Reed Ellis, Board Member
At Little Brothers- Friends of the Elderly, we are pioneering a new Highlight of the Week series where we shine a spotlight on members of the LBFE community including board members, older adults, volunteers, students, staff, CitySites (and more!) to learn about them and their experiences with LBFE. This week’s highlight is of one of our newest board members, Reed Ellis.
Please tell us a little about yourself- what you do for work, what professional experience do you have?
I’m very fortunate to be surrounded by people who give so much of their lives for something much bigger than themselves. Those heroes in my life have shaped me into the person I am today. Professionally, I’m in human resources with a focus on recruitment within a global software company. The experiences I’ve had in and out of the corporate world have shined a light on a world much bigger than me. Creating human relationships and striving to connect people in meaningful ways is the driving force behind my professional and personal life.
What inspired you to get involved with LBFE?
LBFE (Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly) has relieved isolation and loneliness among older home-bound adults for almost 40 years. I was inspired to join LBFE because of the organization’s mission and the people who support it. Creating positive human connections and experiences is so simple and so powerful yet overlooked in a world where we all (including myself) get caught up with our busy day-to-day lives. To learn more about the organization’s mission: https://lbfeboston.org/
What has been your favorite memory so far of working with LBFE and why was it so meaningful to you?
The Friendship & Flowers program was designed to bring a sense of community and engagement to home-bound adults. Spending a beautiful Saturday afternoon putting together vibrant flower bouquets and stirring up friendly conversation among individuals with Alzheimer’s was powerful. One man, I will call him Tom, lacked mobility and speech. He was sitting alone at a table and could not verbalize his interest in creating bouquets of flowers. When I brought Tom a tulip and asked if he wanted to smell it, he looked at me and made a sniffing sound. I held the flower up to his nose and he smiled from ear-to-ear. At that exact moment, I knew the power of human connection beyond words.
If you had 30 seconds to give advice to someone who wants to be involved with LBFE and our intergenerational programs, what would it be?
Whether you are 12, 18, 25 (like me) or 75, we all experience times of loneliness and understand the importance of social interactions. By 2020, over 25% of the Boston population is going to be above the age of 65 and many of those individuals do not have loved ones to support them as they age. The aging population will continue to grow in years to come.
We all age and reach a point in life where we must depend on others for help with things we once took for granted, such as writing, reading, and speaking. Some will have the support of family members, but a majority will not. Getting involved in LBFE is more important now than ever, and the concept is so simple; everyone can make a difference. All it takes is a little time and a desire to connect with others.
What animal best describes your leadership style and why?
The chameleon must adapt to its ever-changing environment, swiftly and effortlessly. My leadership style is quiet and mindful. I try to identify individual strengths in a way that allows people to work effectively together as a cohesive unit. As a leader, these attributes contribute to a strong team environment and long-term success.
If you read this post and want to learn more, I’d be happy to chat about the organization and how to get involved! 🙂
Be sure to check out next week’s blog to see who will be highlighted next!