Day one on the job as the new executive director at Street Sense was an exciting thing. I got to review documents, meet fantastic volunteers, start up a new e-mail address ([email protected]) and see the incredible Street Sense staff (Amy, Lisa and Mary) in action. Oh yeah, I also washed the dishes from our vendor holiday party.
And they were the best dishes I ever washed.
I can’t tell you how thrilled I am to join this organization. With the groundwork established by our co-founders, Laura Thompson Osuri and Ted Henson, along with the momentum built by the work of my predecessor, Abby Strunk, Street Sense is steadily moving in a positive direction. As a resident of the District of Columbia, I have seen the progress first hand. And I can tell you, our future is going to be tremendous.
While I was in the kitchen soaking the plates and trays, I thought about that action. Washing those dishes is a great analogy of what happens here every day. Everyone pitches in to get tasks accomplished. Street Sense has built an organization that celebrates that kind of collaboration. It is not enough for us to be just a group that produces and sells a newspaper. It is not enough for us to assist our wonderful vendors with improving their lives. No, most importantly, I believe our strength is the value of the community that springs from this organization. Our vendors, staff, volunteers and partner organizations are the ties that bind this community together. Those ties need to be working together and toward the same goal. No one is more important or more essential than another. All are essential.
Like being sure that the dishes get done. It may not be the most glamorous of jobs, but imagine a party with no dishes.
Periodically, I will join our conversation here with some thoughts and perspectives. Some will be funny, some will address more serious topics. Hopefully, all will be insightful. And I hope you know you are invited to join in the conversation as well. Please offer your thoughts about our mission and our work by e-mailing us, visiting us online at www.streetsense.org, or by taking a few short moments to speak with one of our vendors in the community. You’ll be glad you did.
Want to do more? Outstanding! I knew you were the go-get-’em type! Consider supporting us with a financial contribution or contact us to volunteer.
Or maybe next time you can help me wash some of those dishes.
That’s my two cents.
