“We are all entitled to our opinions, but first let’s have the facts.”

Jim Ryan, 1943 - 2007

Mentor, former Business Advisor, Village President of Hales Corners, President & CEO of Penfield Children’s Center

Celebrating vision

Thought Leaders

James R. Ryan

Jim “Blue Ribbon” Ryan was many things to many people. A long list of accomplished titles followed his name, but his legacy of kindness is what continues to inspire us on a daily basis. As a young social worker, Jim was known to give his home phone number to foster kids. We are reminded of his leadership to bring Flight for Life to Wisconsin in moments of crisis when the aircraft is overhead; And even in election loss, Jim said he would have died an unhappy man had he not campaigned for the office of County Executive.

There are so many other examples of course, but what stays with us is his guiding value of “process” – allowing people the time it takes to fully understand issues and implications, in order to arrive at agreement on the best, sustainable strategies. His commitment to the role of public policy to improve lives and even his unique ability to “listen for someone’s heart, and then to help them to achieve their greatest aspiration.” His sense of fun, love of golf and most of all, his family.

At Vision First, we have come to the conclusion that if you are going to miss Jim, you might as well try to be a little more like him now and then.

To the reader who may have been lucky to work with Jim – Onward and upward, there’s a lot of important work to be done.

Jennifer Buffett

President, NoVo Foundation

Of all the classes we’ve taken on fundraising, it’s Jennifer Buffett that’s been our #1 teacher on philanthropy. Her consummate “smart heart” doesn’t take philanthropy lightly. As she and her husband Peter have responded to a daunting charitable giving opportunity, they have done so with conscientious research to know their interest areas deeply. Jennifer advances a decidedly nurturing yet bold brand of philanthropy, establishing innovative partnerships with grantees that offer an unprecedented exchange of ideas – which expand to leverage additional funding, to share knowledge among professionals working in fields of interest and to build awareness and understanding of chosen issues. While choosing areas of impact may have been challenging in a world of great need, we remain moved by their enduring commitment to the most marginalized people and Jennifer’s dedicated leadership that models a new approach to philanthropy. Please visit www.novofoundation.org or www.girleffect.org to learn more.

Larry Adams

Program Director, Walnut Way Conservation Corp

Using gardens as a tool, Larry brings years of business contractor expertise to fellow neighbors in Walnut Way. While he takes great pride in the recognition of his wife and co-founder, Larry’s quiet strength is rebuilding a neighborly community, one garden, one house at a time. It all began one winter eight years ago, when his wife Sharon asked what the lights were inside a house nearby. Larry told Sharon they were lighters being used to smoke drugs. Thinking he might change the subject, Larry asked Sharon what she would like for Christmas. Sharon brought it back saying, she would like to see Christmas lights on that same house the next year.

Beginning with the planting of thousands of tulips as circles of hope, Larry and Sharon wanted to neighbors to awaken, look up and see possibility. These flowers and garlic were the start of remediating lead tainted soil, which grew to create gardens on vacant lots, 40+ rain gardens, fruit orchards, locally grown produce sold in the Fondy Food Market, collaborative programming with local universities, the medical college and yes – the renovation of many homes to come, the first of which is now home to an elected official.

Exposed to the realities of racism, Larry had a strong mentor in his father, Roosevelt Adams, who instilled in his children a strong spirit, abilities and readiness to utilize opportunity. When Larry became an owner of his own electrical contracting company, he was continually struck with how fearful and held back workers were, staying in entry level labor positions without the guidance and training to rise to ranks of management. Men worked in the trades for decades and didn’t know how to read blueprints.

As co-founders of Walnut Way, Larry and Sharon are called to work together with neighbors to build a consciousness for health. While Larry himself is surprised that he has transitioned his leadership experience to this work, his passion remains transforming that which is undervalued – to realize the possibility of its potential. Whether that’s nurturing people to discover and share their abilities, teaching children calmness in bee keeping or farming 4 acres of central city land, Larry quietly transforms as he enjoys the light shining on his bright and visionary wife.