LEADERS

vicki abadesco!

Vicki Abadesco was born and raised in San Francisco, California. After graduating college with a psychology degree, she worked for the San Francisco School District teaching peer education, violence prevention and life skills to middle school and high school students. As she was ending my thirteenth (and last) year with the district, Vicki attended my first Challenge Day and was absolutely inspired! She became a Challenge Day Leader that next fall. That was about 10 years ago. In those 10 years, Vicki stopped leading Challenge Days; worked on creating and delivering follow-up programs; acted as a member of Challenge Day’s Board of Directors; and has now returned to leading Challenge Days. Vicki says, regarding her varied roles: "As you can see, I have a great attachment and love for this work and organization!"

While working with Challenge Day "on the side" for ten years, Vicki co-founded Soul Shoppe (www.soulshoppe.com), an organization that has been providing assembly programs to elementary schools based on many of the Challenge Day themes.

If you really knew me, you would know…

• I have friends and family that love, support and encourage me.
• I always didn’t feel that way about my family.
• As a kid, I often felt lonely, excluded and sad.
• Even though I spend a lot of time in front of people, I am naturally introverted.
• I believe I am doing what I was born to do with the gifts I was given.
• I appreciate more and more all of who I am.
• I love connecting with others and finding all the things we have in common.