Dear Friends,
It has been my honor to serve the La Peña community for the past two years as executive director, but in a few months time I’ll be stepping down from my role, and La Peña is launching the search for its next leader.
I feel proud of the work La Peña was able to accomplish during this period. It has been such a joy and privilege to get to know so many of you and to have this be my daily work. Though I have enjoyed my time at La Peña immensely, the needs of my family and my personal life have made it difficult for me to meet the demands of the role, and so it is time to pass the baton to someone who has more energy and time to give right now than I do. Although I will not continue to be La Peña’s director, I will continue to support the organization through this transition and beyond.
During these two years we accomplished a huge goal: stabilizing the organization financially and readjusting to a new budget that is less than 2/3 what it was in 2012. The board and staff are to be commended to helping channel this transition. Now, on the brink of our 40th anniversary, I feel we are at a new stage, ready for some smart growth and artistic development. It is time for a new leader to carry La Peña into the next phase, which I see as building programming, enhancing artistic vision and strengthening community relations.
Our amazing and talented staff and board are more than capable of keeping things on track, and I am committed to overseeing a smooth succession, and will not be leaving right away. We hope to have our new leader in place by our June anniversary. Please see the attached job announcement and share it far and wide. We are looking for an inspirational and multi-talented leader to carry us into our next 40 years!
with my heartfelt thanks,
—
Kristen