Filter heroes statewide, by region or by cause.
Andrea Ryan
St. Johns
Hero Story
Andrea Ryan co-founded The SJ Call-In Coalition in 2020 ‘calling in the community to celebrate differences, create relationships, empower disenfranchised groups and to foster diversity in an effort to create a more INCLUSIVE, SAFER and HEALTHIER community’. She works tirelessly to create programs and events that foster inclusiveness and belonging for community members of Clinton County and St. Johns. Since co-founding The SJ Call-In Coalition in 2020 Andrea has volunteered an estimated 1950 hours to the Coalition. Andrea’s Coalition work serves those in Clinton County, with a focus on St. Johns. However, Andrea contributes to improving resources available in rural communities throughout Mid-Michigan. Andrea's incredible work ethic and endless kindness has truly built a stronger community. Andrea utilizes a call-in method of engaging people in conversations that are often tumultuous, polarizing, and controversial through genuine kindness and patience. The goal of calling-in is to listen with the intent to learn and understand, not to judge. Andrea has built a strong network of community members from diverse backgrounds to establish her Coalition based on volunteer work in the community. Andrea has as passion for making others feel safe, comfortable, and willing to both share and learn. She has also used her networks gained through her work as a mental health professional to bring programming and resources to the community. She has "called in" the helping mechanisms that were lacking in this community in order to set the foundations for a community that is inclusive to all through starting the St. Johns Pride Festival in 2021. This led to the third annual St. Johns Pride Festival held on June 3, 2023, along with the City of St. Johns Board of Commissioners declaring June as Pride month. Andrea continues to develop programming and build supports in the community that celebrate diversity, bring awareness to important issues of change, and create a culture of safety and wellness. Andrea has put in innumerable hours to both grow the Coalition and contribute to improving resources available in rural communities throughout Mid-Michigan. Andrea primarily builds the programming that is provided for community members, and in that, has developed a broad network of community service organizations, DEI groups, and local leaders to more widely share the Coalitions mission. She effectively partners with other local coalitions, mental health services, local businesses and government to build fundraising as well as resources available for the groups served by the Coalition. Andrea has become a resource in the community and across the region for DEI work. She partners with community service organizations, builds a network of resources, and simultaneously strengthens existing organizations. Within the community, Andrea's efforts have helped marginalized individuals feel heard, seen, and supported. The Call-In Coalition began programs that empowered individuals to recognize they are not alone and break down stigma and fear. Andrea’s service to the community is improving the quality of lives for everyone from youth to older adults, that makes a life-long difference to those that receive and that makes simple sense to Andrea.
Andrea Ryan
St. Johns
Hero Story
Andrea Ryan co-founded The SJ Call-In Coalition in 2020 ‘calling in the community to celebrate differences, create relationships, empower disenfranchised groups and to foster diversity in an effort to create a more INCLUSIVE, SAFER and HEALTHIER community’. She works tirelessly to create programs and events that foster inclusiveness and belonging for community members of Clinton County and St. Johns. Since co-founding The SJ Call-In Coalition in 2020 Andrea has volunteered an estimated 1950 hours to the Coalition. Andrea’s Coalition work serves those in Clinton County, with a focus on St. Johns. However, Andrea contributes to improving resources available in rural communities throughout Mid-Michigan. Andrea's incredible work ethic and endless kindness has truly built a stronger community. Andrea utilizes a call-in method of engaging people in conversations that are often tumultuous, polarizing, and controversial through genuine kindness and patience. The goal of calling-in is to listen with the intent to learn and understand, not to judge. Andrea has built a strong network of community members from diverse backgrounds to establish her Coalition based on volunteer work in the community. Andrea has as passion for making others feel safe, comfortable, and willing to both share and learn. She has also used her networks gained through her work as a mental health professional to bring programming and resources to the community. She has "called in" the helping mechanisms that were lacking in this community in order to set the foundations for a community that is inclusive to all through starting the St. Johns Pride Festival in 2021. This led to the third annual St. Johns Pride Festival held on June 3, 2023, along with the City of St. Johns Board of Commissioners declaring June as Pride month. Andrea continues to develop programming and build supports in the community that celebrate diversity, bring awareness to important issues of change, and create a culture of safety and wellness. Andrea has put in innumerable hours to both grow the Coalition and contribute to improving resources available in rural communities throughout Mid-Michigan. Andrea primarily builds the programming that is provided for community members, and in that, has developed a broad network of community service organizations, DEI groups, and local leaders to more widely share the Coalitions mission. She effectively partners with other local coalitions, mental health services, local businesses and government to build fundraising as well as resources available for the groups served by the Coalition. Andrea has become a resource in the community and across the region for DEI work. She partners with community service organizations, builds a network of resources, and simultaneously strengthens existing organizations. Within the community, Andrea's efforts have helped marginalized individuals feel heard, seen, and supported. The Call-In Coalition began programs that empowered individuals to recognize they are not alone and break down stigma and fear. Andrea’s service to the community is improving the quality of lives for everyone from youth to older adults, that makes a life-long difference to those that receive and that makes simple sense to Andrea.