Wait and See ...Mobilizing a vision happens with people who care.
by Angie Matthiessen, Executive Director – United Way of Charlotte County
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him. (1 Cor. 2:9)”. For this woman of faith, I have loved the fact that there is such a thing as a ‘birth verse’ and this one happens to be mine. After discovering it many years ago, it is something I look to as a promise and offers me HOPE. When I first selected my 2023 word of the year, SEE (mentioned several times in this column), I did not realize the connection. Now I see that 2023 had some pretty big things in store, I just had to wait for it.
Next week marks nine years since I have been at United Way of Charlotte County. I spent three years as development director and it is hard to believe but six as director, which began just after Hurricane Irma made her way over Florida. Many times over the six years, a vision lingered and drove the steps we took as a team. The vision has remained and waiting to see it come to fruition has often felt frustrating. Capacity is everything for a nonprofit and sometimes things just are not ready. The team and many who know me are very versed in telling me to slow down. However, the vision has been there, and it would not let me go. I waited.
Fortunately, there have been amazing staff and board members who have fed the vision, supported the steps, and encouraged its growth. This past year has seen changes in our staffing and left us with three positions to fill. Two key leaders on our staff have gone on to incredible opportunities for their career and it is such a joy to see them thrive and succeed in their sweet spot serving the community. While these transitions can be hard, I knew we were being prepared for something different and I just didn’t know what yet. So, we as a team waited and watched. In the spring we forced ourselves to stop and reflect and take stock of what we really needed to move forward.
After Hurricane Ian, we also were finalizing our strategic priorities which we have reviewed the last several months in these columns. I can now say I see what this was all about. We as a team agree we have never been more clear or excited than we are now. As of next week, on the same day as when I started nine years ago, we will be fully staffed with the right positions and the right capacity to see the vision as I originally saw it. The structure has changed, and the positions are filled with passionaries who are perfectly suited to drive the vision forward.
Meet Jill Swan, Gail McKee, and Kristen Szych. Structured as verticals, each of these team members will focus on one of our three strategic priorities – Family Empowerment, Ageless Engagement, and United at Work. There is a vision for each of these positions with the mission of mobilizing the power of our community to address the issues and offer HOPE. As we have mentioned and I hope you have noticed, it involves you as well. In the coming months, more information will be provided for how you can help us and my HOPE is that you will SEE to it – clear your heart space, your schedule, and come with us.
While we can’t SEE it yet, it will be beautiful. We have much to do. There are people hurting inside their homes, the questions remain for them. May we be their answer.
As you prepare yourself, please visit the previous columns to review our priorities at www.unitedwayccfl.org/news.
For more information about United Way of Charlotte County’s mission: Mobilizing the power of our community to break the cycle of poverty, please contact Angie Matthiessen, Executive Director. She can be reached at director@unitedwayccfl.org.