One Year In: Reflections from My First Year as Executive Director

This past year has been one of the most humbling experiences of my professional life.

Stepping into the role of Executive Director at the Rose Andom Center, I knew the work would be complex. What I could not fully anticipate was the depth of courage I would witness every single day—from survivors navigating unimaginable circumstances, and from the staff and partners who show up alongside them with unwavering commitment.

Over the past year, I’ve come to understand that much of my role is to carry the stories of moments that may not always make headlines—but they are everything.

The moment we are able to place a mom and child, who have been living in their car for weeks, into a hotel—offering their first sense of safety and a clean shower in days. The moment a fellow leader shares the heartbreak of a client who didn’t make it out safely, and still chooses to channel that grief into showing up for those who are still here. The moment a long-overdue guilty verdict comes in. The moment a rent check prevents an eviction, allowing someone to remain in a place where they feel safe. The moment we hand someone a security camera, knowing it brings them one step closer to peace of mind.

There are also moments of joy—wrapping holiday gifts together, dogs in our offices, celebrating career milestones and life changes. These moments, too, matter.

What makes all of this possible is a coordinated response working as it should—a barrier quietly removed. It’s a model that brings together systems that don’t always naturally align, but must, because lives depend on it. Over the past year, we’ve expanded our network from 18 partners to 34—pushing one another, learning from each other, and ensuring that every survivor who walks through our doors can access the support they need.

We’ve also been intentional about bringing in partners who approach the work differently. Not every organization is meant to do the same thing for every survivor—and that’s the point. Every survivor has their own story, their own needs, and deserves a response that reflects that.

This year has strengthened my belief that we must stay grounded in the realities survivors face. As systems, policies, and politics shift, our responsibility is to keep survivors at the center and ensure those changes move us closer to safety, dignity, and access—not further away. At a time when funding is increasingly constrained and resources feel scarce, the Rose Andom Center has doubled down on our mission: to deepen collaboration, expand partnerships, and break down barriers so no survivor has to navigate a complex system alone.

I am deeply grateful for the team, partners, and community that make this work possible. I carry forward a renewed sense of purpose: to listen closely, to lead thoughtfully, and to stay focused on what matters most—the people who come through our doors seeking safety and a path forward.

One year in, I am certain of this: the work is urgent, the challenges are real, and the opportunity to make a meaningful difference is profound.