Last month, while having tea with a CEO of one of our grantee partners, I noticed Wohlleben’s The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate – Discoveries from a Secret World sitting on the coffee shop table. The cover image alone reminded me of one of our core values: connection.
I believe connection is to uncertainty what roots are to a storm—unseen but essential. In times of transition, it’s not merely certainty that steadies us, but the strength of our relationships.
This truth has been deeply affirmed as I’ve stepped into this new chapter as Executive Director of the Arthur Dean Family Foundation. Like the root systems beneath the forest floor—quietly transferring nutrients, sharing signals, and sustaining life—our relationships are how we weather change and uncover new possibilities.
We know that many of our Partners are navigating shifting policies, economic uncertainty, and growing community needs. These realities call us to remain rooted in partnership—not just as funders, but as listeners, learners, and collaborators in support of the lifelong success of young people.
ADFF is also in a season of transition—refining our approach to partnership, clarifying our strategies, and expanding our team. Through it all, we are reminded that our deepest strength lies in centering people and staying connected to purpose. Looking ahead, we are planning ways to stay in open dialogue with Partners, co-create learning for collective growth, and respond meaningfully to emerging needs.
Connection isn’t just one of ADFF’s core values—it’s the heartbeat of how our collective work takes root and grows..
Onward and upward!
River Sturdivant, Ph.D.
Executive Director
