As I reflect on this month’s membership message, I find myself drawn slightly off theme. Instead, I want to speak directly to something profoundly important, the investment each of you makes in Midwest Urban Strategies.
I recently had the distinct privilege of spending time with many of you in Washington, D.C., as we engaged in strategic planning through a scenario planning process. For those less familiar with the approach, scenario planning asks a simple but powerful question: If certain conditions emerge, how will we respond? It challenges us to think ahead, to anticipate possibilities, and to position MUS thoughtfully for whatever the future holds.
What struck me most was not simply the exercise itself, but the spirit in the room. Founding, Regular, and Affiliate members, in person and virtual, came together in a shared space of brainstorming, creativity, candor, and innovation. The emphasis truly was on together. In a time when the workforce ecosystem is navigating unprecedented complexity, a period that may well be marked in our field’s history, MUS convened with clarity of purpose: to tell our story, to lift our collective voice, and to move strategically into the future.
That kind of engagement does not happen by accident. It happens because of you, your leadership, your partnership, and your belief in the value of collective action.
I would also like to take a moment to honor the legacy of one of our early builders of MUS. As many of you know, Stacey Fowler of St. Louis Development Corporation recently passed away. While we shared a tribute last month, I want to focus here on what Stacey leaves behind.
Stacey lived a life defined by service. She worked diligently, often without concern for recognition, driven instead by a deep commitment to improving the lives of the individuals and businesses served by the programs she championed. She was a steadfast advocate for small business and entrepreneurship. She was deliberate, principled, and when necessary, she lifted her voice with conviction.
Servant leadership has always been the leadership style I most admire. Stacey embodied it fully, in her devotion to her faith, her family, her friends, and especially her workforce family. Tracey and I were honored to attend her homegoing service. While her passing leaves an undeniable void for us both personally and across the workforce ecosystem, it also revealed something powerful. As Tracey so thoughtfully said, Stacey leaves a void, but she also prepared and empowered her team to step forward. They will carry her work and her spirit into the next chapter of workforce development in St. Louis and across the MUS network.
She came to get the work done and she did just that.
Stacey, you are deeply missed and profoundly loved.
