Letter from our New Board President
We asked Brian to share a few words about what this moment means to him.
A NOTE FROM BRIAN
I would like to thank the Board of Directors for the opportunity to serve our wonderful community. Kim, Amanda, and Sarah have set a remarkable path for DSANV to grow and thrive, and I am grateful to continue their legacy.
A little about me: I’m married to Justyna Swica, who many of you may know, and I’m the proud father of Felix, our almost six-year-old, whose love for life is infectious. We learned about Felix’s diagnosis right at birth. After the initial shock, we began searching for a community and found DSANV. We attended our first New Parent Breakfast and since then, DSANV has become so much more than just attending activities for our son; it's a community that means a lot to us, and I want to see DSANV continue to thrive.
My background is in nonprofit organizations. I have over 20 years of experience in operations and advocacy at organizations like ours. I will draw on that experience to help guide DSANV moving forward and the changes we are making to the bylaws will reflect who we are now and prepare us for the future. The purpose of making these changes is to have the organization reflect who we are, an organization that serves the entire Down Syndrome community in Northern Virginia.
Ultimately, I view DSANV as a community of VIPs, their families, caregivers, and friends, and I believe everyone deserves access to our great programming. Alain and the team, Heather Trammell, Erin Jones, Emily Sahs, Anne Custer, Dana Laukhuf, Cheryl Zimmerman, Mary Sweeney, and Lisa Lindau are going to do a wonderful job of continuing to grow and improve our community, and the Board will continue to assist and support them in our mission.
I want to hear from you. Feel free to email me at president@DSANV.org or stop by at one of the many events we will hold throughout NoVA and talk to one of our Board members or me. We would love to hear your thoughts on the future of DSANV and our community to help ensure the organization meets our needs.
Brian Reuwer
Board President
Down Syndrome Association of Northern Virginia (DSANV)
