When Moniqua Acosta first expressed an interest in joining the LeadingAge Leaders of Color Network last spring, she had no idea what to expect. But over the past year, Acosta says she’s had “an uplifting and encouraging experience that has provided me with a rich community of colleagues that I did not have before.”

 Acosta, director of volunteers at Landis Homes in Lititz, PA, now serves as chair of the Leaders of Color Network’s national advisory board. She recently wrote a blog describing how the Leaders of Color Network has helped her increase her knowledge in several areas, including advocacy, “that I did not necessarily believe were meant for me.”

“Over the last year, I have been heartened to learn that the initiatives and sense of community fostered by leaders of color networks at the national and state levels have provided support, educational opportunities, and visibility to many leaders of color who have felt alone and not heard,” wrote Acosta, who worked to establish a Leaders of Color Network in Pennsylvania. “It is amazing what support and a sense of empowerment can do for the soul. I have felt it this past year and am grateful for it.”

Read Acosta’s full blog.