Letter From Sarah

Change is easy to personalize. It’s harder to humanize.

Our first reaction to change is often personal. That’s natural. Instinctual.

When it starts to rain, we often think first: Are my car windows down? Did I bring my jacket? Only later—if we choose to—we might consider how the rain is affecting our neighbors, both human and nonhuman.

When a new leader steps into a community, our first thoughts are often: How will this affect me? What will change, and how will that impact my experience? Only afterward—again, if we choose to—might we wonder about the human behind those changes.

Hello. I’m the human behind the recent changes around here. I’m Sarah Vincent, Executive Director of the Highlands Center

I’ve been part of this organization for over five years. I like bluebirds and coffee. I’m a mom, a nonprofit leader, and a volunteer. Two of those are relatively new roles. But volunteering? That goes back to the roots of my childhood.

I love the Highlands Center. I bet you do too. There’s something about this place and our mission that connects deeply to everything I care about in life. I’m devoted to my role and to this organization. I celebrate our successes loudly and mourn our failures quietly. I try hard to learn names—because that matters to me. I’m not great at small talk—awkward, honestly—but I’m trying.

I started my volunteer journey as a candy striper. Then a squirrel feeder at a local wildlife rehab center. At certain times in my life, volunteering wasn’t just an option—it was a necessity. It was the only way I could get outside of myself, which was the only way I could really live.

So yes, change is easy to personalize and harder to humanize. But here I am: the human behind the changes to our volunteer program. And I’ve made them because I truly believe they are the next right step for this place we all care about.

Maybe you’ve felt that too. You help someone—formally or informally—and some weight you didn’t even realize you were carrying lifts.

And maybe you’ve also experienced the opposite. You help someone—and instead of relief, the weight grows heavier. You feel unappreciated, even burdened.

Let’s flip hats for a moment.

HCNH has been on a decades-long journey of professionalization. Today, we have an exceptional, mission-driven staff—some of the most dedicated people I’ve ever worked with. I’m so proud to stand behind and beside them.

And I imagine you’ve had this experience, too: someone helps you, and suddenly, your own weight feels lighter. But sometimes, someone’s help does the opposite. It adds to your burden—practically or emotionally.

Both kinds of experiences exist—the ones that lighten our load, and the ones that add to it. We can’t eliminate the heavier moments entirely. But we can work together to create more experiences that ease the weight we each carry—lifting one another up, sharing the load, and strengthening the community we’re all here to support.

The approach to volunteerism we’re launching today is grounded in our mission and values—and in our shared desire to be a force multiplier for this work. That means:

• Giving more than we take.
• Lifting more than we weigh down.
• Approaching with curiosity more than with judgment.
• Showing up more than calling out.
• And stepping outside of our own egos, preferences, and pet projects—to help move forward something bigger than ourselves.

We hope this approach resonates with you. If it doesn’t—we understand. And if you’d like to learn more before making a (re)commitment, we’re here.

Sarah Vincent
Executive Director
Highlands Center for Natural History