After a decade as a driving force in United Way’s work, Alyssa Stewart is moving on to a new challenge – but she is still a United Way champion.
Stewart, who has been UWSCMI’s Executive Impact Officer, is joining the Kalamazoo Community Foundation, where she will direct impact activities, grantmaking and scholarships. It’s a role she says is a natural next step in her determination to serve her community.
“Myself and those on the United Way team, and a lot of people in our line of work, they take this work personally,” said Stewart. “They are people I’ve come to love and appreciate and respect.”
Career of Impact
A native of Vicksburg, Mich., Stewart earned her undergraduate degree in political science and public policy at Albion College. “I had this lofty idea of just wanting to do good and help people,” she said.
The Great Recession prompted her to pivot toward community service. After leadership roles focused on employment and education at the Kalamazoo Regional Educational Services Agency (KRESA) and the W.E. Upjohn Institute, Stewart joined United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region in 2013 as a Community Impact Associate.
While her job description was clear, she admits she didn’t know a lot about United Way at the time.
“I had a sort of vague idea of what United Way was,” she said. “It was a leap of faith [to] that front line of grantmaking. But it was one of the best decisions I ever made.”
Advocating for ALICE
Stewart played a crucial part of building a strong community- and equity-focused culture through two United Way mergers – the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo merger of 2012, which was still in the integration phase when she joined; and the 2022 three-way merger that created United Way of South Central Michigan.
Also, she cited United Way’s work during the pandemic as a highlight of her career. Notably, Stewart led the creation of the Disaster Relief Fund, which funneled millions of dollars in direct assistance to help nonprofits, individuals and families make it through that difficult time.
“COVID changed our lives significantly,” she said. “Being in the philanthropic space, being in a community-serving role, the pandemic was devastating – and it was the catalyst for a lot of positive change in the way we provided resources to the community.”
Stewart said she’s most proud of the work United Way has done in advocating for ALICE – people who are Asset Limited, Income Constrained, and Employed, struggling to make ends meet.
“The ALICE Report was a huge piece of my time here. [The first report] came out right as I joined the organization. It became such a huge driver of the work, but also something that was so rewarding to educate people about,” she explained.
“I love talking to people about ALICE. I love the reaction it can create for people who are ALICE, where they feel seen and have that moment of, ‘It’s not just me. It’s not just me having this experience. I’m not doing something wrong.’”
Likewise, Stewart added, she appreciates the chance to raise awareness among people who have a degree of financial stability and otherwise don’t understand the challenges ALICE families face.
ALICE will still be a big part of her future work, and Stewart is eager to stay connected with UWSCMI as a partner. “I’ve been pretty unequivocal in saying, regardless of where I work, I will always be a cheerleader for United Way, I will always be a cheerleader for ALICE,” she said.
Shared Gratitude
Chris Sargent, President & Executive Officer, said he is joyful to see Stewart embrace a new challenge despite feeling sadness at her departure.
“When Alyssa joined United Way a decade ago, our Battle Creek and Kalamazoo organization was barely a toddler, still figuring the way forward after the merger. She helped that toddler get on its feet by bringing her strategic mindset,” Sargent said. “She shifted us toward a stronger focus on the newly emerging ALICE data. She helped our partners understand and embrace that approach as well.
“Alyssa’s leadership of Community Impact allowed us to become more nimble, thoughtful and intentional. As a result, communities began to look to United Way as a strong partner and turn-to leader.”
Stewart said her time with United Way – and especially her co-workers – remains precious.
“It’s a feeling of knowing that it’s time to do something new, and also feeling grateful that the opportunity I’ve been given here allows me to go and do this other really important job. “It’s been a huge part of my life and of my family’s life,” Stewart added. “The people here, I’ve come to love and appreciate and respect. So part of what makes it feel okay to me is knowing that I’ll still be a partner.”