For more than three decades, my friend Alicia has had a unique way of navigating life. We met at debate camp at Northwestern when we were seventeen, and by sheer coincidence ended up at colleges five minutes apart in Wellesley, Massachusetts. In all the years since, Alicia has rarely approached challenges head-on. With her, it is often a bit of a treasure hunt to understand what is really going on beneath the surface. So when her husband called to say they were coming to Atlanta for a day trip—ostensibly so he could ride some ancient roller coaster—I knew exactly the assignment: show up and shut up.

I cleared my schedule and picked her up at the airport. We spent the day wandering the BeltLine, buying things we absolutely did not need, eating ice cream, and lingering on a park bench with no real agenda. We laughed, reminisced, and simply existed in that easy, familiar space of a decades-long friendship. Not once did she mention that she had a life-changing interview the very next day—one that could alter the trajectory of her career. Not once did she say she was anxious or uncertain. I did not know that the entire purpose of that day was to help her quietly rebuild her confidence.

The next day, she called to tell me she got the job (that I did not know about). Then she said something that stayed with me: spending that day together reminded her of who she used to be—young, optimistic, and full of possibility. It reconnected her to a version of herself she needed in that moment. I had no idea that simply being present could have that kind of impact.

That experience feels deeply aligned with Rotary’s call to Service Above Self. Sometimes service is not a grand project or a visible achievement. Sometimes it is simply showing up, offering your presence, and creating space for someone else to rediscover their strength. We do not always get to see the ripple effects of what we do—but the habit of showing up, again and again, amplifies our impact in ways we may never fully know.

As we close out the Summer Enrichment program at HomeStretch, I want to thank each and every member who gave their time and presence to those children. You showed up—and that matters more than you may ever realize. The consistency of that service, the relationships built, and the moments of encouragement offered will ripple outward in ways that may shape these young lives for years to come. And we are not finished. We have been given the green light to move forward with the expansion of the Learning Lab, a project that will take shape over the coming months. Roswell Rotary is ready to deepen its commitment to HomeStretch, to double down on this partnership, and to continue creating meaningful, lasting impact for the children and families we serve.

Yours in Service,

Leslie