3 minute read
Better Together
Dear friends,
There is a parable that I think of often. In the story, a boy and an old man are walking along the seashore when they see hundreds of starfish scattered along the sand. The boy begins picking them up, one by one, and throwing them back into the sea. The old man turns to him and asks, “Why do you bother to throw the starfish back? There are so many of them; you will never be able to save them all. Your efforts make no difference.” The boy looks up at the old man intently, throws a starfish into the sea, and says, “It made a difference to that one.”
During the past year, as we have moved through an inclusive and comprehensive visioning process to develop the plan that will provide our guiding path for the next three years, we find ourselves at a crossroads; while we see unprecedented need in our community, we also deeply recognize the need to reaffirm our commitment to individualized, relational service that leads to transformation in both those serving and those served.
Our Better Together Strategic Plan, which will guide us from 2024-2026, challenges us to focus on impactful service through four key pillars:
Together, we will Strengthen our Foundations by supporting and empowering our more than 55 Conferences, which are at the heart of our heritage and mission. We will do this through material support, faith formation, and accompaniment of our 1,100 Vincentians as they strive to serve our community during a time of unique challenge and opportunity.
Together, we will Build Resources and Relationships. In the coming years, we will take time to better understand community perceptions about our mission and grasp opportunities to introduce new community partners and supporters to our unique and critical work.
Together, we will Serve our Neighbors With Dignity by reaffirming the importance of relational, holistic service in our programs through a comprehensive review of and process enhancements to them, ensuring that we are meeting current needs and that we are serving with maximum impact.
Finally, together, we will Empower and Invest in our Team. Our employees are peerless, and they deserve nothing but the best. We commit to accompanying and supporting them as they grow professionally and spiritually.
We know that St. Vincent de Paul’s work is part of God’s plan for his people, and that we will be successful as we execute this bold and missional plan. As a supporter of SVDP, you are an essential part of this work. Please continue to pray for us, our mission, and the persons we are honored to serve.
In Christ;
Sunnie Johnson-Lain
Chief Services & Strategy Officer, St. Vincent de Paul - Cincinnati
