Rolling Stones by Alexa Davidson Executive Director
Dave Cort continued from page 2
Dave often speaks about being “built for the long haul.” He knows that real change doesn’t happen overnight—it requires optimism, endurance, and an unwavering belief in people. That philosophy is visible in what he built. When Dave began his work at the Community Center, it operated with a $30,000 budget and one employee. Today, it is a thriving, multi-service agency with a $2 million budget, 25 employees, and programs that support people across a lifetime—from early childhood through older adulthood. Just as important as the numbers is how Dave led. He is a consummate “yes” man—he led with excitement, possibility, and an abiding belief that solutions could be found. That optimism shaped the culture of the Community Center and rippled outward into the broader community. It encouraged collaboration, invited innovation, and reminded all of us that nonprofit work is ultimately about people and possibility. This Lifetime Achievement Award honors not just a career, but a legacy—one built on relationships, persistence, and a deep love for community. We are profoundly grate- ful for Dave Cort: for his vision, his leadership, and his steadfast commitment to West Marin. His impact will be felt for generations, and the Community Center—and the county—are stronger because of him.
On Belonging, Leadership, and Choosing Love
Belonging is one of my most deeply held values. It guides how I move through the world, how I lead, and how I
show up for others. We can all remember a time when we felt excluded or like an outsider, and how that impacted our daily experiences. And we can all remember a time when someone brought us in, made us feel seen, and ensured that we felt like an important part of our community. The fact that the San Geronimo Valley Community Center’s core belief is YOU BELONG HERE is what drew me to the Center in the first place, and a major reason why I have chosen to dedicate my career here. This place has always held belonging at its core. Growing up in this community, and from the moment I stepped into this role, I recognized something special and rare: a community that leads with heart, that believes people deserve to feel seen, welcomed, and valued simply because they are human. My leadership has been shaped by that foundation. And yet, if I’m being honest, the last couple of months have tested me in ways I didn’t expect. I have been watching a country around me that no longer seems to stand for belonging, a country whose rhetoric and actions are actively making groups of people feel unwelcome, unsafe, and unseen. Friends, neighbors, families, children, people who are deeply woven into the fabric of our society are being targeted in devastating ways. I have found myself quick to tears, quick to anger, and left with a sense of despair. There have been times in my tenure at the Center when we navigated crises— from pandemics to power outages—and those crises were clearly defined and broadly acknowledged. This moment has been harder, because even with harm happening in plain sight, agreement about its severity is fractured making the ground beneath leadership feel less steady. And yet, even in that uncertainty, I remain committed. I am inspired by this community, by the love that shows up quietly and consistently, by the way people take care of one another, by the way connection persists even when the national narrative feels heavy and divisive. There have been a few moments recently that have allowed me to rise above the despair, to see and acknowledge that there is hope. Walking alongside our community on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, standing in solidarity with immigrants and sending a clear, visible message that you belong here, rejuvenated me. It reminded me that my leadership must, without hesita- tion, signal that this is a place rooted in love, inclusivity, and belonging. No mat- ter what messages people may be receiving elsewhere, this Community Center leads with love. Another unexpected turning point came from a place I didn’t anticipate: watching Bad Bunny perform at the Super Bowl halftime show. His performance felt like a love letter to immigrants at a time when that message was desperately needed. The joy. The culture. The intergenerational connection. The resilience. The com- munity. All of it was on display, unapologetic, vibrant, and celebratory. When Bad Bunny said, first in his Grammy speech and then again broadcast across a national stage, “The only thing stronger than hate is love,” it landed deeply. I’ve watched that performance several times and that message has become my mantra: The only thing stronger than hate is love. I have also been inspired by our partners and the shared commitment across the nonprofit sector to respond in a coordinated and collaborative way to the real challenges our community may face. Community Resiliency teams across the county are working together to pool resources, clarify roles, and prepare to meet community needs should immigration enforcement become aggressive and wide- spread, recognizing that the impacts would be felt not only by individuals, but by entire family systems and communities. It is easy to let hate fuel more hate, to respond with anger, to harden, to with- draw. That cycle is familiar and tempting. It is far harder to stay grounded in love while also speaking the truth. This column has always been a space where I reflect honestly on what I’m grap- pling with as a leader. And right now, this is it. I am committed to telling the truth in a time that demands honesty about what is happening in our country. I am committed to seeing each person in their full humanity, regardless of background, status, or story. And I am committed to remembering, and reminding others, that we are stronger together. Our differ- ences are not a weakness. They are the source of our richness, our creativity, and our resilience. They are what make our society beautiful.
Congratulations, Dave, and thank you for a lifetime of service.
Photo by Stuart Lirette
Credits Stone Soup is printed four times a year and reflects the diverse cultural interests of the Community Center and the Valley. Though it is a publication of the San Geronimo Valley Community Center, it is meant as a journal for everyone in or around the Valley. We are interested in your input. If you have any comments, ideas for articles or columns, news, art, stories, poetry, photography, or information for the publication, please forward them to: The Stone Soup Editorial Committee c/o San Geronimo Valley Community Center, 6350 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. P.O. Box 194, San Geronimo, CA 94963. Phone (415) 488-8888 • email: dfogel@sgvcc.org, or visit www.sgvcc.org. Stone Soup does not exercise editorial control on the content of submissions by orga- nizations, byline columnists, or display ads. We reserve the right to refuse to publish ads or submissions. Editorial Committee: Danielle Fogel, Alexa Davidson, David Russ Proofreading: Alexa Davidson, Danielle Fogel, Albert DeSilver, Poko Giacomini Production: David Russ, Russ Ranch Productions Printing: Marin Sun Ads: Danielle Fogel and Albert DeSilver David Lakes, President Amy Waterhouse, Co-Vice President Alexander McQuilkin, Co-Vice President Kelly Lawson Morgan Patton Heather Richardson Liora Soladay Gordon White San Geronimo Valley Community Center Board Members Alan Weiler, Treasurer John Beckerley, Secretary Buddy Faure Zachary Goodman Brandon Johnson
And here, in the San Geronimo Valley, we will continue to lead with love.
Jean Berensmeier, Founder
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