In this episode of the Living for Purpose podcast, we are joined by Stacey Street, the Chief Operations Officer of RCF Connects. Stacey graduated Magna Cum Laude from Harvard University. From her high school to college years, she had been involved as a classic vocalist and still sings with the local choir. It seemed natural to start her career in the arts, and Stacey gained extensive experience in arts administration, including having served as Executive Director for the California Symphony for over 7 years. Stacey also served as Executive Director for the Berkeley-East Bay Humane Society, where she successfully helped the organization traverse the aftermath of a devastating fire in the shelter. Most recently, she was Director of Capital and Major Gifts for Planned Parenthood where she coordinated a significant capital campaign that raised $6.5 million. Today, she is serving as a full-time COO of RCF Connects (formerly Richmond Community Foundation). RCF Connect’s ultimate goal is to mobilize the power of connection to build healthy, thriving communities with equity as its core value. Stacey shares her journey for 25 years, transitioning from the arts, development, marketing, to community building with equity as its core value.

Listen to this episode and learn some simple tips you can follow if you plan to walk the same path as Stacey’s.

From Arts to Community Building – Career Journey

2:53

Stacey entered into the nonprofit world right out of college with an interest in arts, because she had been exposed to a lot of managing of her choirs when she was in high school and college. She believed that there was a job meant for her in that field even for a short period of time. Stacey always wanted to do something where she could help people, be a volunteer, and make a difference in people’s lives.

3:48

Stacey was captivated by the first orchestra she worked in because they had a phenomenal education outreach program that went into communities that didn't have classical music, and worked with them directly and inspired them with the beauty and art of creation.

4:28

Stacey had a goal of becoming an Executive Director where she can be at the helm of an orchestra and help make a difference with the work and expand on that kind of education, outreach, and touch more lives and inspire particularly people especially the young ones who need hope and inspiration now more than ever.

5:52

Stacey ended up having the opportunity at Berkeley Humane Society, which was another learning journey for her. During her first few months in the job, they were hit by a huge fire, which led her to learn everything at once. Despite being overwhelmed, Stacey is grateful for that opportunity to work Berkeley Human Society.

6:53

Reflecting on her experience working with Planned Parenthood, it was a privilege for Stacey to be able to work with those officers. They were passionate and fearless. They were vigilant about everything related to supporting particularly marginalized women. She has learned so much from them about policy advocacy and its importance, and how getting engaged in politics on at least a local level is critically important to actually help achieve the change that she was always hoping to see.

9:05

When Stacey was hired at Richmond Community Foundation, RCF was really in an evolutionary state. They only had recently become a Community Foundation. She ended up being successful in her job as Chief Development Officer, and was an integral part of helping build infrastructure. As part of that, they had to identify what their core value was and what their big WHY was for the work that they did.

9:34

When equity was really identified as the core value of RCF, that’s where it really started for Stacey. That was the AHA moment for her to recognize that she was in the right place. Their work involves...