At a Glance

Things I Can Help You With:

Learning Services programming, planning and coordination and peer connection building particularly centered on youth philanthropy.

Biography

Meredith brings over 12 years of experience as a program manager dedicated to youth empowerment in a nonprofit setting. Meredith worked most recently at her family business, Joy Abendmode in Royal Oak, as a sales director and prior to this, worked with DRI International as a program manager. Meredith brings experience planning and executing small conferences, creating an internship program, coordinating remote teams, fundraising, budgeting and cultivating meaningful relationships with a diverse community.

Get to know Meredith

Describe what you do in your role.  

As a program coordinator with CMF, I support youth philanthropy, working closely with the Michigan Community Foundations Youth Project (MCFYP) in the development and coordination of training and resources for Youth Advisory Councils (YACs) and their advisors across the state, including the annual Youth Grantmakers Summer Leadership. 

What do you enjoy the most about your work?   

I enjoy connecting with people. When you make valuable and meaningful connections, you accomplish practical tasks, but you also build a team for your professional and personal life. 

What are the causes you’re most passionate about?  

I’m extremely passionate about working with young people's personal and professional development. Watching an individual's development and progress is a wild and rewarding process that never gets old. In my previous position, I loved working with and assisting our nation's veterans. I will always enjoy making an individual feel seen, heard, and helped.

What inspires, challenges or motivates you?   

Communication and adaptation both challenge and motivate me. There are no empty spaces. Every person has a reason for their communication patterns, views, and interests. They have a history that’s worth hearing, a living text of sorts. It’s a great gift when a person opens up to you and shares their thoughts. This is an everyday challenge and a lifelong learning process.

What do you love about Michigan? 

I love our beautiful lakes, woods, and small picturesque cities. I love high summer at night. I love that the sun shines when it snows. I love that I can go skiing, kayaking, hiking, and city rollerblading. I love that I grew up with parks to go to, as well as having a city where I can attend Broadway shows. Downtown Detroit is where I spent a good portion of my childhood riding the People Mover and roaming the Detroit Library. I’m a huge fan of the Detroit Institute of Art and the cultural offerings of our cities in general. Home is where the heart is, and Michigan is my home. I love its rich history and its people. Michigan is one the most well-rounded and rich states our country has to offer. 

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