As the Leadership Snohomish County (LSC) Class of 2012 winds down, I have been attempting to take time to reflect. On where I was at coming into the year versus who I am today. On the many experiences that I had through education days and through my Impact Team’s project. On the fact that this exciting year of learning new things about my community and myself is coming to a close. I’ve also tried to plan out my next steps, and what I am going to do with the information that has been gifted to me about the needs in my community.
Coming in to Leadership Snohomish County, I thought I knew all about my county, having lived in various cities in the county for the past 15+ years. In reality, though, I was aware of only a small portion of the diverse businesses and organizations that serve this community. I also had no grasp for the many remarkable social and health services and programs that are doing amazing things to serve the people of Snohomish County.
One example of this is Dawson Place, a Child Advocacy Center that streamlines the many services (law enforcement, child protective services, medical, victim advocacy, prosecution, and mental health) that serve young victims of sexual or physical abuse. This amazing program is not the cure for abuse, but it does support victims in a way that no other child advocacy center can.
I also came to LSC thinking that my voice didn’t matter to the community, because I can’t really make that much difference by myself. (Similar to how one voter in a presidential election can’t change the vote.) But I have heard countless stories of how one person with passion for addressing a need can induce a positive change in the community. I now realize that my voice does matter, and that I do owe it to my community to make an investment in it, and get involved.
I have begun to do that through my Impact Team’s project, to work with the Friends of the Everett Public Library to increase membership, volunteerism, and financial contributions to this valued non-profit organization. I have immensely enjoyed my project team, as well as our interactions with the EPL. Not only will the project itself have a lasting impact on me, but the experience of working with a diverse group of professionals has been an invaluable exercise!
Like others, I regretfully all-too-often fall back on the “I’m too busy” mantra, which is an easily justified (though not always legitimate) excuse for inaction. One thing that was impressed upon me through LSC is that time is not the only need. Visiting the Volunteers of America Food Bank earlier this month, I was dumbfounded to learn that the vast majority of the food that this organization provides to the community comes from one day. A simple one-day food drive (Letter Carrier’s Food Drive is May 12!) enables VOA to feed thousands! And I can have an impact simply by sharing the value of donating to my colleagues, through social media outlets, and to my circle of friends. That and making sure to put a bag of food at the mailbox on the 12th of May. This can make an immediate impact on my community, one that will directly aide members of my community.
I know now that I do need to be more aware of and involved in my community, and that my voice can make a difference. I know some of my strengths, and areas that I need to continue to invest in myself. Beyond that, I know that as a leader, I need to surround myself with complementary folks that will make a complete team, instead of trying to “do it all”. This statement alone will have a lasting impact on my life, as it will direct how I spend my time investing in myself, as well who I associate with in the future.
What I don’t know is where all of this will take me. There are countless areas of need and I am aware of many of them, thanks to LSC. I am in the process of exploring my areas of interest, while at the same time being open to opportunities to serve that may not fall within my comfort zone.
The bottom line is that I can make an impact, and with the many ways I can serve, inaction is not an option.
