Christa Staley
Christa Staley
Board Member
People are important to me, especially those who have a need that is not being fulfilled. As a servant leader in our community I want to join efforts focused on the underserved and make changes that help provide a better tomorrow, more consistency in community, relationships, and activities that are so important for people to grow and thrive and I know that is what Graceland is doing today and will continue to expand in the future, for our seniors in the Peoria area.
I am the Executive Director leading Peoria Midwest Food bank. My leadership skills and experience span over two decades in corporate and non-profit roles and I have over fifteen years of human resource/HRM experience. My key areas of knowledge are effective and servant leadership, full cycle human resources, and non-profit development (donor relations/fundraising). I hold a bachelor’s degree in business with management focus and a master’s degree in organizational leadership. I have served in various philanthropic roles since 2001, currently fulfilling volunteer and advisor roles with Multicultural Leadership Institute, Mclean County, IL (served as a board member 2012-2015, & on their recruitment committee- events/interviewing/selection 2013-2023) previous roles include, volunteering with the following non-profits: Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Central Illinois mentorship of youth 2001-2024 (served as vice chair of their board 2009-2012), Home Sweet Home Ministries (2018-2020), and West Bloomington Revitalization Project (2018-2024). Additionally, I have served in several volunteer roles at local events supporting Relay for Life and Compassion International.
Originally from Bloomington, IL, my husband, and I moved to a rural area south of Peoria over a decade ago, and find peace and solace from the busyness of life, on our six acres amidst the corn and bean fields of central Illinois, where the skies are a beautiful sight morning, noon, and night. We have two rescue dogs and a rescue cat who keep life entertaining. We enjoy any opportunity to travel, and albeit limited in this season of life, we typically find time for an annual trip to a national park in our RV and as a certified yoga instructor I am able to travel teach at international resorts which serve as a little bit of work in turn for a discounted week long vacation, for the two of us, at least once each year.