What does it mean to be a sustaining force?
It means doing patient, unwavering work, and enduring — often with an optimistic spirit.
It’s something that three of the women featured in this issue know about firsthand.
Since co-founding Save the Environment of Moorestown (STEM), a grassroots organization, in 1972, Barbara Rich has taken countless actions to protect natural spaces — from testifying at public hearings to launching open-space tours in 2002 that helped residents envision what preservation could look like. Those efforts have paid off: more than 275 acres of land within Moorestown have been preserved. Now in her 90s, Rich says, “There’s nothing like the opportunity to do what you think you can do.”
At Perkins Center for the Arts, Sharon Kiefer brings that same steadiness to her role as curator of exhibitions. Trust and consistency are two of the values she lives by. Her unconventional trajectory — which includes being an elementary school teacher, the manager of a nursery school, and performing styling work in a Philadelphia photographer studio — has made her a versatile curator. But it’s her focus on keeping her word that guides her as she assembles more than 20 robust and multifaceted shows at multiple venues each year.
And at Community House of Moorestown, executive director Pam Henshall continues a legacy of kinship. Built in the wake of World War I, when civic engagement and volunteerism surged, the Community House has long served as a gathering place and incubator for local organizations. As it marks its 100th year, its history reflects not just longevity, but its continued relevance as a place where people gather for celebrations, memorials, and meetings of all kinds, and its stellar reviews reflect the strengths of the venue and the dedication of a loyal team.
And then there are places like Plaza Azteca, where delivering consistent, delicious meals night after night helps the business thrive. With an expansive menu of dishes made from scratch, this chain turns a meal into a celebratory experience.
Taken together, these stories show what sustaining work looks like — and, as Rich puts it, “it’s well worth all the effort.”
