The Heart of Volunteering: MiShon Landry's Inspiring Journey from Mom to Community Leader

Though our world often seems divided and chaotic, there are individuals whose dedication to their communities shines like a beacon of hope. MiShon Landry is one such person. Her journey from a mother looking to involve her children in meaningful activities to a passionate community leader is both inspiring and instructive. Through her experiences, we can learn valuable lessons about the power of volunteering, the importance of balance, and the influence one person can have on their community.

The Seeds of Service: Starting with Family

Her journey into the world of volunteering began, as it does for many parents, with her children. She recalls:

"My first introduction to volunteering was when my kids were little. With my boys, I was a Den Mom in Cub Scouts and the Boy Scouts. Later, I was a Girl Scouts leader with my daughter."

This initial step into volunteering is familiar to many parents. It's often driven by a desire to be involved in our children's lives and to support their activities. However, for her, this was just the beginning of a much larger journey.

Expanding Horizons: Teaching Empathy Through Service

As her children grew, she recognized the importance of exposing them to different experiences and perspectives. She shares a powerful memory: "During the holidays, we would help serve meals to families at the Arlington Mission. The mission also had a program where my kids would help parents pick out gifts that they could give their children. They enjoyed helping but it was also very eye-opening for them."

This experience had a profound impact on her children's understanding of the world:

"At the time, the parents could only pick two toys and two other items to give to each of their kids as Christmas gifts. My kids couldn't understand why they couldn't let the families have more toys. I think that's when they realized that here some children did not have some of the things that they had, and that there are real differences in the world."

These early experiences laid the foundation for a family culture of service and empathy. Her approach demonstrates how volunteering can be a powerful tool for teaching children about social issues and developing their sense of community responsibility.

Finding Your Passion: The Key to Sustainable Volunteering

As her involvement in community service grew, she discovered an important truth about sustainable volunteering:

"Find something that you're passionate about and do something with it. I think it's easier if you're passionate about it. Then it won't necessarily feel like work, and you'll be more committed to it."

This insight is crucial for anyone looking to get involved in community service. When your volunteer work aligns with your passions, it becomes a source of joy and fulfillment rather than an obligation.

For MiShon, one of her passions turned out to be food and wine. She enthusiastically shares: "I am a hashtag foodie! I love great food and great wine so my favorite event to volunteer at is the Fort Worth Food and Wine Festival."

Her involvement with this festival demonstrates how volunteering can combine personal interests with community impact:

"What I loved more than anything was that the money raised was used for scholarships for high school students who wanted to go into culinary or marketing careers. We had almost ninety-five percent of our volunteers return because we would give them a free ticket to one event plus, they got to volunteer. I think it was the best gig ever because you had people that were passionate about what they were doing and knew that this was not only fun and good food and drink, but that the money was also going to a great cause."

This experience highlights how effective volunteer programs can create a win-win situation, providing enjoyable experiences for volunteers while making a meaningful impact on the community.

The Pitfall of Over-Commitment: Learning to Say No

As her involvement in community service grew, she encountered a common challenge faced by many passionate volunteers: over-commitment. She candidly shares her experience:

"Don't over-commit! Unfortunately, I had to learn that the hard way. In the past, I didn't like saying no to people when they asked for things and would always try and help everyone. It wasn't until I experienced multiple, tragic, and very personal losses a few years ago that I had to stop and take a pause."

This period of personal challenge forced her to reassess her commitments:

"My life was just spiraling to the point that I had to stop and say that I just could not continue to do all the things that I was doing. So, I stepped away from a few things. I also scaled back the work that I now do every day, so I have time to balance the community work with the work that I do."

Her experience serves as an important lesson for all volunteers: self-care is not selfish. Taking care of yourself is essential for sustainable, long-term community involvement. By scaling back and finding a better balance, MiShon was able to continue her community work more sustainably.

"I'm not trying to do it all anymore, which makes a difference. It's still enough where it satisfies me and gives me that value within the community work."

The Art of Listening: Approaching New Spaces with Cultural Agility

As MiShon's volunteer work expanded into different areas of her community, she developed valuable insights about approaching new environments: "I think sometimes we should pause and take a step back when we're in a new space. I think we'll have an opportunity to learn something if we go into things with cultural agility, open to learning and listening, instead of coming in to try and fix something."

This perspective is crucial in today's diverse communities. She elaborates:

"I think a lot of people want to go into something new just to try and fix things, but some things aren't broken. They may need additional resources, but that doesn't mean they're broken."

This approach of listening and learning before acting is a valuable lesson for anyone involved in community service. It promotes respect for existing community structures and cultures and can lead to more effective and welcomed interventions when they are needed.

Lessons from MiShon's Journey: A Guide for Aspiring Volunteers

From MiShon's experiences, we can draw several valuable lessons for anyone looking to get involved in community service:

Start Where You Are: Begin with opportunities connected to your current life situation, as MiShon did with her children's activities.
Follow Your Passion: Look for volunteer opportunities that align with your interests and passions. This will make your service more enjoyable and sustainable.
Teach Through Example: If you have children, involve them in age-appropriate volunteer activities. This can be a powerful way to teach empathy and social responsibility.
Balance is Key: Be mindful of over-commitment. It's okay to say no sometimes, and it's essential to balance your volunteer work with your personal life and self-care.
Listen and Learn: When entering new community spaces, approach with humility and a willingness to learn. Not every situation needs fixing; sometimes, understanding and support are what's needed.
Embrace the Journey: Remember that your volunteer journey may evolve. Be open to new opportunities and ways of serving your community.

The Power of Community Service

MiShon Landry's journey in community service exemplifies the impact of volunteering, both for the individual and the community. From her early days as a scout leader to her current role in organizing major community events, MiShon's story shows how a commitment to service can evolve and grow over time.

Her experiences highlight the multifaceted benefits of volunteering: it can be a tool for personal growth, a way to instill important values in our children, a means of connecting with our passions, and a powerful force for positive change in our communities.

As her story shows, the path of a volunteer is not always easy. It requires dedication, balance, and sometimes difficult choices. But the rewards - the connections made, the lives touched, the communities strengthened - make it a journey worth taking.

Whether you are a parent looking to involve your children in meaningful activities, a professional seeking to give back to your community, or simply someone looking to make a difference, her journey offers valuable insights and inspiration. Remember, every act of service, no matter how small it may seem, has the potential to create ripples of positive change in your community.

More Resources

Find your next volunteer opportunity by visiting a few of MiShon's favorite organizations:

I Million Cups: A local chapter of a national program designed to educate, engage, and connect entrepreneurs.
Rocketship Public Schools: A national network of public elementary charter schools focused on eliminating the achievement gap, operating in multiple states.
SCORE Mentors Fort Worth: A local chapter of the national SCORE organization, providing free business mentoring and education to small businesses and startups in the Fort Worth area.
Fort Worth Food & Wine Foundation: A local organization that celebrates Fort Worth's food and beverage scene through various events and supports culinary education.:
Texas CASA: A state-level organization (Court Appointed Special Advocates) that supports and promotes court-appointed volunteer advocacy for children in the Texas child protection system.
Boy Scouts of America: A national youth organization that promotes character development, citizenship training, and personal fitness. It has local councils throughout the U.S.
Girl Scouts: A national organization for girls that builds courage, confidence, and character. Like the Boy Scouts, with local councils throughout the U.S.
Arlington Mission: A local organization in Arlington, Texas, focused on providing community services such as food, shelter, or other support to those in need in the Arlington area.