Author: Aditya Kumar

By Christopher Findlay, Senior Marketing Manager

Today’s Front Line Hero is Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois for their efforts to neutralize racism within America’s child welfare system.

With the reality of racial discrimination in American society in mind, LCFS Illinois is committed to fostering conversations about the role of race within its ranks and strives to be a color-cognizant organization. Its mission to protect children and strengthen families for nearly 150 years continues today with an eye on addressing systemic racism and the social injustices that occur as a result.

Fully embracing the responsibility of being an anti-racist organization and commitment to upending systemic racism is part of LCFS Illinois’ long-term goals. The protests last summer in the wake of George Floyd’s death only sharpened LCFS’ resolve. The organization released a well-recognized case study, “Dismantling Institutional Racism Brick by Brick,” which was named a finalist by the Council on Accreditation for the 2020 Innovation Award. LCFS will follow up on the study’s findings with a virtual event on Thursday, January 21, to share how it is moving the needle within their foster care program by increasing permanency for youth of color and decreasing days in care.

There are about 2.9 million children in Illinois. Thank you to LCFS Illinois for your dedication toward ensuring each and every child has a safe and loving home to call their own.

By Emily Gross, Senior Manager of Program Development and Outreach

Today’s Front Line Hero is OPEN M in Akron, Ohio, for distributing more than 45,000 pounds of food to families in need over the last two months alone.

OPEN M stands for Opportunity Parish Ecumenical Neighborhood Ministry, an organization formed in the late 1960s to address poverty and other injustices affecting inner-city life. Now 1,000 volunteers strong, they expanded their effort over the years to offer food, health, and employment services in support of the greater Akron community. OPEN M also works with Covenant Churches and other supporting organizations to provide critical health and human service programs.

On the third Friday of every month, OPEN M hosts “Mountain of Food,” a Direct Distribution program of the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. Throughout the day, OPEN M distributes in bulk much-needed nutritious, perishable foods such as produce, meat, and bread to families in need of assistance. Although recipients must bring an ID, no referral or pre-registration is required to receive items. Mountain of Food has continued as a drive-thru through the pandemic, and just last month, OPEN M distributed more than 25,000 pounds of food to 301 families, of which 85 were new to the program. Last week, they hosted another successful event, distributing more than 20,000 pounds of food. More than 185 families received items such as boxed cereal, fresh fruit and vegetables, chicken, assorted snacks, and drinks.

With food insecurity on the rise, we are grateful to organizations like OPEN M who are working through a global pandemic to feed their community. To find out more about Mountain of Food and other programs at OPEN M, volunteering, and other ways you can help, please visit www.openm.org/food.

By Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd in New Rockford, North Dakota, has had to adjust its daily activities to ensure that all residents are getting some form of daily interaction. Our residents’ safety is our number one priority, and our activity staff has gone above and beyond to ensure that all residents are enjoying daily activities at a safe distance.

Last year for Oktoberfest (a German festival) the activity staff dressed up as German beer servers in the traditional lederhosen suspenders, tall white socks, kakis, and a white shirt. It was a fun-filled German day where we all enjoyed root beer and polka music . . . COVID-19 style! We are so thankful for our front-line workers who go above and beyond to bring a little sunshine into our residents’ days!

By Emily Gross, Senior Manager of Program Development and Outreach

Today’s Front Line Hero is Niagara Lutheran Health System, whose employees are taking swift action to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Niagara Lutheran Health System operates The GreenFields Continuing Care Community, providing a continuum of care for seniors in Lancaster, New York, through independent and assisted living; skilled nursing and respite care; memory care; and rehabilitation. The GreenFields has a 20-year history and like other senior services organizations, is working to keep the people they serve safe from infection.

Staff demonstrated their commitment throughout the year by taking on additional responsibilities and comforting and communicating with residents and families. But when The GreenFields began offering the vaccine in late December, staff showed their overwhelming support with a fantastic turnout to receive it. In fact, the lead Walgreens pharmacist administering vaccinations stated that out of the many healthcare facilities she visited, The GreenFields had the most employees step forward to receive the vaccine. GreenField Health & Rehabilitation Center staff and residents received their second dose of the vaccine last week, and on January 29, vaccinations will continue in memory care and on assisted living campuses.

The pandemic has once again called nonprofits to act as leaders in helping others. Staff at The GreenFields have gone one step further and led by example, enthusiastically embracing the vaccine to stop the spread of the virus.

By Christopher Findlay, Senior Marketing Manager

Today’s Front Line Hero is Lutheran Jamestown for going the extra mile to honor the “Healthcare Heroes” amongst its ranks.

Lutheran Jamestown has been serving communities in western New York since 1886, offering care for both youth and older adults. Last month, Lutheran Jamestown embarked on a campaign to recognize the hard work of its employees and recruit others who would be interested in joining the team. The organization created signs for staff to place in their yards that invites members of the community to inquire about how to become a Lutheran Jamestown “Healthcare Hero.” Employees proudly took photos with the yard signs from their homes, many of whom included their families and Christmas decorations.

Thank you to Lutheran Jamestown for providing a holiday morale boost. We salute all of the “Healthcare Heroes” serving your community!

By Christopher Findlay, Senior Marketing Manager

Today’s Front Line Hero is Hatton Prairie Village in Hatton, North Dakota, for providing a safe environment for families to reconnect.

Consistently recognized for its exceptional service, Hatton Prairie Village is proud of its high standards of care for its residents. HPV has been awarded on numerous occasions with a five-star rating by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and named to U.S. News & World Report’s list of the nation’s Best Nursing Homes. HPV draws on the deep experience of its employees, which includes nearly four hundred years collectively amongst its certified nursing assistants alone.

Like all nursing facilities, HPV has had to make a number of tough decisions over the past year to protect its residents and staff from the coronavirus. The community has chronicled its evolution of its increased use of PPE, from paper masks and goggles to N95s and face shields. While HPV’s legion of front line heroes must remain hidden behind masks for residents’ and staff members’ mutual safety, the organization was excited to open its doors to visitors last week after ensuring that everyone in-house had tested negative for COVID-19. The regulated visitations will continue as long as all parties involved keep testing negative—a welcome development for residents and their families who will cherish the added time to reconnect.

Thank you to Hatton Prairie Village and your staff for your dedication to the physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of your residents during the pandemic!

Today’s Front Line Hero is Dr. LaSharnda Beckwith, President and CEO of Lutheran Social Services of Southern California (LSSSC).

Dr. Beckwith joined the organization last year as the first African American CEO in LSSSC’s 75-year history. Her tenure began just weeks into the onset of a global pandemic and Dr. Beckwith has courageously led her team in addressing COVID-19 through community-wide efforts. She is also a member of the Lutheran Services in America Race Equity Network, a cohort of leaders that meets quarterly to discuss how to promote racial diversity, equity, and inclusion among Lutheran social ministry organizations and inform the national policy agenda on issues affecting racial equity. By her own effort, Dr. Beckwith has led virtual round tables to foster strategic conversations about the impacts of systemic racism in our society.

Before joining LSSSC, Dr. Beckwith worked at California Southern University as Provost and Chief Academic Officer. She also served for 27 years in the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) and created the Professional Christian Women in Service in 2005.

Dr. Beckwith says her personal mission is to “enable, encourage, empower, and energize others to be all that God has called them to be.” LSSSC staff note how she inspires them every day to embrace, equip, and empower individuals and families through 70 different programs in Southern California.

Speaking to what calls her to her work, Dr. Beckwith says, “Ultimately, my desire is to live out Proverbs 31:8-9 – Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

You can find out more about Dr. Beckwith on her website, www.lasharndabeckwith.com. For more information on the incredible work that Dr. Beckwith and her team are doing to help others through the pandemic, visit the LSSSC website, www.lsssc.org.

By Christopher Findlay, Senior Marketing Manager

Today’s Front Line Hero is Deirdre Bagley, president of Lutheran Volunteer Corps.

For more than 40 years, the Washington, D.C.-based Lutheran Volunteer Corps has been placing fresh college graduates in positions at social justice organizations across the country. LVC’s commitment to build a more inclusive community and serve the cause of peace and justice is central to its leadership development program, where volunteers hone their skills while performing work tied to food, legal aid, environment, housing, immigration, education, health care, and other areas.

As many organizations look for ways to increase diversity, equity and inclusion while also dismantling institutional “isms” in society—racism, sexism, heterosexism, and the like—LVC is approaching the issue with a different lens.

“Our goal was to start doing things differently rather than consider the ‘isms’ a project to be completed with check boxes,” Deirdre Bagley told Lutheran Services in America in an interview. “We also did not create the iconic Director of DEI position, which often passes the responsibility on to a member of the team instead of having everyone share the responsibility, including the CEO and board. We looked at what had become normalized, and identified new ways of doing things. For example, recruiting from HBCUs and universities with high minority populations; engaging online recruitment platforms that draw greater numbers of BIPOC students; revising language, visuals, program materials, and marketing collateral to include different races, ages, genders, abilities, religions, etcetera for broad invitation. We continued a training focus on anti-racism and equity for our volunteers, staff and board, and used a white supremacy framework to assess how we do business. We created more flexible participation models for volunteers to make room for diverse circumstances, and flexible work arrangements for staff for the same reason. We also created a national forum that brings together all of our volunteers to provide monthly opportunities to interact with and learn from each other, and to reduce the isolation of feeling separate or marginalized.”

Even with all of LVC’s progress, Ms. Bagley is not resting on her laurels. “This is just a start,” she said.

Ms. Bagley’s background and experience has naturally informed her understanding of equity and inclusion and how she approaches her job as president of Lutheran Volunteer Corps. “My understanding of the challenges comes from lived and observed experiences, and my approach comes from the same. Being black and female means I’m looking at equity and inclusion from an angle typically not considered,” she said. “Still, that’s not enough—so I include a lot of research and consultation to broaden my skill set in this new landscape we’re all experiencing together, positioning us for action and not perfection. I’m a strong believer that movement happens when you do, rather than just talk about doing.”

Despite all the challenges, there are many positives to show for LVC’s equity and inclusion efforts. In fact, “There are too many positives to count,” said Ms. Bagley, “and that’s a good news story! We’re pleased that we have a more diverse group of volunteers, staff and board, and that differences are treated as assets.”

Find out more about LVC’s work at LutheranVolunteerCorps.org.

This interview has been edited for length.

By Caitlyn Gudmundsen, Director of Strategic Initiatives

Today’s Front Line Hero is Elder Care Alliance, which went above and beyond to ensure its staff felt safe and comfortable getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

Elder Care Alliance is a network of five communities serving seniors throughout California, and the communities aim to be a place where seniors flourish. Elder Care Alliance is committed to the holistic well-being of everyone in its community – older adults, as well as their families and caregivers, and the organization’s team members. Staff at Elder Care Alliance enjoy employee wellness programs and ample opportunities for professional development, and when COVID-19 vaccines were made available to front line workers at Elder Care Alliance, the opportunity to vaccinate was handled with great care and transparency.

The administration at Elder Care Alliance recognized that the decision to vaccinate is a deeply personal one, and that finding accurate information about vaccines can be overwhelming. The administration was intentionally transparent with the vaccination process and provided online resources and FAQs about the vaccine in addition to its regular COVID-19 Updates. Elder Care Alliance President & CEO Adriene Iverson, as well as community leaders, adopted an open-door policy, met with staff on a 1:1 basis, encouraged staff who had questions about the vaccine or its dissemination process to contact them. This commitment to transparency built on an already strong value of trust in the Elder Care Alliance communities. The result is that more than 85% of the staff have chosen to vaccinate against COVID-19.

Thank you to Elder Care Alliance for fostering a healthy community and for continuing to effectively fight the COVID-19 pandemic!