockford, I can’t say that I won’t sneak a few pieces of stale bread to my children to feed the ducks down by the river. But I can say I will continue to engage in all that Rockford has to o er thanks to my foundation, my career and my experience with Leadership Rockford.