At Food Connect, the success of our work is driven by the incredible team of staff, board members, and community supporters who power our mission every day. Bridging the gap between excess and access requires collaboration, commitment, and care—and we’re proud to uplift the voices of our teammates who bring this work to life in our communities.

Kate recently attended the Bucks-Mont Collaborative Community Summit: Impact and Innovation – A Day for Community Rock Stars, a gathering designed to bring leaders together to explore new ideas, participate in interactive workshops, and discuss solutions for today’s evolving challenges. The summit centered on themes of community impact, innovation, and racial and social equity.

One of the most powerful moments, according to Kate, was a panel on leading through change while keeping impact and innovation at the forefront. The panel featured Dr. Valerie Arkoosh, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services; Marissa Christie, President and CEO of United Way of Bucks County; and Emma Hertz, President and CEO of HealthSpark Foundation.

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Kate reflected on one of her biggest takeaways from the discussion:

‍“Real systems change demands courageous, collaborative leadership grounded in community voice and lived experience.”

Kate left the summit feeling inspired, energized, and ready to carry forward bold, community-centered strategies that support Food Connect’s mission to expand access, equity, and impact across the region.

Opportunities like this summit provide time and space for reflection, learning, and connection—reminding us how essential it is to invest in our people as we continue to grow and evolve the work of Food Connect.

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