Page 54 - BusinessWest February 19, 2024

“I remember my grandmother saying, ‘but for God’s grace, there go I’ — meaning, in a blink of an eye, your situation could change, and you could be on the other side of needing services like that. We’re all part of th”e same journey.
Shannon Rudder’s work at MLK Family Services lifts up children in many ways.
there go I’ — meaning, in a blink of an eye, your situation could change, and you could be on the other side of needing services like that,” she said. “We’re all part of the same journey.”
She also served as deputy director of Teach Western Mass,
a nonprofit startup working toward educational equity in partnership with more than 30 schools. Her duties included fiscal and operational oversight, knowledge-management systems, data and impact, communications, equity and belonging, human-resource management, overall team culture, and supervision of cross-functional teams.
“I’ve been really intentional about the causes that make a
difference to me, approaching it from the perspective of, ‘OK, this agency’s mission is really clear, the heart and the compassion are here, and I get to make sure it lasts for a long time by building the infrastructure, the operations systems, the fundraising and return on investment, and all the important scaffolding that needs to be in place so that the business aspect of it can thrive.”
The clear thread woven through all these roles has been a focus on equity and making sure everyone has access to the resources they need to live healthy, meaningful lives, she explained. “I picked causes
that are doing the important work of amplifying the voices of those that have often been silenced or marginalized.”
By using her own voice, compassion, and business acumen to do so, Rudder has become a true Difference Maker.
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At MLK Family Services, she shares with Johnson, her late predecessor, an approach to the work from a public-health standpoint, considering how the social determinants of health affect all areas of life.
“Sure, we can triage and put Band-Aids on stuff — people are hungry now, so let’s make sure they have food — but let’s dig a little deeper: how do we actually get a grocery store in an area that is in need?” she said.
“I also want to make sure that MLKFS as a whole, operations and programs, is operating from a trauma-informed place,” she went on, citing a philosophy that takes into account the unique, often traumatic experiences of an individual’s life and how that informs what they need.
“How do we approach our programs and ensure that the people working with our kids are helping to break that, or making sure that those kids have resources like mental-health counseling? How do we make sure we’re helping to embolden
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
Congratulations to Our Difference Maker and Keeper of the Dream!
She had some big shoes to fill and a tough job ahead to keep the organization prospering as her predecessor did.
Yet, Shannon has been more than up to the task, and Martin
Luther King, Jr. Family Services is doing better than ever — including running one of the busiest food pantries in Western Mass.
Shannon has dedicated her career — indeed her life — to helping others, and she is a remarkable person.
Congratulations to 2024 BusinessWest Difference Maker Shannon Rudder and her team at Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Services!
1500 Main Street, 24th Fl. Springfield, MA 01115 gcaionline.com
The Motoring Club 11728 W Olympic Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90064
Shannon Rudder, President & CEO, Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Services
A34 2024
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