My Love Letter to Ritter – 8 ½ Years of Growth, Grit, and Grace
In today’s world—especially in my generation—staying at one organization for over eight years is practically unheard of. Careers zig and zag, especially in the nonprofit sector, where burnout is real and resources are often scarce. But for me, staying wasn’t about comfort or convenience. It was about connection. Meaning. And love.
When I first came to Ritter Center, I was simply hoping to do work that mattered. I didn’t know I was stepping into a place that would shape who I am on every level. I couldn’t have predicted that I’d come to know the texture of this work not just in policies or meetings, but in the quiet moments—in the hallway check-ins, the client stories, the shared snacks during long days, and the small victories that felt like turning points.
At Ritter, I’ve learned what it means to show up. Not just in a professional sense, but in a deeply human one. To hold space for others even when you don’t have all the answers. To listen first. To celebrate progress even when it’s incremental. To walk beside people, not ahead of them.
This is an organization where values aren’t just written on a wall—they are lived out in real time, in real relationships. Every day I witness the way our staff bring heart and humility to this work, whether they’re coordinating housing, providing medical care, or simply sitting with someone in crisis. The care is real. The effort is personal. The commitment is contagious.
What grounds me most is the reminder that our work is not about fixing people. It’s about honoring them. Dignity, compassion, and respect are not optional here—they are foundational. And that culture shifts something in you. It raises the bar not just for how you do your job, but how you treat others and how you see the world.
Over time, the pace of the work can be intense. There are days when the to-do list feels bottomless and the systems feel overwhelming. But there is always a heartbeat underneath the logistics: the stories of resilience, the moments of reconnection, the shared sense that we are all part of something bigger than ourselves.
I’ve learned to measure success differently. It’s not always in numbers or spreadsheets—it’s in the moments when a client feels heard. When a colleague feels supported. When the whole team feels in sync, even for just a breath, and you know you’re doing something meaningful together.
There’s a phrase I return to often: “People first.” At Ritter, it’s more than a philosophy—it’s a practice. A culture. A way of moving through each day.
When I joined Ritter, we were a much smaller agency. I’ve watched us grow from a modest, tightly knit team into a more expansive, multi-departmental organization with a broader reach and greater capacity. That growth hasn’t always been easy—but it’s been beautiful. With each phase, we’ve deepened our commitment to equity, innovation, and collaboration. I’ve had a front-row seat to transformation—not just in systems and staffing, but in spirit. And I’ve grown alongside it, year after year.
Being part of this work has been one of the most transformational experiences of my life. It’s taught me how to lead with heart, how to stay grounded in mission, and how to keep going even when the path is difficult. I’ve been lucky to grow alongside colleagues who inspire me with their brilliance, generosity, and grit. I’ve witnessed the kind of trust that can only be built through time, consistency, and care.
To those outside our walls, Ritter might be a nonprofit. To me, it’s something more intimate: a community of people who believe in second chances, shared humanity, and showing up for one another—no matter what.
