Our New Interim Executive Director's Goals and Aspirations for The Unusual Suspects

How do you envision the first 30 days? 60? 90 days?

My goal for the first 30 - 90 days is to listen and learn as much as I can. US has great systems in place and a hard-working team who know what they need to get their jobs done, so I want to hear what they have to say. And I'd love to have as much 1:1 time with folks as I can. I'm starting with the board and staff but would love to meet more TAs. If TAs are interested, here's my Calendly where they can schedule a 30 minute convo with me.

One of the major changes I have to support with the help of other lead staff is moving out of our current space in Glassell Park to a new one by the beginning of March. We received an eviction notice in January but didn't realize we'd need to be out so soon. We're working on it but that will take up a lot of time and attention.

I'm also hoping that we will have a strong schedule of programs running in the next month or so. That's an area I'm very passionate about and know our programmers are too. There are so many challenges with getting in touch with decision makers at LAUSD in order to lock down projects, but the team is hard at work.

What are you most excited about?

I'm really excited about seeing our work in person. I've never seen a USTAC program in action (aside from footage in our vaults). I'm a former teacher and being in a room with students helps energize me. And after so many years of challenges due to COVID, I look forward to being in a space or outdoors with youth again.

What is your

BHAG?

I'm an Interim, so my BHAG in whatever time I'm here is to help make our systems simpler so that we can focus more of our energies on the work of helping students. If I can do that, I'll feel like I've accomplished a great deal.

What do you see being the biggest obstacle/opportunity?

COVID is still with us. Although schools are back up and running, there aren't enough subs and even teachers to do the work. If schools are so busy just getting teachers in the classrooms, it's going to be challenging to set up our programs since we need school partners to make US work. I'm optimistic that things will get a lot better in the next 2-3 months.

What are you most curious about?

I'm curious to learn more about what motivates folks to do this work. What keeps them coming back and how do we build an organization where folks want to keep coming back to do this important work.

How do you like to settle into a new driver's seat?

I'd like to get to know the team and the systems that keep an organization afloat. I'm a systems thinker and believe you have to find efficiencies so that you don't burn your people out and yourself out. It's going to take time but I have ideas from my years starting and growing nonprofits. Excited for the challenge!