Raising Resilience welcomes new executive director

April Avey Trabucco will take the helm as interim executive director for Raising Resilience, the Bainbridge nonprofit has announced.

The move came after Raising Resilience — which provides parenting education, resources, and connections — finished a strategic planning process that was funded by the Bainbridge Community Foundation, officials with the nonprofit said.

“Over the years, Raising Resilience has been championed by a rotation of knowledgeable and passionate volunteers, dedicated to helping Bainbridge families thrive,” said board president Krzysztofa McDonough.

“As local parents face new challenges, such as tech time balance or youth anxiety, and as our island community expands, the need for support, resources and science-based solutions continues to grow,” she added. “It has become evident in our strategic planning process, that establishing hired leadership will build on past achievements and enable Raising Resilience to sustain a deeper, wider impact in the future.”

Trabucco took over as interim executive director July 1.

In her new role with Raising Resilience, she will oversee operations and community partnerships, fall programs and fundraising efforts, and will support the volunteer board of directors in the implementation of the newly adopted strategic plan.

“As a mother, I have benefited from Raising Resilience’s programs over the past 10 years and it is an honor to apply my professional skills to furthering its mission,” Trabucco said.

Trabacco has been an island resident and active member of the community since 2009, and has two teenagers in Bainbridge schools. Since last fall, officials with Raising Resilience said, Trabucco has demonstrated her leadership skills while providing consulting services to the organization.

“We appreciate the community’s input in guiding us to this decision and are confident in April’s ability to implement Raising Resilience’s vision,” McDonough said. “Equipped with her wealth of experience, strategic insight and compassion, she will help bring our partners and parents together to further strengthen Bainbridge families.”

Prior to joining Raising Resilience, Trabucco spent 20 years guiding small and midsize nonprofits spanning Washington and California in both a professional and volunteer capacity.

She led marketing and sales efforts for the Tony Award-winning LORT theatre company, TheatreWorks, in Palo Alto, and managed sponsorships and promotions for American Musical Theatre of San Jose; refined Seattle’s First Aid Arts’ development efforts; and gained financial support for San Jose Jazz as a grant writer. Additionally, she has provided marketing and development guidance as a consultant for numerous arts, technology, medical, and human service organizations in the Seattle and Silicon Valley regions. Trabucco has also served on the board of directors for Ovation! Performing Art Northwest.