Executive Director Beverly Worthington is inspired by the ways FamilyForward turns "thought bubbles" into opportunities, building support systems for low-income, working families.
Imagine blowing bubbles. Given the right amount of airflow, they appear in rapid succession — some big, some small, some attached to each other, and even some that pop out of existence quickly. The ones that maintain their form float around with ease for a short time until they, too, vanish from view. I remember, as a child, trying to catch a bubble with my bubble wand, then trying to catch another so they could join together — always trying to create the biggest collection of bubbles I could at one time. It was an exercise in patience and persistence.
My first three months with FamilyForward have been a lot like blowing bubbles. With each new encounter I have within our communities, flurries of bubbles fill my head. I call them “thought bubbles,” which represent the abundant opportunities we have — as individuals, organizations and communities — to influence meaningful change and create powerful impact. These opportunities are big and small, simple and complex. Some pop quickly, but many simply keep floating until it’s appropriate to explore the possibilities each one holds. Even as that happens, more bubbles appear, which means we have the capacity to grow into new ways of thinking to overcome the ever-changing challenges present in our communities.
Thought bubbles in action
When I began my new position, the board and staff of FamilyForward were already engaged in a strategic-planning process to identify some of their bubbles, and I’m excited to join their exploration. While learning on the go, I am inspired by the many ways FamilyForward continues to turn thought bubbles into opportunities — acting boldly to change families’ lives, and the surrounding communities, for the better.
FamilyForward is keeping families housed in the face of rising rental costs and limited options for affordable housing. Many working families in our communities are struggling to keep up; one emergency or unexpected event can threaten their home stability. We at FamilyForward work to build villages around families — through staff, mentors, community resources and more — who validate that they are not alone.
Building support systems
While we establish goals and provide other support to improve families’ financial states, I truly believe it’s the consistently compassionate human connection that makes the greatest difference. We all need a solid support system around us to help build confidence that we can make our way in the world, even if we require a little help along the way.
We have an opportunity to augment our impact in significant ways. As I continue to collect bubbles through engagement with associates, families and supporters, I invite you to reach out to me, at beverly.worthington@family-forward.org, with thoughts about how FamilyForward can become an even better partner in the community. I’m looking forward to all the ways we will grow together.
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