Philadelphia Nonprofit Success Story: From Seed to Impact | Launch Philly
A Full Circle Moment Explained
Sometimes you help plant a seed—and years later, you return to find a strong, growing tree. That’s what a full circle moment feels like. In this Philadelphia nonprofit success story, we take a closer look at a powerful full circle moment featuring Raquel Easley, a former Communities In Schools leader and an early pioneer of Launch of Philadelphia, whose work continues to shape community impact today.
I had a talk recently with **Raquel Easley**. She used to be the CFO for **Community In Schools (CIS) of Philadelphia**. She started there back in 2005, first as an accounting manager and then working her way up.
We talked at the home of what CIS (Communities In Schools) has become: **Launch of Philadelphia**. A new organization with a big mission to help people in Philadelphia build better futures through education and jobs. You can feel their energy here!
I asked Raquel what she learned from her old job.
“I learned a great deal,” she said.
“I learned how to manage my stress.” She laughed.
Anyone who has worked for a non-profit knows that laugh. It’s a tough but important job. More than that, she told me
“We learned how to work well with people… with our community.”
Now, Raquel has a great job as a Senior Accountant at a company called MANNA. But she came back to visit her old team, to see how the seed she helped plant had grown.
“Are you happy to see what Launch has become?” I asked.
“Yes, I am very happy,” she said, smiling. “I’m glad that I was able to be a part of it in the beginning.”
That’s when I saw it. The full circle.
We were glad to have her back. She was glad to see how well the work was going. The person who helped with the numbers at the very start was now seeing the dream in full color.
Raquel’s story is important. It’s for everyone who works hard behind the scenes. The people who answer phones, manage budgets, and organize files. Their work matters. It builds the foundation for big change.
You might not see the results right away. But if you keep caring, keep working, you might just get a “full circle” moment of your own. You might get to step back and say, “I helped that grow.”
Welcome back, Raquel. Thanks for helping to plant the tree.