Each December, Fort Wayne magazine releases their annual ‘People of the Year’ issue. For 2023, one of the individuals celebrated was my friend, Cassie Beer. To mark her recognition, I was invited to contribute an essay to the magazine. I’m not always great at observing a word-count request; what follows is the unedited version of that piece.
If you’re in Northeast Indiana, this issue is on newsstands now. Cassie is just one of an amazing group of individuals featured in the magazine—each bravely making their mark on this community, one day, one decision, one action at a time.
I felt lucky to just be a part of this group: those recognized, those penning tributes, photographer DJ E-Clyps, and the incredibly talented and terrific team at the magazine. My gratitude to John Christensen at Fort Wayne for the invitation, and to Cassie for the inspiration.
Meant to Become
It’s tempting to think about who you’re “meant to be” as a clear, predetermined target. As if it’s some specific place that you can actually reach. And once there, you congratulate yourself on a job well done—“Made it! Now what?”—before snapping a photo that’s purportedly capturing exactly who you are.
“Capturing,” as a verb, just doesn’t feel quite right to me.
The reality of who you are, I think, has a little more movement to it.
I prefer “becoming” as the verb.
Capturing ties you down. Capturing puts a fence around you. Capturing is a finish line.
Becoming is different. Becoming is full of possibilities, like looking out over a meadow of rolling wildflowers at sunrise.
Becoming is a process, not a destination.
And we spend our whole lives becoming who we are.
In Cassie Beer’s journey as a parent, as a professional, as an artist and an advocate, her route has been anything but typical.
Cassie’s upbringing and early strengths pointed a direction laden with opportunities—and expectations. As she explored those paths, her effort to earn a university degree was postponed until her early-30s.
She and her husband Jason are parents to three terrific kids whose souls shine bright. Their eldest, Avram, has unique challenges that I won’t describe here, because I don’t know the words.
From childhood on, Cassie sang traditional music in a church setting, before starting to write her own original, secular, deeply personal songs in her late-20’s.
And she didn’t begin her full-time out-of-home career until a few years after that.
Today, Cassie is the director of the Women’s Fund of Greater Fort Wayne, an initiative of the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne.
She volunteers and serves on nonprofit boards of directors, fighting for individuals and communities who are marginalized.
She performs her original songs with her bandmates in Rosalind & The Way.
See any photo of Cassie Beer, from any timeframe, and it’s clear that she is who she was meant to be—at that very moment.
Those photos haven’t “captured” her.
Because Cassie is different this year than she was last.
And she’ll be different next year than she is now.
Becoming is a process, not a destination.
We spend our whole lives becoming who we are.
I’ve known Cassie Beer for eight years, and we’re closely connected in at least eight ways:
Our sons are BFFs,
We’re founders of a conversation-centered 5:05AM run club,
We volunteer for many of the same causes,
We’re members of a quarterly, salon-style art club,
Our bands perform together and collaborate, and at my work, we feature Cassie’s band at any musical event we help curate,
She’s a client who inspires and challenges my coworkers (and me),
We’re ranking officials in the Jason Beer fan society,
And, simply, we’re friends. She’s my pal, my confidant and my adviser—a mentor.
In each of these capacities, I know her to strive for greatness, and to be an acutely competitive person. She’ll be the first to tell you, however, that the person she’s competing most with is herself.
In a recent interview with Malcolm Gladwell, the organizational psychologist Adam Grant said that “By avoiding failure, perfectionists evade risk-taking—thus living in a static or ever-narrowing comfort zone that prevents them from venturing into uncharted territory.”
Cassie keenly understands this. This self-awareness leads her to learn—with zeal. To adapt—with an open mind. To fail—with humility.
And then she applies those hard-earned lessons to the things that are most important to her.
One of her muses is “fairness.”
If you’re part of a community that has systemically been given less opportunity, Cassie is in your corner.
Her work with the Women’s Fund team and volunteers exemplifies this.
The Women’s Fund uses intensive research to illustrate the depth and scope of challenges at hand. The Young Women and Girls Report amplifies the voices of its subject, helping inform advocates, program providers, educators and policymakers about unique needs of young women and girls.
The Women in the Workplace Report shines a light on the real impact of compensation, leadership and employment policies, and is supported by a toolkit that helps our region’s employers implement best practices.
And the Fund’s No Matter What campaign raises awareness and brings connections, support and resources to the issue of sexual violence.
Women’s Fund chair Sherry Early recent told me, “Cassie is a passionate and committed leader—we are lucky to have her.” As is so often the case, Sherry is right.
When the goal is fairness, the work isn’t done until everyone contributes. Nobody does the most important work alone.
Cassie keenly understands this.
With a natural magnetism, she convenes, rallies, supports and guides the individuals she serves, and serves alongside.
At any given moment, she’s exactly what those she loves, and those she supports, need her to be.
Cassie Beer has spent her whole life becoming who she is.
There is no finish line; she’ll be a little different tomorrow than she is today.
And again the day after that.
In this way, she can be a mentor to each of us.
Because when we surrender to the idea that becoming is a process, and not a destination, I think that each of us, too, will be one step closer to everything we’re meant to be.