“I wouldn’t ask you to.”

“Good.”

Her first recommendation was that no family should be forced to tell a humiliating personal story to get basic information about services.

Her second was that printed directories were useless if the phone numbers were outdated.

Her third was that every program needed to account for transportation and childcare.

Nathaniel took notes.

Then, remembering Ruth’s advice, he asked the staff to design a process in which participants could offer feedback anonymously.

He did not build the center overnight.