Kristin Griffith left her small hometown in Missouri and traveled the world volunteering, studying and working for nonprofits. Now, she’s returned to the Midwest to become the newest executive director of the Young Women’s Resource Center, a nonprofit organization that supports, educates and advocates for young women ages 10-21. She started her job last month, replacing Heather Soener, who left the agency earlier this year. Griffith grew up on a farm and joined the Peace Corps after college. “That hooked me on humanitarian work, and I kept going in international development work for about a decade,” she said.  “For me working in nonprofits is a way to pay it forward,” Griffith said. “Out of sheer luck I was born in a democratic, developed country to a wonderful family that had the resources to give me a great life. My work allows me to repay my ‘debt’ for that.”

How did a small-town Missouri girl end up working around the world?
I blame it all on books! The community I grew up in was a wonderfully safe place to be a kid, but it was also a place that was very inward-looking with well-defined “borders.”  And it was a place that could be quite judgmental and divisive. Books allowed me to see what existed beyond our borders —  to start understanding the possibilities that existed in the world.    

What prompted you to sign up for the Peace Corps? 
Two things drove me to sign up for the Peace Corps. The first was an urge to travel and see the world. The second was a voice in my head wondering if I could do it. I was a 21-year-old kid from a farm. My biggest experience had been taking a flight to Oklahoma City!… My most powerful experiences in the Peace Corps, and later in international development, were connected to the people I met. I was overwhelmed by the generosity and hospitality shown by people living in abject poverty. And I was amazed by their sense of hope and constant laughter. It is something that will always provide a sense of perspective for me in my life.   

Why did you come back?
While working in Eastern Europe, I met and fell in love with a wonderful woman. As same-sex relationships were taboo, we spent the next seven years keeping our relationship a secret, a task that is exhausting. We decided we needed to move to a place where we could live openly and also be close to family. I had never really paid attention to U.S. immigration laws and was heartbroken to learn that my partner could not return with me to the U.S. So we opted for Canada as the “next best” option. Finally in 2013, U.S. law changed, making it possible for us to legally enter the U.S. We are in the midst of that process now.

What’s the appeal for you in working in nonprofits?
I love the challenge and variety that nonprofit work brings. In what other industry would you be able to do human resources one hour, marketing the next and then finances after that?   

What are the challenges about working in nonprofits?
Basically you are constantly working to tell the story of your agency and ensure that funders and donors understand the value that you bring to the community. … Another challenge is always around the scarcity of resources

What appealed to you about the Des Moines job? 
I was attracted to the long, proud history of the agency — and the story of its founder, Louise Noun. I was drawn to its mission of embracing and inspiring young women to become strong, self-confident and successful. I was impressed by the commitment of the board and the passion and drive of the staff. And finally I was fascinated by the incredible community support for nonprofits in Des Moines.

You’ve worked in Albania, Kosovo and Sudan. Are there parallels between the problems of the young clients here and the young women you’ve worked with elsewhere?
One parallel I have seen everywhere is the unwelcome change for most girls from bubbly, opinionated to quiet, introspective individuals. It is almost as if you can see an overnight change in confidence. 

Early impressions of Des Moines and Iowa?
I am fascinated by the strong connections and pride that local residents have in their city. That is a very unique attribute that I have never seen anywhere else in the world.