Flourish’s own, Katelyn Yoder has proudly served as the Resource Coordinator for Y Gardens and Nordic Landing, our local “vertical communities,” for an entire year! This milestone marks a year filled with opportunities to connect with residents, immerse ourselves in each unique community, and define what it truly means to fulfill the role of Resource Coordinator at these apartment buildings.
What does the Resource Cordinator do?
At its core, Flourish is all about building relationships and transforming lives. This guiding philosophy shapes every initiative we undertake at the Vertical Communities.
Building Relationships
The heart of our mission lies in fostering meaningful connections. First and foremost, we aim to build relationships with the residents themselves. We take the time to learn their names, understand their stories, and discover their interests and challenges. This happens through two key avenues: weekly office hours and community events.
Each week, we’re present on-site, engaging with residents in the shared community spaces. This consistent presence helps us get to know each other better. About once a month, we take it a step further by hosting community-wide events like cookouts, Christmas parties, game nights, and more—bringing everyone together for fun and fellowship.
These events also help us achieve a broader goal: fostering connections among the residents. Watching neighbors bond, exchange names, and lend a helping hand to one another is what makes these communities flourish. One of our favorite moments last year was hosting the Good Neighbor Day celebration, where we honored the spirit of community in each building.
Transforming Lives
This is where the “resource” part of our role comes into focus. By building trust with residents, we’re able to introduce resources that support personal growth, career development, and spiritual well-being.
For instance, this spring Flourish will launch its first Boundaries class at Nordic Landing. The class is designed to empower participants to set and maintain healthy boundaries, enriching relationships across all areas of life.
Another valuable resource is our collaboration with Stiffany Taylor, the Schweitzer Church Director of Local Missions. Recognizing a need for spiritual engagement, we partnered with Stiffany to establish small groups and classes. She’s already launched a thriving small group at Nordic Landing and plans to introduce Alpha soon. Her contributions have been Instrumental in supporting the spiritual growth of the residents, and we’re eager to see her continued impact.
Looking Ahead
Although we’re proud of all we’ve achieved in just one year, there’s still much more we’re excited to accomplish. In the coming months, Flourish plans to introduce an art gallery, a community garden, and a “Life Hacks” program to empower residents with practical skills for everyday life.
We look forward to continuing our journey of building relationships and transforming lives in the Vertical Communites one connection at a time!