May Message From the Director

As I conclude my tenure as Executive Director of Central Topeka Grocery Oasis, I want to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who has been part of this journey.

Change is never easy. Community work, especially rooted in equity, food access, and systems change, often moves more slowly than we hope and demands persistence, resilience, collaboration, and vision. Real change happens through conversations, relationships, advocacy, learning, and the people who keep showing up even when challenges feel overwhelming.

Over the past year, I have had the opportunity to meet residents, faith leaders, nonprofit

organizations, business leaders, public officials, and community advocates who care deeply

about Central Topeka and food insecurity. Those conversations reminded me that meaningful progress begins when people are willing to listen, engage, and believe that communities deserve investment and opportunity.

While this work has faced obstacles, I remain proud of the efforts to strengthen partnerships,

raise awareness, explore grocery opportunities, and continue advocating for equitable food

access solutions. Every presentation, meeting, introduction, and collaboration helped advance the conversation.

Leadership is not merely about holding a position. It is about creating space for others to

participate, empowering communities to engage in solutions, and recognizing that sustainable change requires collective responsibility. Organizations are strongest when leadership, vision, and accountability are shared.

I leave this role grateful for the experience, the relationships built, and the lessons learned. I also leave hopeful that Central Topeka will continue to receive the investment, partnership, and innovative thinking necessary to address food insecurity and improve residents' quality of life.

Thank you to everyone who supported and encouraged me, attended presentations, contributed resources, asked difficult questions, and continued to believe in the importance of this work.

Change happens one relationship, one conversation, and one act of leadership at a time.

With gratitude,

Nadia Arbelo

Executive Director

Central Topeka Grocery Oasis