You can’t go home again…Or can you?
- Details
- Published on Friday, 14 December 2012 20:38
 |
| By: Marianne Lynch |
You can’t go home again…Or can you?
Some of you might recognize my name as being associated with Habitat. I was the development director from 2007 to 2010. In 2010, I was presented a fantastic opportunity to lead development efforts at Philabundance. As someone who has been deeply connected with issues of hunger and homelessness, I felt that it was the right calling at the right time.
Well, two years later, I have again been called in another direction, back to Habitat. In my last month, many people have asked why I returned after being part of such a large, well-known organization. At first, my answers were centered on the usual pursuits, such as missing spending time with the volunteers, being excited to lead such an amazing organization, being more closely connected to my own community and more. All fantastic reasons to take on the challenge before me, to be sure, but it wasn’t until just the last week or so, that the real reason for my return was revealed.
Over the past two weeks, I have had the pleasure of meeting with our homeowners, many of whom have been struggling through this recession, just like you and me. They’ve shared their triumphs, challenges, family news and funny stories with me and they’ve been candid about their concern for Habitat’s stability.
In those conversations, I’ve come to see that it is not just the thousands of families that still are in need of safe, decent, affordable housing that need Habitat, but also the ones who have already received homes that need us most. I can think of very few other non-profits that get to see the impact of their work, day after day and year after year for 20 years or more. As the holder of each of their no interest, low payment mortgages, Habitat is in their lives each and every month, listening to news of new babies, children getting into college, job losses, illnesses, getting married and so much more…
These families need us to be stable in order to continue their own road toward more stability. They rely on our roots so that they can grow. I think that this is why I have returned – to water the roots, help the organization grow and move forward. I’m not the same as when I left – I’ve worked with some of the finest non-profit professionals out there and they’ve taught me a great deal about leadership, integrity, accountability and my own shortcomings. I plan to use this knowledge to help our families - the ones yet to come AND the ones we already know. After all, that is why we are here.
