Having the Right Stuff (and I don't mean the movie!)

I think the purpose of life is to be useful, to be responsible, to be honorable, to be compassionate. It is, after all, to matter, to count, to stand for something, to have made some difference that you lived at all.

Leo C. Rosten 

Hello!  

This is Val Traore and I have the most awesome job in the world!  I'm the chief visionary officer for the Food Bank of South Jersey.  The Food Bank of South Jersey (FBSJ) is the leader in sourcing and distributing safe and nutritious food to people in need in South Jersey.  At the center of a diverse network of public and private partners to include the media, FBSJ has sourced and distributed more than 100 million pounds of food to people in need since it opened its doors in 1985.   It is the largest human service organization in South Jersey organized solely to reduce hunger and malnutrition to people living in Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Salem county.

I've been there for the last seven years but when I started in 2006, my plan was to stay for three and find my next gig.  Well, my next gig came and went, several times, actually.  And here I am seven years deep into an organization that has become so much more than my place of employment, it's my ministry.  I love going to work everyday.  Mostly, because of the people that work and volunteer there.  Our staff and volunteers are a reflection of who we serve which gives us an insight into the challenges and unique needs of our beneficiaries.  This is a company of people that give 100% heart and soul to their jobs!

We had a layoff a few months back which resulted in 20% of my staff reduced.  Well, you can imagine that the remaining staff wasn't looking forward to absorbing extra work on an already stretched organization.  But we're nonprofit professionals and we know that no matter what, we have to fulfill the mission.  And so we did. Everyone rolled up their sleeves and leaned in to get the vital services of food and nutrition education to those in need.  If you looked up the phrase,  "going the extra mile", you would see a photograph of my staff.

I like talking about my staff because I'm appreciative of how they have shaped my leadership.  I learn so much from them and I desire to be a leader that inspires people and move them to greatness.  My team makes me shine and I appreciate every lumen that they provide.  

I dedicate this 1st post to Team FBSJ!