In Berks and Lancaster counties, leadership takes many forms—expressed through compassion, connection, advocacy and vision. At a time when communities are navigating rapid change and growing complexity, the work of local leaders becomes even more essential. These women are strengthening their communities in distinct yet deeply aligned ways, showing that thriving is not a solo journey, but something built together—through everyday actions, shared responsibility and a commitment to something greater than oneself.

Laura Sabatini
Executive Partner, Development and Strategic Initiatives, Lancaster County Chooses Love

In the face of personal challenges, Laura Sabatini has transformed lived experience into action through Lancaster County Chooses Love (LCCL), a movement rooted in kindness, compassion and community care. Since joining as a volunteer about a year and a half after the organization’s first Pride event in 2021, she has helped foster connection and support across the community—demonstrating how individual acts of care can ripple outward in meaningful ways.

Sabatini’s path is shaped by both adversity and empathy. Living with chronic illness and multiple disabilities, she recalls “feeling othered” for much of her life and “just faking it to make it through the day.” Raised in a conservative Christian environment, she also carried guilt around her identity as a bisexual woman. Yet the guiding principle she held onto—“to lead with love”—ultimately drew her to LCCL.

She has seen that philosophy take shape through the organization’s food pantry. “Some of our volunteers started as clients,” she notes, later choosing to give back. When demand surged, the broader community responded with thousands of pounds of donated food and essentials—illustrating how compassion can inspire collective action.

At the center of her perspective is a belief that “love, compassion and empathy can change the world.” While she acknowledges some may see that as “naive or too idealistic,” she emphasizes that choosing love does not mean avoiding hard truths. “Love can be fierce and protective,” she reflects, pointing to the need for boundaries and difficult decisions. “But we can still choose love even in the most difficult situations.” Her work serves as a reminder that meaningful change often begins with how we show up for one another.

Srirupa Dasgupta
Founder and CEO, Upohar World Kitchen

Through a cultural and entrepreneurial lens, Srirupa Dasgupta brings a global perspective to local leadership. With Upohar World Kitchen, a catering company that promotes foods made by immigrant-owned small businesses, she helps these entrepreneurs grow through community connection and shared experience—highlighting how cultural exchange can strengthen both relationships and local economies.

By bridging cultures through food and collaboration, she creates inclusive spaces where people can learn from one another and grow together. Dasgupta believes cultural awareness strengthens communities much like genetic diversity strengthens a population’s resilience. “Different perspectives strengthen a community’s way of being and adaptability,” she explains, adding that they “open up new opportunities and possibilities.”

Her passion is rooted in upbringing. Raised in a multicultural, multilingual and multifaith family in India, she was surrounded by relatives across countries and traditions. “I loved visiting with them and was always curious about our differences,” she shares.

She describes a thriving community as “creative and supportive,” noting that “creativity happens where differences come together,” with varied perspectives leading to stronger outcomes. While no single moment defines her work, she finds meaning in its everyday impact. “Every time an employee or a business partner accomplishes something significant,” she reflects, “I celebrate knowing that I and my business played a role in it.” Her work underscores the idea that inclusion is not just a value, but a catalyst for innovation and growth.

Monica Reyes
Vice President for Programs and Initiatives, Berks County Community Foundation

Berks County Community Foundation’s mission is to promote philanthropy and improve the quality of life for Berks County residents. As vice president for programs and initiatives, Monica Reyes brings a clear vision for how that mission is carried out.

By guiding initiatives and programs in lifelong learning, health and human services, arts and culture, and environment and energy, Reyes helps ensure resources reach the communities that need them most. Her work demonstrates how charitable giving and strategic collaboration can support the county’s long-term health.

Reyes describes her role as grounded in “a public servant-minded commitment to stewarding donor funds responsibly.” That stewardship depends on strong partnerships. The foundation works alongside nonprofit organizations, government officials and community leaders to address complex and evolving regional needs.

She points to Berks County’s population growth—outpacing the state average—as a positive indicator, while noting that retaining young professionals remains a priority. In response, the foundation launched a college student retention initiative aimed at encouraging local graduates to stay, strengthening workforce stability and community continuity.

For Reyes, a thriving community is defined by “access, transparency and growth.” She believes these qualities should extend across human services, professional development and education. Access to reliable information is also essential. Under her leadership, the foundation supported grants to Spotlight PA to establish a Berks News Bureau, helping deliver timely, accurate local journalism.

Outside of work, Reyes focuses on staying present and maintaining balance through family, exercise and faith. “You cannot fully support someone else if your cup is running dry,” she says. As a native Berks Countian, her personal connection to the region continues to shape her commitment to strengthening the community.

Lucine Sihelnik
Community Leader and Strategic Advisor, Gayatri Wellness

Building on Reyes’ systems-level vision for economic and community development, Lucine Sihelnik is a longtime Berks County leader and business owner who has spent a decade bridging growth, well-being and connection. Through her evolving advisory work across the region, she focuses on building stronger, more connected communities rooted in purpose and long-term well-being.

She describes thriving communities as places where people feel “seen, supported and hopeful about their future,” where businesses grow, families feel rooted and people of all backgrounds feel they belong and have a role in shaping what comes next. In this way, economic growth becomes not just a measure of success, but a reflection of collective well-being.

Sihelnik believes meaningful change begins with listening. “The most lasting progress I’ve seen has come not from pushing harder, but from bringing people together,” she says. She emphasizes that growth should enhance quality of life, noting that “true growth should make life better for people, not just busier,” and that progress matters most when it strengthens the “everyday fabric of community” while protecting health, relationships and the places people call home.

To stay grounded, she prioritizes “real people and real moments,” including family, reflection and time in nature. She notes that leadership requires returning inward to maintain clarity, presence and thoughtful decision making.

She also reflects on the importance of rootedness in community, describing it as “caring deeply enough to stay engaged,” investing energy locally and recognizing leadership as an act of service and stewardship. As she has grown in leadership, she has become increasingly aware that how people care for themselves shapes how they care for others. “Communities thrive when leaders lead from a place of steadiness, compassion and intention,” she says. Her work points to the importance of aligning growth with purpose and cultivating the clarity and capacity required to shape lasting impact.

Together, these women reflect leadership in action—through compassion, cultural understanding, intentional investment and a commitment to strengthening their communities. Their work illustrates how change takes shape at every level, from personal connection to cultural exchange, structured support and economic growth. In doing so, they offer a shared message: Thriving communities are not accidental—they are built through care, collaboration and a willingness to stay engaged.

To connect with Laura Sabatini and engage with LCCL, email [email protected] or visit LancasterChoosesLove.org; to connect with Srirupa Dasgupta and the cuisines of Upohar World Kitchen, email [email protected] or visit UpoharEthnicCuisines.com; to connect with Monica Reyes and learn more about the programs and grants available through Berks County Community Foundation, email [email protected] or visit BCCF.org; and to connect with Lucine Sihelnik and Gayatri Wellness, email [email protected].