Greetings CASA supporters,

For those I have not had a chance to connect with yet, or who may not have received prior notices; My name is Rachel Swedburg and I am incredibly honored to have been selected to lead CASA for Kids, Inc. Barry, Eaton, and Ingham into the next season as the Executive Director. It has been an absolute joy to work alongside our volunteers serving our community’s most vulnerable children as the Ingham County Advocate Supervisor for the past two years. I am looking forward to continuing to serve the children of our communities as I step into this new role.

A bit of history about me, I joined the CASA team in March of 2020, just prior to the pandemic stay-home orders. Prior to my work with CASA, I worked with survivors of sexual and domestic violence for five years as an advocate, program leader, and department coordinator. I will be graduating in the spring with my Master’s in Public Administration, with an emphasis in Nonprofit Leadership and Management, from Western Michigan University. I live in the community with my partner, Devon, our two dogs Kale and Cashew, and a stray cat I recently took in, Avogato.

I am grateful for the opportunity to build on the strong foundation Becky Carson has laid, and to continue the strong collaborative partnerships in each of the counties CASA serves . CASA’s mission resonates strongly with my personal values of transparency, advocacy, inspiring growth, and always prioritizing equity.

As we come into the final month of the year, I reflect on all we have accomplished together. This year, despite transition and ongoing challenges from a global pandemic, CASA increased the number of children served by 40% for the organization as a whole! Without our dedicated CASA volunteers, staff, and the invaluable support from our community partners - this would not have been a possibility.

I look forward to a new year and a new season serving CASA, and our community's most vulnerable and precious commodity, our children, with you all.