Update from Laura McLeod, Core Council President - August 13, 2025

This was a productive week for our CSL Ballard teams — and I’m grateful for the energy and dedication this community brings.

I reconvened a Marketing Committee with the Rev. Jim Boone, the Rev. Dr. Larry King, and our marketing maven, Bonnie Pascoe. At our first meeting, we reviewed a preliminary plan and shared ideas to help us reach more people and strengthen connections within our community, which we’ll refine and then share. There’s space for more voices, so if you have experience in marketing, partnerships, or outreach — or a spark of curiosity — please consider joining us. Meetings are currently scheduled for the first Tuesday of each month via Zoom.

On Saturday, Rev. Michael convened our Core Team — with representation from the Core Council, practitioners, and staff — for a strategy session, focused on our current and future priorities. Much of our current focus still holds true, like centering on our people and building community, but we saw opportunities to refresh, rethink, and explore new directions — work we’ll continue over the next month or so and we'll share our progress.  

Back in April 2024, we surveyed the community to learn what mattered most to you — what you valued, why you came, and what you wanted more of. Those results shaped our current mission, vision, and affirmations, and guided our strategy. Now, with fresh perspectives and a renewed sense of possibility, we’re looking ahead.

On Saturday, August 24, Rev. Larry will lead a visioning session to help us co-create the next chapter for CSL Ballard. This is one of several upcoming opportunities to share your thoughts — whether you’ve been here for years or just found us, your voice matters in shaping what comes next.

My hope is that these next steps deepen our connections, ignite new ideas, inspire participation, and reaffirm why this community matters.