PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Once I read WIVLA’s mission statement, I perceived that the longings for my creative life had been articulated clearly. I was in. Like many of us, I have struggled to value and prioritize my creativity for most of my life. In order to keep it alive in my daily routine, I need a community. My discipline requires accountability. My passion for social change pushes me to apply creativity to community building and social innovation.  At this stage, my creative life won’t be denied. It brings me too much joy. It makes too much sense out of my social, emotional, and work life for me to ignore it.

 Once you’ve ordered from the sampler menu of my life story, you are clear about one thing, I keep myself in a state of beginner’s mind by constantly diving into new areas. This is especially true when it comes to tools and methods that boost self-reflection, emotion regulation, and connection. I am an expressive, social, and innovative being always experimenting with ways to iterate, integrate, and include not for the sake of complication, but for the purpose of discovering common threads of authenticity, connection, and joy.

 When I was first invited to join the board as the membership chair, I dove right in. When I was asked to move into the President’s position this year I brought my beginner’s mind with me. I humbly accepted with one caveat, that folks know the power of the seasoned board members who have been keeping the wheels turning with great predictability and efficacy when it comes to supporting the community and its mission. I am thrilled to be part of the board and the community. I hope my passion for the values celebrated in the mission statement serve the members of WIVLA well while I occupy this position!

Brooke Summers-Perry