A year ago, as I prepared to become president and CEO of Serving Seniors, I was asked how I felt about stepping into the role.
My answer was simple: ready, hopeful and powerful.
Ready because I had spent more than 16 years learning from incredible colleagues, volunteers, partners and the older adults we serve. Hopeful because I believed deeply in our mission and the opportunities ahead. And powerful, not because of a title, but because I believed in what people can accomplish when they come together around a shared purpose.
One year later, I still feel those things, just with a deeper understanding of what they truly mean.
What surprised me most was not the responsibility of the role. It was the reminder that leadership is, at its core, about people.
When people think about a CEO, they often imagine someone making decisions from a corner office. The reality is much different. The most important decisions are rarely made alone, and every step forward we’ve taken this year has been the result of people working together: staff, volunteers, our dedicated board of directors, donors and community partners, each bringing their own commitment and perspective to this work.
I saw that clearly not long ago when I met a resident who had recently moved into one of our housing communities after experiencing homelessness later in life. She shared how difficult it was to lose stability after decades of independence and how regaining a place to call home had given her not just safety, but renewed confidence and connection. What stood out most was not only her resilience, but the number of people it took to make that moment possible, from outreach teams to housing staff to supporters who believe in this work.
That is what leadership looks like. Not a single person, but a network of people making change possible together.
One of the greatest privileges of this role has been the opportunity to deepen relationships throughout our community. I have seen people from all backgrounds come together because they believe older adults deserve dignity, stability and support. At a time when it is easy to focus on what divides us, I have found steady inspiration in what continues to bring people together.
Like many nonprofit leaders, I have also come to understand that uncertainty is part of the landscape. Funding shifts. Needs evolve. New challenges emerge, often quickly and without warning. This year reinforced something important: while circumstances change, our response matters more. Staying focused on mission, remaining adaptable and continuing to show up for one another is what carries the work forward.
Most of all, I have been inspired by the older adults we serve.
Every day, I meet individuals who have faced profound hardship and continue to move forward with resilience, humor and grace. Their lives remind us that aging is not just about need. It is about strength, history and continued contribution. The people we serve have built our communities. They deserve the opportunity to remain part of them, with dignity and connection.
As I begin my second year as CEO, there is a renewed sense of responsibility and possibility.
Ready for the work ahead. Hopeful about what can be achieved together. And powerful, not because of a title.
Because real power is found in people in showing up for one another, and in choosing, every day, to build a stronger, more connected community.
This is what instills confidence for the year ahead.
Melinda Forstey is president and chief executive officer of Serving Seniors.
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