“It is in times of crisis that great leaders emerge.” – Anonymous

Great leaders need support. They need inspiration, development, connection. Here's a dose of inspiration, brought to you by your LAA colleagues.

Want some GOOD NEWS?

"These are unprecedented times." How many times have you read that phrase in the last few weeks? Each day there are new urgent realities to the evolving pandemic. There are also amazing leaders rising to the occasion, lending their passion, grit, wisdom and even humor, to see us through the immediate crisis to better days ahead. With more than 1400 alumni, many of these exceptional leaders are graduates or current participants of LAA programs. I'll feature just a few below with a few tangible ways you can help, but ask everyone reading this message to send us news:

What are you doing? How can we help?

We also encourage you to follow the LAA Facebook page and Twitter feed where we'll be amplifying the work of so many inspiring LAA alumni so we can lend the strength of the broader LAA community to your efforts and provide much needed inspiration to power us through the challenging days ahead.

Monica Alvarado (FLG09) - #FeedAnneArudel

Monica Alvarado’s goal is simple - support local restaurants and provide meals for community members in need during the COVID 19 crisis. Keep people fed, keep people employed, and keep businesses afloat.

In the first days of this crisis Monica, owner of Bread and Butter Kitchen, teamed up with Anne Arundel Connecting Together (ACT), restaurants across the county and the Anne Arundel County Partnership for Children, Youth and Families. Now the  Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation has jumped onboard to manage & distribute funds raised to ensure accurate management and reporting. Click here for a quick video story about the initiative or click here to read a quick article.

Donations can be made through the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation website. Visit: https://www.ripkenfoundation.org/donate and select #FeedAnneArundel from the drop down menu. Or you can also text to donate. Text FeedAnneArundel to 76728.

Dee Ward (NLA19 and FLG20) and Rob Levit (FLG09) - Art supplies for youth in need

Creating Communities, a local arts and educational nonprofit directed by Rob Levit (Divine ’09), is partnering with Dee Ward (NLA 2019) and City of Annapolis Community Relationships Specialist William Rowel to distribute arts and educational supplies to children living in subsidized housing and/or attending Title I schools. Over $2,000 in supplies were raised in just under 48 hours and will be delivered early next week. Rob is a proud Lifetime Member of Leadership Anne Arundel, a volunteer for NLA and Flagship, and the only two-time recipient of the Community Trustee Award. Dee works diligently in the Annapolis community where he was born and raised. He has started countless initiatives to improve his community and mentor young people. Check out a recent article about Dee featured in the Capital. To donate supplies click this Amazon link and be sure to select Steve Poole for the delivery address.

Amy Chase (FLG11) - Maryland Food Bank

Leadership in crisis requires clarity. Everyone wants to help, but how? In the early days of the crisis Amy Chase (FLG11) of the Maryland Food Bank was super clear: Money and Volunteers. To lend a hand, you can contribute to MFB’s Virtual Food Drive online here  and you can find volunteer opportunities here.

There are countless more stories of LAA alumni bringing their time, talent and treasure to meet the needs of the COVID-19 crisis. In the days and weeks to come we will share as much timely information as possible to provide our local leaders with vital support throughout this crisis and beyond.

To let us know what you are doing and how we can help amplify your efforts, contact us today.