| Hello,
The summer solstice is upon us, a moment of solar peak in the cycle of Earth’s seasons and a time for annual reflection.
LAUNCH Flagstaff began in 2014 as an ad-hoc gathering of interested stakeholders seeking to improve educational outcomes for our community’s children. With the leadership of the Coconino County Superintendent of Schools and the backbone of the United Way of Northern Arizona funding was secured in 2016 from the Arizona Community Foundation of Flagstaff to initially fund a staff position for the then fledging idea that is now LAUNCH Flagstaff.
I am honored to have been chosen to serve our community in that role and am proud of the work that LAUNCH Flagstaff has accomplished over the past five years.
With the added financial support of the Wharton Foundation during that time, LAUNCH Flagstaff has established a three-year pilot program called Elevate PreK to address the gap in equitable access to high-quality preschool education. Additionally, we have fostered relationships that are producing effective collaborative action for students to explore career pathways that exist right here in Flagstaff. LAUNCH Flagstaff has also cultivated opportunities for expanded educational leadership development across all schools in Flagstaff be they district or charter schools. These are just a few examples of our amazing progress in a relatively short period of time. Progress with which we should all feel proud. I know that I am.
These strengthened relationships that are producing this collaborative action gives me great confidence in the ability of our community to collectively continue this work of advancing equitable access to world-class education for every child. This confidence motivates me to now focus on other projects, which I’ve held dormant, and bring them to fruition.
I am grateful for the opportunity to have served the Flagstaff community, a place which has been my home for the past 32 years. Yet, it is time for me to step away from my position with LAUNCH Flagstaff at the end of June and let this community collaboration evolve into its next stage.
After my departure the LAUNCH Flagstaff Steering Committee will continue to gather under the leadership of Scott Pettitt of the Wharton Foundation in close collaboration with the staff and Board of United Way of Northern Arizona.
Just as the cycle of seasons from spring to summer, to autumn and winter, is constantly changing, so does the work of collective impact. It can never be dependent on one person, or one organization, for its success or sustainability. It takes the whole community. In that spirit I hope you will join me in embracing this transition into this next season for LAUNCH Flagstaff with the same confidence I have. |
