Recap: Building Community Solutions

On March 28, around 175 community members representing the nonprofit, government, faith, and civic sectors joined HealthSpark Foundation for our biannual Community of Practice convening. This convening’s focus “Building Community Leadership” was centered on HealthSpark’s second strategic goal. Last fall, we focused on our first strategic goal Community Power. 

The event highlighted Montgomery County leaders, showcasing their experiences and the meaningful ways they are creating a positive impact in the community. 

When planning the event, our team wanted to emphasize and feature the incredible leadership that makes achieving healthy, hopeful, and equitable communities throughout Montgomery County possible. To that end, we curated a program to spotlight voices driving change, fostering collaboration, and championing the values that strengthen our communities. Read below for our event highlights.

Opening Plenary 

• After remarks from HealthSpark’s President and CEO Emma Hertz, we kicked off with an artistic expression (a new opening event feature started last year) with poet, actor and filmmaker David Gaines. David read “United States of Grief” which featured his grandmother’s life story and her important role as a matriarch of the family. David also connected his grandmother’s migration story from the Southern part of the county to the Northern part to current events that are plaguing immigrants and refugees in our country today.
• Montgomery County Commissioner and Chair Neil Makhija, the first Asian American County Commissioner in Pennsylvania's history across all 67 counties, spoke about the county’s commitment to democracy and priorities of thoughtful public administration, upholding civil rights, and developing resilient, sustainable infrastructure.
• Emma reaffirmed our commitment to standing firm in our truth and announced the 11 organizations recently awarded through our first funding round of the Building Community Power Fund, which was launched support organizations in building their capacity to advocate or enhancing their ongoing advocacy activities.

Keynote Conversation

• We were honored to welcome Pennsylvania House Democratic Majority Leader Matthew Bradford to share his insights on leadership, advocacy, and the vital role of coalition-building in creating lasting impact. Conversation highlights include:
  • Leader Bradford emphasized the critical importance of fostering relationships with legislators, noting that increased engagement cultivates a stronger sense of community and connection. This, in turn, lays the groundwork for mutual advocacy that ultimately benefits constituents.
  • He also highlighted his bipartisan leadership in advocating for Fair Funding across Pennsylvania’s school districts, underscoring how shared values can unite individuals across party lines and is a lesson for good leadership overall.
  • Additionally, Leader Bradford spoke to the necessity of inspiring and uplifting others during challenging times, emphasizing that mutual support and collaboration are essential for navigating periods of uncertainty and advancing community leadership together.

Breakout Sessions

Leading with Hope

Commissioner Jamila Winder, Pastor Marshall Mitchell (Salem Baptist Church), and Obed Arango (CCATE), came together to share their perspective on hope, including how to cultivate it balancing the pressing needs of our communities and organizations. Moderated by Akshara Vivekananthan (HealthSpark Foundation’s Program Officer) attendees heard and learned:

• It’s important to build bridges, share reliable information, and lift-up learning and art when creating hope.
  • Fun fact: during the prep call for this session, Obed shared that CCATE community members were reading Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from Birmingham Jail. Pastor Mitchell shared that he had just connected with Ann Walker, the wife of Wyatt Tee Walker, who was instrumental in releasing the letter publicly. Both realized that this letter that symbolizes so much had ironically connected both Obed and Pastor Mitchell in the moment.
• Hope also means acknowledging that as leaders, we have to muster up the courage to deal with various scenarios and put things back on track.
• A reminder that our path to leadership, shaped by lived experience, equips us with the strength to lead through today’s challenges with hope.

Leadership Strategies for Addressing Homelessness and Housing Affordability

Commissioner Tom DiBello, Phyllis Chamberlain (Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania), Stacey Woodland (YWCA Tri-County), John Ernst (Borough of Lansdale) and Mary Fuller (Lansdale Council) formed an expert panel on homelessness and housing affordability – two significant crises with many challenges in Montgomery County. Attendees heard and learned:

• It’s important to find common purpose and align what’s possible such as zoning, funding, community awareness and engaged local government.
• To bring people together at this moment, building and strengthening relationships with local, county, and state governments is crucial, given unfolding changes and unknowns at the federal level.
• Avenues of advocacy will be key to connect grassroots, emerging, and established leaders on the policy needed to advance solutions to both crises. Resources like the Collaborative Advocacy Network, spearheaded by Bucks-Mont Collaborative and the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania are helpful to turn to. 

Building Leadership in Your Organization and Community

Dominique Bernardo (Variety – the Children’s Charity of Delaware Valley), David Charles (Strive Initiative), Nika Kirillova (Graduate Student at Villanova University) delivered a meaningful panel on how to enhance leadership skills and cultivate leadership within organizations and community, with practical strategies to strengthen connections and create meaningful impact. Moderated by Lauren Miltenberger (Villanova University), attendees heard and learned:

• Strategies that are effective to cultivate leadership in others. This includes understanding both the big and small picture, knowing when to manage and when to step back, leaning into mentorship, and understanding what kind of opportunities people want to explore.
• To adapt and prepare for the unknown, tap into scenario planning and think about your communication tools. For emotional health, immerse yourself in positive community settings, rely on your partnerships, and focus on what can be controlled.
• Panelists also discussed leadership trends in the nonprofit sector and heard about Nika’s research “Leading Against the Odds: Women’s Leadership Challenges and Strategies in the Nonprofit Sector.”

Closing Events

• Attendees heard from HealthSpark Board Chair Dr. Natasha Patterson, who shared reflections on our current philanthropic efforts, our evolving approach to advocacy, and the path forward as we continue to explore the most effective ways to support our community.
• Then, David Heayn-Menendez (Children First), Signe Espinoza (Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates), Peter Gonzales (Lawyer, Consultant and Social Entrepreneur) joined forces to discuss Navigating Uncertainty with Courage and Hope through their personal stories, practical strategies, and insightful reflections. Moderated by Liz Vibber (the Catalyst Center for Nonprofit Management, sister firm of Bee, Bergvall & Co.), attendees heard and learned:
  • It’s critical to acknowledge the trauma of what is happening. We are all in different places, and even those ‘places’ can change from day to day.
  • Don’t be afraid to stand in your strength, and think about your power- what has gotten you where you are?
  • Educate and then mobilize- not everyone knows what we know.
• As part of our commitment to continuous learning and meaningful connection, we invited attendees to share their thoughts following the event. We gathered thoughtful written feedback on-site and are truly appreciative of the insights shared. Here are a few reflections that especially stood out to us:
  • “I always learn something and appreciate the opportunity to come together with great people and have an uplifting experience. Food for the spirit!” – Jade Utz, Montgomery County Department of Commerce
  • “This was my first experience with HealthSpark and today’s event makes me feel excited and empowered to continue the great work that happens at our senior center! I really enjoyed hearing from experts in the non-profit world as I recently switched careers from being a teacher to working at the senior center!” – Jill Roth, Montco SAAC
  • This was a great Community of Practice event!! Timely, informative, inspiring well-organized, and most importantly empathetic to what we are all experiencing.” Suzan Neiger Gould, Manna on Main Street
  • “Thank you for hosting a convening grounded in community, connection, love and resistance. It is refreshing to be surrounded by so many advocates and dedicated leaders and public servants. This has been a beautiful and intentional space to be poured into.” Robyn Weaver, Lehigh Valley Community Foundation 

In closing, we extend our sincere thanks to all the elected officials and their staff that attended, and to our Board of Directors for their ongoing support and dedication to our mission. Their continued partnership is vital to advancing our work and deepening our impact in the community. We look forward to building this momentum together as we strive toward healthy, equitable, and hopeful communities throughout Montgomery County.

And we’re so grateful to everyone who took the time to attend “Building Community Leadership.” Together, we’ll continue building spaces where power, leadership, and solutions continue to thrive.