Diana Hagy
Executive Director
I have often felt the weight of doing what I was called to do and being afraid of doing what I was called to do. I find solace and comfort in the shadows of those who love the light, my head in the safety of the clouds. So why, when I would rather run left, am I so drawn to the right?I am an only child of an immigrant mother and a third-generation American father. We lived a very simple life. There were times when there wasn’t enough, but what we lacked in material possessions, we made up for in love.
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As far as I can remember as a child, my favorite place was always standing behind my mom. The stoic figure of someone who knew how to survive. I was never one to stand out and when I did, I was usually mortified. Even at my own wedding I spent much of the evening hiding in the lounge. My late husband was the star that would shine, and I loved watching him do so.
Yet, there is a constant pulse that beats inside of me. It tells me that I was made for something bigger than myself and hiding my flame won’t extinguish the rhythm.
I ask my mom, “Why does God call the ones who would rather hide, to be the ones who lead?” She reminds me of Moses and the burning bush. Some say he stuttered, some think he may have had some form of dyslexia or a communication disorder. Either way, it took a burning bush to convince him that even if he felt incapable of leading, it was who he was meant to be.
A couple of months ago the former President of the Board of Directors for Valley Restart nominated me to step into the role of President for the next fiscal year. I laughed. Then I double checked to make sure he wasn’t accidently asking me. As if he temporarily lost his mind. I mean, it could happen. He reassured me though, he knew exactly what he was saying.
Little did he know though, that secretly in my heart, it was what I had wanted from the start. I want to run to the safety of the shadows, but my heart calls out to the light.This is the first big role I’ve been placed in. I’m scared, nervous, excited, and proud to stand here as your newly elected president. I have so many ideas, hopes, and dreams for Valley Restart. I wear this title with honor and humility. I hope that while I may want to seek the familiar, I will be free to walk in the light.
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That was over a year and a half ago. Today, I am the newly elected Executive Director. Sometimes, I find myself in awe of where I started, and where I've ended with Valley Restart.
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I was placed here for a reason and I cannot wait to see all the places we will go.