Announcing New Changes at the RIC

From Kirsta Benedetti, Founder of the Riverview International Center

I wanted to announce some major changes that will happen in this upcoming month. Starting April 1st, I will be stepping down as the Executive Director of the Riverview International Center. This change comes due to our success and growth over these past few years! 

Last year, it started to become apparent that the organization needed to increase the hours of Executive Directorship due to our increasing budget and programming. We’ve grown to serve 650 adults and children in 2020, even though we had closed for some of the year! This growth has happened organically and is overwhelming the current staff handling these duties…. Over these past 6 months the board deliberated and discussed what was needed for the continued success of the RIC. 

At the beginning of March it was decided to make my position 40 hours a week starting April 1st. Unfortunately, due to having two young kids (currently in distance learning), a thriving art business, and my husband’s battle with cancer, I am not able to increase my hours and continue on as the Executive Director. I will be remaining on staff for at least the next six months to help with the transition and to fill in.

From the beginning, my vision and intention was to be a conduit of hope, welcome, and change while building a strong organization that didn’t center around any one person. Because of this, I am confident that the Center will continue to grow and strengthen its ability to serve the community without me as director.

The Riverview community is strong, vibrant, and resilient and I am tremendously grateful for the opportunity to be a part of it. My life has been changed by the people I have met and by everyone I’ve worked with. The lives I was able to enter into with all of their complexities; the celebrations, the laughter, the sorrow… all of this I will treasure and I will never be the same.

Thank you, to all of you, who supported me, helped me, guided me as I learned and took risks to make the RIC what it is today. I know it sounds trite, but I truly could not have done it without you.

Warmly,

Kirsta Benedetti

Kirsta working at the main desk with Hamida and her daughter

“From the beginning, my vision and intention was to be a conduit of hope, welcome, and change while building a strong organization that didn’t center around any one person.”

Kirsta kept this message in the forefront of all that we do at the RIC. One result has been the 650 people who interacted with the RIC in 2020, even through COVID closures!