10/06/2026
Thank you to Elaine Russell Reolfi, Chief Executive Director of CommQuest Services, for speaking at this mornings ystark Sunrise Session hosted by the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.
Elaine spent part of her birthday week with us at ystark!, sharing pieces of her story, lessons she’s learned along the way, and a challenge to think a little bigger.
One word Elaine uses to describe herself is relentless. She summed it up with a phrase: “I believe that pigs can fly.”
It’s her reminder that sometimes we give up too quickly, accept the status quo, or decide something isn’t possible before we’ve really tried. Elaine chooses to keep pushing, dreaming, and asking what could be.
That mindset connects pretty well to the work she leads at CommQuest. CommQuest serves people through three main areas: mental health, addiction recovery, and social support. Their work reaches 15,000 people from 34 counties, whether someone needs counseling, help through recovery, housing and social support, or simply someone there during a difficult moment in life. Their promise is simple: Hope happens here.
Elaine brought a small example of that work with her. Everyone received a bookmark featuring artwork created by a child at CommQuest’s emergency shelter. Behind that bookmark was a much bigger reminder: when a nonprofit is there at the moment someone needs help, it can change the course of a life.
We also received a card with a challenge. Think of someone you admire, someone whose strength you appreciate, or someone who has helped you along the way. Then actually reach out and tell them. Don’t just think it.
It all tied back to Elaine’s message about recognizing what we bring, seeing the strengths in the people around us, and not being afraid to imagine something better.
Thank you, Elaine, for spending part of your birthday week with us and giving us a morning that was thoughtful, personal, and a lot of fun!
And maybe we’ll all start believing a little more that pigs can fly.
