Establishing a Culture of Service in Relief Society | A How I Lead Interview with Kathy Santiago Allen

Kathy Santiago Allen grew up in Provo and received a degree in
nursing from Brigham Young University. She loved working in women's
health and in the medical spa industry in Southern California
before shifting her focus to raising five kids. Her husband's
educational pursuits took them to San Diego and Los Angeles, then
to St Louis, before they settled in North Phoenix. This past June
they relocated to Mapleton, Utah. Kathy has loved serving in
Primary presidencies, Relief Society presidencies, as Relief
Society president, and most recently as a stake Relief Society
president. She currently loves serving as a Young Women advisor,
and her favorite calling will always be as a ministering sister.
Kathy and her husband Jared have been married for 27 years. They
enjoy hiking and traveling together, and have found that counseling
with one another in their callings helps them serve with an even
greater capacity. Links Share your thoughts in the Leading Saints
community Read the transcript of this podcast Get 14-day access to
the Core Leader Library Highlights Kathy shares valuable insights
on effective leadership principles, including the significance of
ministering as a way of life rather than just an assignment. She
discusses the dynamics of her ward in Phoenix, characterized by a
smaller membership and the need for unity and collaboration among
members. Kathy recounts her efforts to foster a culture of service
within her stake, utilizing the JustServe program to connect with
local nonprofits and encourage members to engage in community
service. She highlights the importance of expanding the circle of
help, recognizing that leaders cannot do everything alone and must
delegate responsibilities to others. Kathy also shares inspiring
stories of service projects that brought members together,
emphasizing how serving alongside one another fosters unity and
strengthens relationships. She concludes with a reminder of the
importance of setting boundaries to avoid burnout and the need for
leaders to discern what is truly necessary in their service. 05:27
- Moving from Phoenix to Utah: A Personal Transition 06:29 -
Dynamics of a North Phoenix Ward: Challenges and Community 09:50 -
Advice for Stake Relief Society Presidents During Realignment 12:46
- Training and Supporting New Relief Society Presidents 14:22 -
Spiritual Preparedness: The Foundation of Leadership 24:22 -
Ministering as the Answer to Challenges 30:30 - Expanding the
Circle: Avoiding Burnout in Service 34:23 - Service Promotes Unity:
Building a Culture of Service 42:00 - Collaborating with
Nonprofits: The Joy of Service 46:52 - Balancing Service and
Boundaries: Insights from President Nelson 48:06 - The Importance
of Female Leadership in the Church The award-winning Leading Saints
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