A Leadership Transition at Metro Caring

A Letter from the Board of Directors

Thank you for your support of Metro Caring!

On behalf of the Metro Caring Board of Directors, we express our deep gratitude for Erik Hicks and Teva Sienicki’s extraordinary leadership and dedication to this community over the past nine years. Their vision, partnership, and commitment to equity have helped transform Metro Caring and position the organization for an impactful future.

We’re writing to share that Teva and Erik will be stepping down from their roles as co-CEOs this year. The board fully supports them in prioritizing their health and well-being, and we are grateful for the care they are taking to ensure a thoughtful and stable transition for the organization.

To continue our momentum and ensure continuity of our work, Teva will focus on stewarding key strategic projects, including our site development, capital campaign, and our ongoing work with partners to strengthen local food systems. The Board remains committed to a successful capital campaign and site development project. Erik will continue as Metro Caring’s CEO until his departure this summer.

Over the coming months, the board will begin a national search for Metro Caring’s next CEO while working closely with Erik, Teva, and the senior leadership team.

Metro Caring is strong. Our mission-critical programs will continue without interruption, and your investment in and connection to our work remains as sound and vital as ever. We’re incredibly proud of what we accomplish together, and it wouldn’t be possible without you.

You’ll learn more in the coming weeks as we move into this new phase. Thank you, as always, for your continued commitment to Metro Caring and the community we serve. Please see below for a personal note from Erik and Teva.

With appreciation,

Shelley Hook
Co-Chair, Board of Directors

A Note from the CEOs

After nine years in leadership of Metro Caring, we have made the decision to transition out of our current roles. This has been a difficult decision. We love Metro Caring deeply, and it’s been an incredible privilege to get to know you, support our community, and grow the organization’s impact. These past years have required extraordinary energy, care, and strategic focus. Leading the organization through the pandemic, significant growth, and federal funding cuts—all while navigating personal challenges and losses—has clarified for us that it is time to welcome a new leader whose strengths align well with Metro Caring’s next chapter.

We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished together. During our tenure, Metro Caring has:

• More than doubled our annual budget while building healthy reserves

• Grown and diversified our team from 20 to nearly 40 wonderful staff members

• Evolved from a charitable model to a transformational force focused on root causes and pursuing equity

• Added community organizing as a core strategy and achieved meaningful policy wins

• Navigated the organization through the pandemic, transforming operations to expand access to nutritious food as Fresh Foods Market demand surged by 300%

• Gained recognition as a sector leader in Colorado’s anti-hunger movement

None of this would have been possible without your partnership. Your support has been central to this work. Your investment in Metro Caring has always been about more than food—it’s about addressing the root causes of hunger through nutrition education, organizing, policy work, and authentic relationships to collaboratively build a community where everyone can access the nutritious food they need to thrive.

We are grateful for your trust, your generosity, and your commitment to a Colorado where no one goes hungry.

With deep gratitude,

Teva Sienicki 
CEO-Visionary