From Participant to Board Chair: Mary Ruffin's Solid Ground Journey and the 50th Anniversary Gala Celebration
Photos by Susan Fried
Recently on The Day with Trae, host Trae Holiday was joined by Mary Ruffin from Solid Ground to talk about her journey at Solid Ground and the organization’s upcoming 50th Anniversary Gala.
Ruffin, now the Board Chair for Solid Ground, initially engaged with the organization as a program participant.
“Over a decade ago, my family moved into a Solid Ground community,” Ruffin said. “I finished undergrad in solid ground, worked while we lived in a Solid Ground community, and I went to law school and I had that community lift me up and support me through all of that. So when it came time to see if I could stay involved with solid ground any other way, I jumped at the opportunity.”
In her role as chair, Ruffin is tasked with guiding Solid Ground towards a sustainable future.
“Our focus is often high level on strategy oversight, financial oversight, but also on accountability for the organization, which is why it's important to have folks with lived experience on the board,” Ruffin said. “We have that personal time, we have that personal care, and we also know that it's our responsibility if we're in a position of privilege to step up and do the work and make sure it's done right.”
Ruffin emphasized the significance of maintaining the organization's effectiveness to best serve its constituents. Solid Ground actively seeks input from individuals with "lived experience" to ensure that its programs create a supportive environment.
“People who have lived experience, have other expertise, expertise that could be of value,” Ruffin said. “So we have an anti-racism initiative, where everybody is consistently learning about different institutions, and systems of oppression and how we can navigate those. It's also about building community on the board because we want people to feel comfortable enough to do their best and to show up. There's a lot of navigating different relationships and building trust between us.”
Remaining deeply engaged with the communities it serves remains a core focus for Solid Ground. The forthcoming 50th-anniversary gala serves as both a reflection on the organization's journey and a glimpse into its future endeavors.
“It's a little bit of a reprieve a moment for us to step back and appreciate each other and all the work that has been done,” Ruffin said. “But it's also an opportunity for us to look forward and share what the plans are for the future.”
Ruffin anticipates that the gala will offer attendees a firsthand understanding of Solid Ground's impactful programming.
“I think kind of it can be obscure — Solid Ground does all of these things, but there's a little bit of distance, so hopefully, I can help take away some of that distance,” Ruffin said. “I've been able to be a part of because the community that was provided to me when I lived in Solid Ground housing, was a guiding light for me. I've never been lifted up like that. I'm excited for people to be able to hear about just how strong resilient and selfless everybody is.”
Ruffin attributed her achievements to the opportunities provided by Solid Ground, emphasizing the abundance of untapped potential waiting for similar opportunities.
“I tell people all the time that I'm not unique, I'm not exceptionally smarter than anybody else. I just had the opportunity. I got put in positions where I had the opportunity, and I was able to be privileged because of that,” Ruffin said. “There are thousands of people like me who are just as smart, who are just as capable and they're just waiting on the opportunity.”
For those interested in attending the 50th Anniversary Gala on May 8, tickets can be purchased directly from solid-ground.org.
For the latest updates on community celebrations, join us live with Trae every weekday at 11 am on Converge Media platforms and The Day With Trae YouTube Channel.
