Letter from our new Executive Director, Kim Olpin
Dear Jericho Road Pasadena community members,
I am thrilled and honored to have joined JRP as the new Executive Director. I want to thank the Board of Directors and former Executive Director, Melanie Goodyear, for their support and assistance in making this a smooth transition. Melanie has been an amazing leader not only at JRP, but in the Pasadena area nonprofit community. I feel lucky to be inheriting an organization that is so well loved.
A brief bit about me. I’ve worked in nonprofits part-time since 2008, full-time since 2014. My experience includes running health clinics in the jungles of Panama, with medical volunteers from around the world, and organizing thousands of volunteers for the LA River Clean-Up, and fundraising with The National Audubon Society. For the past 6-years I’ve been the V.P. of Corporate Engagement at LA Works. In this position, I helped civic minded corporations positively impact their communities through a variety of volunteer-based service projects.
In 2019, I moved to Pasadena, and was very happy to be here when the pandemic hit. Pasadena felt like a safe haven in all the chaos and confusion of the past couple years. As the world started opening back up, I found myself less interested in traversing the entire county and more interested in building community closer to home.
I believe deeply in the value of volunteering, both for the non-profit as well as the volunteer. I value the community that is created when people work together. I believe volunteering is one of the greatest ways that thoughtful citizens can help change the world.
JRP’s mission to bridge communities through volunteering is one that I strongly believe in. As I’ve begun to get to know the members of this community, I have been moved and inspired by the work everyone is doing, and grateful for the strong foundation of goodwill that JRP has earned. One of the lessons of the past couple years has been the importance of community and working together. I am humbled to be joining this strong, kind community.
I would love to get to know you! Please feel free to reach out to schedule a chat or a coffee, ExecDirector@JRPasadena.org. I appreciate your continued support of JRP and look forward to connecting with you.
Thank you,
Kim Olpin
Executive Director
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world: Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead