About the Series
As part of CIVIC’s 30th anniversary, we’re highlighting alumni and exploring the unique connections they share through their CIVIC experiences.
Jo Ann Hofheimer (‘03) and Kate Wilson (‘18) share more than a connection as a powerful mother-daughter duo; they share a deep appreciation for the role CIVIC Leadership Institute plays in shaping perspective, strengthening leadership, and connecting people to the broader story of Hampton Roads. As part of this Mother’s Day feature, their experiences reflect both generational continuity and the lasting relevance of CIVIC across different stages of life.
Jo Ann was first drawn to CIVIC through close friend and member of the inaugural class of 1996, Carter Grandy Bernert, who regaled her on their neighborhood walks after every monthly meeting with “how much she had learned and how much she loved the experience”. By the time Jo Ann was invited to join a few years later, she was ready. Despite having deep roots in the region, she quickly realized how much she didn’t know. CIVIC offered exposure to sectors that had previously felt distant, from the military to infrastructure to complex policy issues, and gave her what she described as a broader, more confident understanding of the community.
Years later, Kate came into CIVIC with a different kind of familiarity. Having grown up in Hampton Roads and built her career in the nonprofit sector, she was well aware of CIVIC’s presence and impact. Still, the experience proved transformative in its own way. Participating during a professional transition, she found value in the program’s ability to deepen her understanding of how sectors intersect and how organizations contribute meaningfully to the community. Like her mother, she pointed to experiences that allowed her an inside look at industries outside of her typical purview, such as visiting Naval Station Norfolk, as especially impactful.
While their experiences took place years apart, both describe CIVIC as delivering exactly what it intends to: a deeper, more grounded understanding of the region. Jo Ann reflected that the experience gave her greater confidence and a “bigger picture” view of issues she hadn’t previously considered, while Kate emphasized how CIVIC reinforced the importance of intentionally seeking out diverse perspectives. As she put it, “Leadership is guided by a continuum of learning.”
Both also pointed to what they hope remains unchanged: CIVIC’s ability to bring together diverse people from varied backgrounds to tackle meaningful regional issues. As Jo Ann reflected, “the broader exposure to the diversity of outlook and perspective and background that we had in Hampton Roads… It made me very optimistic for the future of the community.” She emphasized the importance of future classes continuing to “ask the big questions,” while Kate highlighted the power of experiences like the poverty simulation, which she described as one of the most impactful learning experiences she’s ever had.
For Jo Ann and Kate, sharing a CIVIC connection adds another layer to an already strong relationship. “This was one more bond,” Jo Ann reflected. For Kate, the experience carries even deeper meaning. “My mom is top of that list” of mentors who have shaped her, she shared, making their shared CIVIC experience both personal and lasting. Together, their story reflects what CIVIC does best: creating connections that extend beyond the program year and, in this case, across generations.