Page 24 - LRCC June 2022 Focus
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#LOVELANSING FOCUS MAGAZINE | JUNE 2022
Executive Director Joan Nelson to Retire This Summer After
23 years Leading Allen Neighborhood Center
NON-PROFIT SEEKING A DYNAMIC, ENERGETIC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO
LEAD THE ORGANIZATION IN ITS NEXT PHASE
OF GROWTH AND INNOVATION
oan Nelson, one of four identity, while addressing the needs of our neighbors,”
neighborhood leaders who said Nelson. “I am deeply grateful for the last 25 years.
Jfounded the Allen Neighbor ANC has given me an extraordinary opportunity to
Center (ANC) in 1999 and the join with neighbors and other stakeholders in crafting
organization’s sole executive director strategies to build a strong, sustainable community
over its successful 23-year history, and address long-standing, enduring challenges
will retire in late summer 2022. like poverty, hunger, and lack of access to housing,
healthcare, and other resources.”
Nelson has led ANC as it has grown
and evolved over the past two Nelson The ANC Board of Directors publicly launched its search
decades into a dynamic hub where for its next Executive Director
Lansing Eastside neighbors can who will serve as an effective and
access resources to improve their faithful steward of ANC’s legacy,
health and well-being, expand maintain the organization’s social
their capacity to seize job and entrepreneurial spirit, and inspire
entrepreneurial opportunities, the trust, confidence, and respect
foster a strong sense of place, of the ANC staff, the Eastside
belonging, and community pride, neighborhood, and partners
and build a safe, sustainable, and throughout the Greater Lansing
thriving neighborhood. Nelson community.
was honored with the Lansing
Regional Chamber of Commerce's “Joan Nelson’s combination of
Community Service Award in 2021. unbounded energy, creative and
strategic thinking, courageous
Beginning with its Youth Service and committed leadership, and
Corps in 1999 — and a food pantry, passion for Lansing’s Eastside
senior program, and neighborhood is irreplaceable,” said John Lum,
newsletter the following year, president of the ANC Board of
Nelson has guided ANC in Directors. “Our board is seeking
establishing and maintaining a leader who will stand on Joan’s
the Allen Farmers Market (2004), shoulders, loves the Eastside as
the Hunter Park GardenHouse much as she does, and effectively
(2008), and Allen Market Place, a serve ANC’s historic mission, while
multifunctional food resource center (2013). applying their skills and talents to shape ANC’s future
and assist neighbors in meeting ever-evolving needs.”
Throughout its history, ANC has engaged neighbors
through an annual door-to-door canvass and assisted The ANC Board of Directors is seeking a strategic
in enrolling in healthcare coverage and accessing local thinker and an inclusive, visionary leader with a passion
housing resources. On June 24, it will host an open for the Eastside neighborhood and ANC’s values as
house celebrating the completion of the Allen Place a community organization that pursues neighbor-
development, which brings additional commercial driven solutions. The ideal candidate will possess a
kitchens, apartments, a clinic, and grocery store to demonstrated comfort level working with diverse and
the Eastside. vulnerable populations, natural problem-solving abilities,
a strong track record in nonprofit fundraising, and the
“The Eastside is a truly special neighborhood that has ability to lead and inspire a highly capable staff of 10-12
been self-directing, connected and mobilized for at team members and a small army of volunteers. l
least the last 50 years. This makes it an easy place to do
our work of contributing to a sense of belonging and
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