The first time I met Adam Rosenberg, I was facing one of the most consequential moments of my life.
Almost two decades earlier, someone had tried to take away my freedom. Now he had been arrested, and I was being pulled into the criminal justice system: a complicated web of procedures, uncertainty, and delays.
The system that had once silenced my voice was asking me to show up.
As a witness.
As a victim.
As someone who might see justice.
And if I’m being honest, it was terrifying.
Adam was the prosecutor assigned to my case. His job was to secure a conviction. Mine was to show up prepared after years of being pushed aside.
Despite an intense workload, he patiently answered my questions. At the time, I had no idea his commitment to public service was so genuine.
The bad guy was ultimately convicted and went to prison.
I moved forward with my life, finally feeling the freedom that comes with justice.
Moments like that teach you something important about leadership: real change comes when it’s most difficult.
Adam continued doing what he had always done: serving this community.
When he became Executive Director of the Center for Hope, he asked me to join the board.
I said yes immediately.
One thing I didn’t grow up knowing is that many leaders give back to their communities through nonprofit board service. They bring their time, their expertise, and their resources to strengthen the institutions that support people in their hardest moments.
For me, it has always felt like a gift to give back. Because the truth is, the ability to do so means you’ve been given something extraordinary along the way: a voice, resources, opportunity, sometimes even justice.
It has been a true honor to support Adam’s work and to watch him build and grow an organization dedicated to helping victims and families find their way forward.
I’ll admit there were moments when I wondered if the vision might outpace the resources. That’s the reality of nonprofit leadership.
But when Adam said he wanted to bring the CFH into LifeBridge Health, he was right.
In Neil M. Meltzer, he found a true partner.
Through that partnership, I had the opportunity to attend LifeBridge Health’s annual meeting, the kind of gathering that is a who’s who of our region’s civic and business leadership. Growing up, I didn’t even know rooms like that existed, let alone that one day I might be invited into them.
Since then, there have been leadership transitions. Neil has moved on from LifeBridge Health, and Hilary Corley, CFRE has taken on an exciting new opportunity after helping guide the Center for Hope through an important chapter.
Through it all, Adam remains, continuing the work he has always done in service of this community.
Recently, I stepped away from the board to focus my nonprofit work on organizations that support my sister Leslie. It feels a little like the end of an era.
But Adam’s influence only continues to grow, changing and improving our community.
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