Leading with Curiosity and Creativity
“My experience with the Mid-Ohio Food Collective has solidified my passion for helping neighbors support their community through their time, talent, and treasure.”
For ShareCorps VISTA Emoni Harmon, meaningful community impact begins with building relationships. As the Donor Relations Systems Specialist at Mid-Ohio Food Collective (MOFC), Emoni is combining creativity, collaboration, and a passion for service to strengthen connections between donors and the communities they support.
In her role, Emoni is developing sustainable donor stewardship systems and engagement strategies that recognize individual donors at significant giving milestones and strengthen relationships with corporate partners. Through innovative program design, she hopes to help supporters better understand the lasting impact of their contributions.
“Our donors help us to do what we do best,” Emoni explains, emphasizing their essential role in helping MOFC serve neighbors experiencing food insecurity.
One of Emoni’s most rewarding professional accomplishments has been learning to listen closely to her teammates and translate their needs into sustainable solutions. She has also embraced creativity while developing a donor milestone recognition program, exploring unconventional approaches to make donor communications more memorable.
While these projects have provided opportunities for growth, transitioning from smaller nonprofits to an organization as large as MOFC has presented challenges. With a substantial development team and numerous perspectives to consider, Emoni initially struggled to determine whom to involve in projects and how to prioritize feedback.
Over time, she has learned to approach collaboration with greater confidence, ask questions, and trust her judgment.
“Moving forward, I intend to carry these achievements with me by continuing to lead with curiosity, embrace creativity, and recognize that tapping into the strengths and expertise of others often leads to more impactful and effective solutions,” she shares.
Beyond her professional development, Emoni’s service has deepened her understanding of poverty and the importance of community support. Reflecting on the ways human service organizations have benefited her own family, she views her work as an opportunity to contribute to the same network of care that has supported her.
Her experience has also clarified her professional aspirations. Following her service term, Emoni plans to pursue a career in nonprofit advancement or development, continuing to connect people with opportunities to support their communities.
A longtime advocate for national service, Emoni encourages others, particularly those navigating educational or career transitions, to consider AmeriCorps.
Thanks for your service, Emoni!