Nonpro t
BY CODY THORN
Q&A: Get to know Rebecca Cox, GRACE chief executive o cer In November, o cials with Grapevine Relief and Community Exchange, commonly called GRACE, hired Rebecca Cox to be the nonpro t’s next CEO. Cox replaced Shonda Schaefer, who stepped down from the role after 16 years for the nonpro t. Stacy Pacholick served as interim executive director of GRACE from June to November. Cox’s background includes being the face of homeless housing services in the Dallas-Fort Worth area with lead roles at the Tarrant County Homeless Coalition and the Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance, according to the GRACE website. Community Impact spoke to Cox about her new role, the nonpro t’s future goals and the services that GRACE provides throughout northeast Tarrant County to people in need. You have a lot of experience in nonpro ts. What made you interested in this position? Honestly, I wasn’t looking for a new position at the time. My name was provided to the GRACE board by a mutual colleague who I had worked with in a prior capacity. The position was for- warded to me with a request to consider applying. I will forever be grateful for that connection made. When I toured GRACE for the rst time when con- sidering the position, I immediately felt the care for others that permeated the walls of the GRACE o ces and hallways. Every place I have worked in the past has had a worthwhile mission. At GRACE, however, every person I met during that tour, you could tell had such a love for the GRACE mission and individuals served by GRACE. After meeting and learning more about what GRACE does and the positive impact we have in the community, I couldn’t imagine being in any other place. What has your time been like so far with GRACE? I have been met with nothing but welcoming support from our GRACE family—from sta to board to those that generously support the GRACE mission through giving of their time and treasure. I feel beyond blessed to have been entrusted with such an amazing mission. For those that are unfamiliar with GRACE, how do you explain what all you do? GRACE provides hope to individuals and families who have found themselves facing oftentimes the most di cult and challenging times of their lives. One of the things I love most about GRACE
Rebecca Cox (second from left), has been the GRACE CEO since November.
PHOTO COURTESY GRACE
is that our sta services are not cookie cutter. We intentionally have care managers, not caseworkers, because we support care for families as they walk through di cult times and aren’t managing a case as just another number. Every family, every interac- tion, every support plan is unique and determined collaboratively alongside those seeking the help. What are some things people can expect under your leadership? Collaboration. GRACE serves so many people in so many ways, but as we continue to see the need grow each year, especially in the past couple of years, it is more and more apparent that no one agency, no matter how great, can be successful alone. It takes a community. As a servant leader, I tend to evaluate the need and then lead from behind rather than standing in front. From that vantage point, it is easier to see the full need and where everyone ts into the solution. I will be a successful leader when everyone is playing their part, everyone feels supported and free to speak up when they see a need. The community comes together to nd and take action on a solution. That is the leader I aspire to be. Are there any projects GRACE is looking to deliver in 2024? We are de nitely looking at expanding hous- ing support. The average rent is increasing and roughly averages $1,700 a month. That equates to a 60-hours-a-week job at the current minimum wage just to cover rent, leaving no room for emergencies, rising food costs, utilities or child
About GRACE Grapevine Relief and Community Exchange is a nonpro t that provides:
Food
Clothes
Financial assistance
Community clinic
Emergency assistance and transitional housing
care. ... Later this year, our board will be meeting to strategize together with GRACE sta leadership about what part of the solution to this a ordable housing crisis that GRACE can play. I do not know exactly what that looks like just yet, but from my experience, there are many ways GRACE can expand to help families move from surviving day-to-day to fully thriving and breaking through generational poverty for their families.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity. For a longer version, visit communityimpact.com.
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