When out in the community, it’s always exciting to our staff and board members to be approached by someone who says, “I was a Selby Scholar!”
After Tiger Bay Sarasota graciously hosted a panel of foundation leaders in February, we heard from 2007 Selby Scholar Ella Lewis, the Development Manager at Forty Carrots Family Center. Catching up with Ella, we enjoyed learning why nonprofit work and coming back to Sarasota were important to her.
Ella also shares great advice for today’s Selby Scholars.
- What led you to work at a nonprofit organization and why Forty Carrots? I knew I needed to feel a personal connection to my own values and priorities to feel fulfilled in my career, and nonprofit work allows for that on many levels. Nonprofits fill the gaps that for profit and public sectors simply cannot. Forty Carrots was an organization I was familiar with as a professional and had experience with on a personal level. Through Forty Carrots’ areas of expertise: mental health, parenting education, and early childhood education, it uniquely fills gaps in our community for all families—mine included! I knew I had to share its mission with others.
- What did you consider before you decided to stay in our community after you graduated?
Coming back to Sarasota was an easy decision for me. I knew that this community carried me through challenges I experienced as a young person and I felt deeply convicted to come back, pay it forward and invest in the community that gave me so much. I love the natural environment and our vibrant nonprofit community has so much to offer. It’s been so exciting to see more young people choosing our community to make their home as adults. - What advice would you have for today’s Selby Scholars? The college experience is unlike any other. Take every opportunity to expand your horizons and know it’s okay to change your mind. I went into college on one career track and changed course twice. The learning and experiences I had while exploring other majors still bring value to my life, but I know I wouldn’t be happy if I stuck with my original “plan”. Focus less on the job and more about what this path would bring for you in terms of lifestyle, alignment with your priorities and opportunity for you to have fun and be challenged. Just because a job “checks all the boxes” doesn’t mean it will bring you joy and fulfillment.
- Tell us a little about yourself—what do you find meaning & purpose in, what do you like to do in your spare time, what was the most influential part of your college experience? In this stage of life, watching my children grow gives me great purpose. The world can feel so big and overwhelming, so I often ground myself in what I can do to equip them to be successful, generous, and considerate. That said with three children at home, my spare time is very limited! When I have time, I love reading, crafting, and spending time outdoors. I’ve recently started needlepointing which has been very fun, and we rescued a puppy last year which lends itself well to getting outside!
We love to hear from professionals like Ella who remind us why Selby Scholars are so special–they care deeply about their communities and use their education to help others, whether it’s through a nonprofit, one-on-one relationships, or in every day life.
We can’t wait to hear from you if you were also a Selby Scholar from past years. Email us at KWomack@SelbyFdn.org.