by Kris Valerio Shock, President & CEO 

 

This year LAA is turning 30. Founded in 1993, the first class graduated in 1994, so this year, we will celebrate our 30th year in everything we do. As we prepare to welcome 50 new community leaders to the LAA Flagship program, I've been reflecting on LAA's Mission and Vision:

 

This is essential work and as we turn 30, many LAA graduates have become our most treasured community leaders providing years of dedicated service and enormous impact to our community. 

 

At this 30 year milestone, there is a somber but natural occurrence, that many of our first-generation LAA community trustees are retiring and in some cases sadly passing away, making it that much more crucial that we nurture a new generation of leaders to take the baton and carry forward the work.

 

Over the last month, several examples of LAA's most dedicated community leaders have come to mind as the mantle of leadership is passed down.

 

 

Vanessa Carter, was born and raised in Anne Arundel County and has lived here most of her life. A Flagship 1995 graduate, she has an extensive history of volunteer work. From 200 - 2001, Vanessa served as Chair of the LAA Board of Directors. In 2020, her efforts were recognized with the Volunteer of the Year Award by the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County. In addition to LAA, she has previously held board positions with various organizations such as Arundel Community Development Services, Chrysalis House, London Town Foundation, Opportunity Builders, and the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County. She presently serves on the board of the YWCA of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County and is also a member of the Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corporation and the 21st Century Club of the greater Annapolis area. Vanessa was in the news recently as her mother Sarah E. Carter, the first African American and one of the first three women elected to serve on the Anne Arundel County Council, was celebrated with the naming the Arundel Center North in her honor, now the Sarah E. Carter Building. We are excited to celebrate Vanessa's legacy of leadership in October when she is inducted into the Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce Business Hall of Fame.

We were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of NLA05 graduate Gertrude Makell(pictured above, center, with Lyndra Marshall nee Pratt at right; that’s me on the left). Gertrude was a recipient of the 2007 Community Trustee Award by Leadership Anne Arundel and the Capital-Gazette Newspapers for helping to create a more vibrant community in 2006. Gertrude was so very generous in sharing her knowledge and passion for the Galesville community. If you wanted to know Galesville, you needed to know Gertrude. Up until her passing, Gertrude was the president of Galesville Community Center Organization, Inc.  She was the visionary leader and driving force behind the restoration of the Galesville Rosenwald School.  With her energy, commitment, and creativity, the Galesville Rosenwald School has been restored and converted into a vibrant space that serves as a permanent home for the activities of the Galesville Community Center Organization. The Flagship class of 2023 was fortunate to meet Gertrude during their tour of Southern Anne Arundel County (photo above). She will be so deeply missed.

 

 

A true highlight of the summer has been following LAA Board Member (NLA19/FLG20) Dee Ward's Facebook posts celebrating his great collaboration with NLA23 graduate Rita Dorsey serving the youth in the Woodside/Newtowne communities in Annapolis. Not only are Rita and Dee next-generation LAA leaders themselves, they are literally raising up a new generation of youth leaders from their amazing work with these kids this summer. We hope to see their students make their way to the NLA and Flagship programs in the years to come. (Love the LAA shirt!)

 

Finally, a shout out to next-gen community trustee Diesha Conte (NLA23) who organized a third annual Braid-a-thon to ensure that nearly 200 young people in underserved communities could return to school with the confidence that back-to-school hair styles can provide. After years of participating in drives for back to school supplies and other charitable events, Diesha saw an opportunity to support in a unique way providing an extra level of self esteem for young people. Beyond the sharp hair styling, these young people have received an invaluable lesson in grassroots community trusteeship from Diesha's dedicated and tireless work.