By Janis Baron, Founder of Sunday Friends

When I chatted with our outgoing Board Chair Ashley Papagno recently, I had to start with a bit of gushing. I needed to say out loud how profoundly thankful I am for her.

Coming out of COVID, Sunday Friends was at a crossroads. We were navigating the same kind of recovery most nonprofits were facing at that time, while also working through an executive leadership transition. This raised an important question about leadership stability and how to carry our 25-year legacy forward.

Plenty of people rallied to pull us through, but Ashley was the steady, quiet hero behind it all. She stepped into the gaps, filled empty roles without hesitation, and led the search for our next Executive Director.

Her team knocked it out of the park by hiring Tatiana Colón-Rivera. Together with Ashley, our Board, staff, volunteers, and the incredible families we engage with, Tatiana has led Sunday Friends right back into a season of growth.

Now, after steering the Sunday Friends Board for seven years, five as Board President, Ashley has completed her service with our organization. I wanted to capture some of the wisdom she might wish to pass on to her successors and our community.

Leadership Is Stewardship

When I asked Ashley what she was most proud of during her time as Board President, she said:

“To me, leadership is stewardship. It's recognizing that you're not leading for your own success or recognition—you’re entrusted with caring for something larger than yourself.”

Ashley reflected on the work of strengthening Sunday Friends' foundation through strategic planning, outcomes measurement, financial forecasting, needs assessment, governance, and rebuilding and training the Board. But for Ashley, leadership was always about people.

“Strong organizations are built by strong teams.”

She believes effective leadership means creating clarity, building trust, making space for different perspectives, and empowering people to contribute at their highest level.

What Got Us Here Won’t Necessarily Get Us There

One of Ashley's most important observations is that leadership requires constant evolution. She cites a famous book by Marshall Goldsmith whose title sums it up perfectly:

“What Got You Here Won’t Get You There.”

Effective leadership means recognizing where an organization is today and understanding what it needs to reach its next stage.

For Sunday Friends, that meant adapting, learning, and continuing to evolve while staying grounded in the mission.

That deep commitment to our mission is reflected in Ashley’s appreciation for Sunday Friends’ unique approach:

“Through my time with Sunday Friends, I came to realize how vital it is to support the whole family unit if we hope to break intergenerational cycles of poverty. The challenges under-resourced families face are rarely isolated to one person or a single moment in time—they're often interconnected and systemic.

“A parent may be balancing a chronic health condition, caring for a child with a debilitating disability, navigating unreliable transportation, and/or trying to build financial stability while working multiple jobs. These challenges don't exist in isolation, and neither do their solutions.

“While many organizations understandably focus on meeting immediate needs, Sunday Friends recognizes that lasting change also requires addressing the underlying barriers that prevent families from building long-term stability and opportunity.

“That’s what makes Sunday Friends’ mission so valuable. The organization pairs immediate support with long-term investment, helping families strengthen their financial stability, health, and advocacy over time.

“That kind of transformation requires patience, trust, and a community willing to invest in people for the long term. It may not produce instant, headline-ready results, but it creates something far more meaningful: lasting change that can alter the trajectory of a family for generations.”

The Future of Sunday Friends

Ashley also spoke passionately about the Dream. Build. Mentor. (DBM) Lab—our entrepreneurship incubator designed to guide aspiring founders from business concept to launch.

She described it as one of the most visionary initiatives she has encountered. What excites her is the possibility of helping families move beyond simply addressing immediate needs and toward building economic mobility and generational wealth through entrepreneurship.

“Given the right tools, mentorship, and opportunity, every family has the potential to thrive.”

That belief is deeply aligned with what I have hoped for Sunday Friends from the beginning.

Looking ahead, Ashley feels confident in where the organization stands today:

“We have exceptionally talented leadership, a passionate staff, a robust suite of tools and resources, and a deeply committed membership base that has stayed with us through thick and thin.

“Just like the families we serve, a nonprofit can only move forward and grow from a place of true stability—and now that we have secured that foundation, we are uniquely positioned to maximize our impact in the community.

“Looking ahead, I see that Sunday Friends’ mission is needed now more than ever. In today's world, life can easily feel overwhelming, unfair, and increasingly disconnected.

“Sunday Friends serves as a vital anchor, bringing people back together and reminding us of the power of community. With our organizational house in order, it’s clear to me that we have the strength, stability, and vision to meet this moment and drive real, lasting change for years to come.”

A Final Message From Ashley

Ashley ended our conversation with a message I hope our entire community will take to heart:

“True impact is never made in isolation; it requires all of us working together over an extended period of time.”

She invited everyone to experience Sunday Friends firsthand—to attend our Community Days, talk with our staff and Board, ask questions, and see the work in action.

I couldn’t agree more.

After 25 years, Sunday Friends continues to adapt and grow. But the heart of what we do remains the same: creating the stability, opportunity, and support families need to build brighter futures.

I am deeply grateful to Ashley for the extraordinary care, wisdom, and leadership she has given Sunday Friends—and for helping leave this organization stronger and ready for its next chapter.

Read the complete conversation with Ashley Papagno, including her full reflections on leadership, nonprofit management, the executive transition, Sunday Friends’ mission, and the future of DBM.