At its September 16, 2009 meeting, the Board of Directors of the Grand Rapids Area Center for Ecumenism (GRACE) voted unanimously to name Lisa H. Mitchell as Executive Director. Lisa has been employed by GRACE since 1994—first as Program Director and later in a Leadership Team role from 2000-2008 with the Reverends David Baak and David May.

This past year she acted as Interim Executive Director. Lisa brings to this position her well-honed skills of program development and building partnerships and collaborations with congregations, organizations and individuals. She will continue to represent GRACE by promoting ecumenical cooperation and establishing positive relationships with the religious and larger community.

Additionally, she will oversee the administration of operations at GRACE, as well as securing the financial resources needed for operation and program development. Lisa looks forward to the challenges and opportunities this position will bring, stating "I am very committed to the mission, vision and values of GRACE and I believe I have the ability to influence, persuade and enable others to further [the] GRACE mission of ‘creating a community of compassion and justice by organizing responses to human need and issues of faith.’

“I have the passion and belief that we can do more together to affect the common good than we can do alone. I believe GRACE does make a difference through our focus areas of hunger, homelessness and racial justice.

“I want to be able to move that mission forward so that this community is a better place for everyone to live. Working with people of faith who want to make a difference is inspirational and it empowers me to do my best work."

GRACE Board President, Nathalie Meyer OP says, “We are very fortunate to have Lisa Mitchell as our new Executive Director. During her time as interim director, Lisa has made the necessary adjustments in the organizational board structure to strengthen the programs of Hunger, Homelessness and Racism in an effort to meet the challenges we are facing in the current economic downturn. She has done all this with graciousness, a positive attitude and a constant willingness to do everything and anything necessary on our path toward achieving the goals of GRACE.”

By Rosemary Steers, Communications Specialist - Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids