A Journey to Holistic Safety: Merideth Rose Discusses Her Impactful Work with Cornerstones of Care and the Kindness Campaign
Season 13: Ep. 599
A former foster child and adoptee who now leads Cornerstones of Care, Merideth Rose’s journey is rooted in resilience, healing, and the belief that everyone deserves to feel safe and seen. Drawing from her own experiences with trauma and the people who surrounded her with kindness, Merideth shares how those lessons continue to shape the way she leads, serves families, and creates healthier communities. Through a powerful conversation on safety, authenticity, curiosity, and Ubuntu, she reminds us that kindness can be more than a gesture. It can become a way of leading, healing, and building a better world together.
Key Takeaways:
- Kindness creates a foundation of safety where people can feel seen, heard, and valued.
- Healing can transform personal experiences into compassion and purpose for serving others.
- Strong leadership can hold both accountability and kindness without sacrificing either.
- Curiosity helps us understand what people are carrying instead of judging what we see on the surface.
- Ubuntu reminds us that our well-being is deeply connected to the well-being of those around us.
We couldn’t highlight incredible stories like this without the support of our sponsor, CommunityAmerica Credit Union. Thank you for helping us promote connection, well-being, and stronger communities. If you’re looking for trusted financial wellbeing resources, we invite you to connect with their team and take the next step toward greater financial confidence.
Join us for our 31 Days of Kindness Campaign starting October 14 and help us create a ripple of kindness through small, meaningful acts that can make a big difference!
About Merideth Rose:
Merideth Rose is President and CEO of Cornerstones of Care, a behavioral health organization serving more than 14,000 children and families annually across Missouri and Kansas. Her professional journey spans more than two decades of leadership in education, public service, nonprofit management, community development, and human services. Before joining Cornerstones of Care, Merideth held executive leadership roles at Community Services League, served as a public affairs officer with FEMA following Superstorm Sandy, and became the first Black woman to serve as an administrator in the Independence School District.
A former foster youth and adoptee, Merideth leads from a deeply personal belief that no life, story, or person is beyond healing, restoration, and transformation. Her own journey has taught her that kindness is more than a gesture. It is a powerful expression of seeing people fully, honoring their humanity, and helping them recognize what is still possible.
Through her leadership, speaking, and community service, Merideth invites individuals and organizations to create cultures of care where people feel seen, supported, and worthy. At the heart of her work is the philosophy of Ubuntu: I am because you are, and the conviction that small acts of courage, compassion, and connection can create lasting change.
Connect with Merideth Rose at:
https://www.cornerstonesofcare.org/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/meridethrose/
https://www.tiktok.com/@themerrose
https://youtu.be/4d9ZqvmLCcc?si=w9tqqdsQS_9v2haf
Connect with Dr. Michelle and Bayleigh at:
https://smallchangesbigshifts.com
hello@smallchangesbigshifts.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/smallchangesbigshifts
https://www.facebook.com/SmallChangesBigShifts
https://www.instagram.com/smallchangesbigshiftsco
https://www.youtube.com/@smallchangesbigshiftsco
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