There are so many things I love about Spring – longer days with sunshine, blooming tulips, dinners outside, the start of Major League Baseball, etc. While the season can be a challenge for those of us with pollen allergies, I still enjoy spending more time outside with family and friends.
My favorite outside activity these days is going to track meets. My son took up distance running a couple of years ago and has remained committed to running every day. He loves it, and we love watching him run. Because my son is committed to running every single day he has become a very fast runner. On his first day of school, the head coach of the cross-country team at West Salem high school found my son in his PE class and introduced himself. A family friend of ours had encouraged the coach to do this, and my son (not to mention his parents) was so grateful. Coach has taken my son under his proverbial wing this year and been a consistent source of both encouragement and challenge, which has helped my son to grow tremendously as a runner and feel a strong sense of connection to his school.
At the most recent track meet, I watched Coach connect with my son before, during and after his race. It was incredibly heartwarming. It also led me to reflect on how much we all need connection with people who can encourage and challenge us. I see this every time I attend one of the six community-based meetings that SLF hosts every month for over 200 fully invested community leaders. It is a joy to watch and be a part of people and organizations connecting over a shared pursuit of Shalom in our community!
At Salem Leadership Foundation we build connections in neighborhoods and capacity in nonprofits. At our annual fundraising event, Fancy Friday, we will be sharing stories of connection. It is our hope that these stories will inspire action/service, hope, and support for the ministry and work of SLF. We would love to see you there!
Grace and Peace,
Kyle Dickinson
From SLF Partner, Dr. Valerie Geer, Family YMCA of Marion & Polk Counties
I stepped into a new role in August 2024 as the first Community Outreach Chaplain at the Family YMCA of Marion & Polk Counties. This means that I get to work with faith-based organizations and people of goodwill to better serve all kinds of community members who benefit from the YMCA’s programs and services. The Salem Leadership Foundation has been instrumental in facilitating these partnerships. Whether it’s getting connected through the Churches as Neighborhood centers groups or the neighborhood-based Community Partnership Teams, I have met so many boots-on-the-ground community leaders making a difference in Salem. Thanks to SLF, now I get to be part of that mix and work collaboratively in a way that is both joyful and effective. Participating in SLF has enabled me to embed deeper into our city, provided opportunities for participation, and opened doors for further development as a leader in our community.