Stories
My name is Julie Vo McConnell but many people call me JVo. I am a member of Headwaters’ Development Committee and an alumni of the 2021 Giving Project program. Participating…
Read More
As this chapter in my life comes to a close, I have been reflecting on my path to Headwaters and my work over the past eight years. I am filled…
Read More
In mid-January I received an email from one of my staff members. I read and re-read one sentence that stuck out to me: “I feel vulnerable sharing this with you,…
Read More
In November, my brother in-law passed away. His death was unexpected. He was young. He meant the world to the people who loved him. Now there is a huge gaping…
Read More
“Maria, I don’t have any fight left in me,” my friend told me recently over lunch. She shared the impact that years of organizing and advocating were having on her.…
Read More
The tree in my front yard has started to lose its leaves. I learned recently that trees do that to survive drought conditions. A tree drops its leaves to conserve…
Read More
Inhale through your nose. Pause and count to four. Now, exhale and blow out your breath through your mouth. Notice if your shoulders are bunched up near your ears. Relax…
Read More
As I write this piece, cases of coronavirus continue to rise, both here in Minnesota and across the country. Like you, I am managing so much uncertainty. My wife, my…
Read More
Recently, one of my board colleagues at Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice talked about the dissonance she is experiencing between her head knowledge and her heart knowledge. As I listened…
Read More
Being the president of this 36-year-old institution is the honor of my lifetime. But, like so many leaders, I often suffer from imposter syndrome. Who am I to lead this…
Read More