Lisa Mitchell

Michigan Nightlight: What does being a leader mean to you?
Grand Rapids Area Center for Ecumenism (GRACE) Executive Director Lisa Mitchell: A leader must be passionate and committed to the visions, mission, philosophy, values, and policies of the organization. A leader makes sure the organization follows its mission and nurtures relationships with those that believe in the organization. A leader is a good listener, with staff and with the board of directors. A leader is flexible and willing to change -- or do something different -- based on a conversation with staff, board and others from the community. A leader needs to say thank you for work done for the

Since conflict and tension exist, a good leader lives with those tensions and doesn’t react to them, but reflects on positive ways to confront them.

organization.
 
A leader must be visionary -- looking to the future for the sustainability of the organization. Since conflict and tension exist, a good leader lives with those tensions and doesn’t react to them, but reflects on positive ways to confront them. Leaders do what they say they will do. Leaders take time for themselves in order to work productively.
 
What is your dream for kids?
My dream for kids is that every one of them, no matter their skin color or ethnicity, is able to live out of poverty, with healthcare and an education that is equitable for everyone. I also hope that they are raised in a loving environment where they are told that they matter and have gifts and skills to share with the community they live in.
 
My dream for kids is that they are all treated with dignity and respect for who they are and that they always feel that they contribute to the community with their ideas and creativity.
 
What is one concrete thing that could be done to improve the environment for social sector work in Michigan?
I believe that we need to work on building more partnerships and more collaborative efforts to reduce duplication in services for all social sector organizations. We are not competing with each other, so why should we be offering the exact same services when we can work together to eliminate that?  
 
How do you know you’re making progress?
Our new Lunch and Learn programs tell us, for one thing. They are structured to bring leaders together to discuss issues of

If I’m energized, excited, and challenged to complete a new idea, or if I have received good feedback on something I’m working on to create a racism-free community, this excitement can keep me awake...

inclusion, diversity, and cultural competency. We held six in the past year and out of those six, we engaged about 250 people from over 100 organizations to talk about partnerships and collaborations -- including many schools and other organizations that work specifically with children. We know that they are making a difference because they just keep growing.
 
Individual and organizational evaluations, and surveys from those connected with the work we’re doing, also assist me in knowing that the Partners for a Racism-Free Community program is making progress and that we are achieving what we’ve set to do.
 
What are you most proud of?
I am proud that the work of the Partners for a Racism-Free Community is gaining momentum and that we are beginning to see results. I am proud that we are bringing people together to discuss solutions to the problems that we face, because people are hungry for this type of information.
 
What keeps you awake at night?
Two things keep me awake at night. If I’m energized, excited, and challenged to complete a new idea, or if I have received good feedback on something I’m working on to create a racism-free community, this excitement can keep me awake as I think about new possibilities and ways to connect with people.
 
On the other side, if a tragedy or horrific event has happened somewhere in the city, state, country or world, that tends to focus my energy on prayer for the people involved.  Thinking about ways I can individually do something about it keeps me awake, too.