After more than 20 years at the helm, Pearl Fu has stepped down as executive director for Local Colors, the non-profit that celebrates Roanoke’s diversity. More than 100 nations are typically represented at the annual Local Colors celebration every May – indicative of people of all those ethnic backgrounds that live in the valley. Parkinson’s Disease has slowed Fu in recent years; she will stay on as a consultant through the end of the year.
At a reception honoring her legacy – and introducing her successors – Fu said she will be around to help whenever called on. In addition to the annual Local Colors festival held every May, the organization also produces outreach programs about diversity and helps recent immigrants adjust to life here. The Local Colors board of directors has actually hired two people part-time to take Fu’s place: Beth Lutgen is the new executive director and Taylor Willis is the new director of marketing and education.
Lutgen had been the regional director for Refugee and Immigration Services, while Willis has been involved with education programs at the Roanoke Natural Foods Co-op. At the reception for Fu, held at the Jefferson Center where Local Colors has an office, Lutgen said, “Pearl has such a presence. She’s not just a person – she’s a persona. She is the Goodwill Ambassador for Roanoke.” That was a nickname given to her by Roanoke Mayor David Bowers, who was present at Jefferson Center along with other City Council members and a host of dignitaries for Fu’s send off.
Splitting Fu’s role into two part time jobs seemed to be the route to take said Lutgen: “We really feel like we need two diverse skill sets. Taylor brings a lot of that technology – a lot of understanding of social media and marketing to the agency. He also has an education background. We also need this other leadership role too and I think the board [of directors] decided very wisely in that we would get two people with different skill sets. We do expect great things coming out of Local Colors in the future.”
Any time Fu stops by the office Lutgen promises to vacate the director’s chair: “Its all hers. I expect her to still be involved. But it is sort of bittersweet. Local Colors will always have that Pearl Fu driving force. Always. Pearl brought this dynamite to it.” Lutgen comes in to her role with scores of volunteers in place, people who are “vested in the Local Colors history.”
Willis, who spent two years in the Peace Corps at one point, said he wanted to “really improve on the social media aspect and the technology aspect – get into more crowdfunding.” That is, raising small amounts of money from people that want to support Local Colors, making them feel invested in the multicultural organization.
Willis says by using a special crowdfunding program, donors could specify where they wanted money to go – to support the annual festival or any of the educational outreach programs. Being in the Peace Corps, spending two years in Kyrgyzstan (near China) “opened my eyes” to the world, added Willis. “That’s one of the most valuable experiences.”
Fu said she will still be “available to anyone,” despite retiring. “I thrive on seeing people and being with people. Any event you want me to attend [I’ll] be there.” Roanoke’s Goodwill Ambassador wanted people to know that if she could make it here – a Chinese immigrant from a minority sect in her native country – anyone can, whether they are a recent immigrant or not. “Have your mind set for a certain goal, and keep going after it. Learn and look for mentorship. I learned so much.”
By Gene Marrano
