Over the past 60 days as Executive Director of Chattanooga 2.0, I have spent significant time listening, learning, building relationships, and deepening my understanding of both the work and the community we serve.
I entered this role with a simple guiding framework: “Know the People, Know the Work.”
That commitment has shaped every conversation, meeting, and moment of reflection during these first two months.
Know the People
One of the greatest gifts of these first 60 days has been the opportunity to spend time with people across our community who care deeply about children, youth, and families.
Internally
- I have met individually every member of the Chattanooga 2.0 team to better understand both the scope of their work and who they are as people.
- I continue to be inspired by the passion, talent, and commitment of our staff and the depth of care they bring to this work every day.
- I have also spent time evaluating organizational structures and considering opportunities that will strengthen our long-term growth, stability, and impact.
Across the Community
- I have met with leaders from our advisory boards, elected officials, community partners, educators, and nonprofit leaders to hear their perspectives and better understand the opportunities and challenges facing our community.
- I have engaged with local, state, and national funders to deepen my understanding of the evolving funding landscape and to strengthen relationships that support our collective work.
- I have also engaged with policymakers at both the state and national level around priorities in the cradle-to-career space and the importance of systems that create opportunities for children and youth.
Listening to Community Voice
- One of the most meaningful parts of these first 60 days has been spending time listening to students, families, educators, and community members through our ongoing work connected to the Wallace Foundation Advancing Opportunities for Adolescents initiative.
- These conversations continue to reinforce the importance of designing systems with young people rather than simply for them.
Know the Work
Over these first 60 days, I have worked to develop a deeper understanding of both the strategy and responsibility of a place-based cradle-to-career backbone organization.
Systems Work Matters
I continue to believe deeply that:
- Every child should be seen, known, and supported.
- We must do for all children what families with resources often do for their own children — intentionally connect them to relationships, opportunities, advocacy, support, and pathways to success.
- Our work is not simply about programs. It is about strengthening the opportunities, supports, and connections that help children and families thrive.
Civic Architecture
One idea that has stayed with me consistently over these first two months is this:
We must become civic architects — helping build the future community we want to see for our children.
That means:
- Continuing to align systems and break down silos.
- Building shared investment and responsibility across sectors.
- Creating environments where children experience belonging, opportunity, safety, challenge, and hope.
- Moving beyond isolated initiatives toward coordinated community action.
Urgency and Responsibility
- The deeper I have gone into this work, the more convinced I am that our children require focused action and urgency.
- There are children in our community navigating barriers right now that impact their education, health, relationships, sense of belonging, and future opportunities. Their childhood is precious, and our action is important.
- That urgency must compel all of us — schools, nonprofits, government, philanthropy, businesses, faith communities, and residents — toward strong relationships, authentic collaboration, and clear alignment.
Important Milestones
Over these first 60 days, several important pieces of work have also continued moving forward:
- We continue to convene the Children’s Cabinet and will take time this summer to identify the strategic priorities and next steps for the future.
- We remain deeply engaged in the design phase of our adolescent strategy work connected to the Wallace Foundation.
- We successfully hired a Director of Adolescent Strategy & Impact who will help lead and strengthen our focused work on adolescence and youth thriving across Hamilton County.
Looking Ahead
As I reflect on these first 60 days, I am filled with gratitude:
- Gratitude for the trust people have extended.
- Gratitude for the partnerships that already exist across this community.
- Gratitude for the opportunity to help lead important work for children and families.
I am also increasingly convinced that Chattanooga – Hamilton County has both the capacity and the people needed to become a national model for what is possible when a community commits to ensuring that all children thrive.
The work ahead is significant.
But so is the opportunity.
I remain deeply committed to doing the work to ensure that all children have the necessary conditions to realize and achieve their full potential and access the economic independence needed for them to flourish.
