Gratitude Focus: Today, I’m grateful for two impactful events that remind me of why community and connection matter so deeply

The first is the Nonprofit Connector — an initiative Midwest Bank Centre has hosted for several years to help connect more Black and Brown professionals with nonprofit boards that need their service.

The second is the CAASTLC Community Action Agency of St. Louis County event, where I had the privilege of sharing space with inspiring honorees across St. Louis. Both moments reminded me of how far we’ve come and how much more we can do together.

Reflection/Why I’m Grateful:

The Nonprofit Connector was born during the pandemic, when my phone was ringing nonstop with board requests. When I asked why I was being approached, I often heard, “We’re looking for diversity.”

I realized I couldn’t personally serve on every board, but I could create opportunities for others. So, we built a bridge — connecting nonprofits seeking diverse voices with talented Black and Brown leaders ready to serve.

That effort continues to make a real difference. And yet, the work isn’t finished. Today, 77% of nonprofit board chairs identify as White, and 63% of board members overall are White. Many boards also skew older, with a majority of members over 55.

We’re closing that gap one relationship at a time — and that’s something worth being grateful for.

Later that evening, I had the honor of attending the CAASTLC Community Action Agency of St. Louis County event — a reminder that the real work of transformation happens at the intersection of social, human, and financial capital.

CAASTLC stands in that space — helping people stabilize, survive, and ultimately thrive. As I reflected on their mission, I was reminded of my own journey through foster care, and how organizations like CASTL helped me discover peace in the midst of chaos.

Gratitude, for me, isn’t abstract — it’s personal. It’s rooted in the people and organizations who stood in the gap when life was hard, and in the opportunity to now help others rise.

 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
— Romans 15:13 (NIV)

Who helped you find peace when life felt uncertain? And how might you now become that bridge for someone else, helping them move from surviving to thriving?

Question for Reflection

 

Hi, I’m Orvin Kimbrough, volunteer, board director, chairman, and CEO. I help professionals move from feeling stuck to being strengthened by reshaping how they think, lead, and live. My work focuses on confidence, leadership, and influence through mindset shifts, expanded networks, and bold, values-aligned action. My perspective is rooted in lived experience, from growing up in foster care to leading complex institutions as a CEO and shaped by faith, resilience, and a deep belief in human potential.

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Books for Every Stage

Twice Over a Man

A memoir often described as a leadership guide wrapped in an honest, relatable story of perseverance, healing, and growth. It explores how pain can be reframed into purpose and how ordinary people build meaningful lives through courage and clarity.

More Than a Conqueror

Written for teens and young adults, this book encourages confidence, resilience, and identity formation during the years when self-belief is being shaped.

Ward and the State

A children’s book that gently introduces big ideas like belonging, courage, and hope, helping young readers see themselves as more than their circumstances

INTRODUCING: The Thriver’s Path™

This blog is part of The Thriver’s Path™—a growing ecosystem of writing, courses, reflections, and community designed to help people of all ages reframe their thinking, reclaim their agency, and take their next meaningful move.

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