Creating a Community Centered Organization

I took a community organizing course this summer taught by Mike Eikler, Director of Consensus Organizing Center at San Diego State University and who wrote the book Consensus Organizing Building Communities of Mutual Self Interest.

My project for the class was with the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network San Diego. My parter for the class project was Luanne, Executive Director of the Japanese Friendship Garden San Diego.

Luanne and I were interesting in finding out: "What does it mean to run a community centered organization that meets the needs of our members?"

In order to answer this question we engaged in the consensus organizing process. First, we interviewed the board members of YNPN to find out their capacities, self-interests and needs.

The top four capacities and self-interests were:

• Fundraising abilities and other nonprofit management capabilities.
  
• Representing nonprofits that have a variety of connections and collaborations within the nonprofit community and beyond.
  
• Networking with other nonprofit professionals even competitors.
• Meeting with other nonprofit professionals on a regular basis to discover potential resources and skills to serve their own organizations and the community more effectively.
  

The top four common needs were:

• Technology
• Personal Communications and Marketing skills
  
• Wellness
• Working with Seasoned Nonprofit Professionals/Mentors

Then based on those capacities, self-interests and needs, Luanne and I interviewed people and organizations in the community that we thought might be able to meet the specific needs of young professionals--listed above. When we spoke to these individuals and organizations our goal was to find mutually beneficial scenarios and potential partnerships. It was amazing how many organizations are interested in partnering with YNPN San Diego!

In conclusion, our recommendations to YNPN were to fully utilize the Capacities, Capabilities, and Connections of YNPN members as well as create mutually benefical partnerships in the community.

So, last night at our board meeting we formed a partnership committee that will be figuring out the process and structure for engaging in these potential new partnerships in mutually benefical scenarios. Our goal is to not create YNPN in a silo, but to involve the community every step of the process. I think we are on our way!

What are some ways do you think we can continue to create a community centered organization? Do you have specific capacities, self-interests, and needs you would like to share?

This blog post was originally posted on Nonprofit Leadership 601.

Membership Survey and Pictures!

The YNPN San Diego Meet and Greet last week at Universal Hillcrest was an amazing success!! We have posted the album here to the blog and you can soon find a slideshow on our website - check back soon.

Thank you to all of you who attended - we had nearly 100 attendees and 60 new members!!! YNPN San Diego now has nearly 250 members. YNPN San Diego is spreading like wildfire...we need your help as we grow and you can get involved in a few ways:

1. Take the member survey. Provide us with your thoughts and feedback through our member survey will YNPN San Diego grows to help it make the organization you want it to be!
   
2. Become a committee member! Join one of our exciting committees and help strengthen YNPN San Diego. Find out more on our website.
3. Spread the word. Tell others about YNPN San Diego and encourage them to become a member. Share pictures and tag your friends.
   
4. Participate. Post to our list serv (instructions for list serv postings here), comment on our blog, attend events, and volunteer.

Thanks to everyone for participating in the Meet and Greet and supporting YNPN San Diego. We hope we can continue to be a great network for the San Diego nonprofit community!

Tell us what you thought of the event here. Did you love it? Would you have done something differently? Maybe you made a great connection. Tell us your story by posting a comment here at www.ynpn-sd.blogspot.com.

Meet and Greet Planning from Emily Bhatti

Emily Bhatti, this month's YNPN San Diego Meet and Greet Coordinator and Board Member, has this to say about planning the event TONIGHT! For more information on Emily Bhatti or the Meet and Greet tonight, visit the YNPN San Diego website.

"The program committee for the Meet and Greet has been awesome. It is always a little scary going into a group of people you don't know because you are never sure how things will work. The committee has been full of great ideas and really willing to work. When we started, it seemed like we had so much time to get things done. Then all at once things need to be decided and it got a little hairy. Luckily everything worked out with a great venue. And so far, it looks like we've gotten great response from the nonprofit community! I'm so excited about the event tonight but still a little anxious because it's an event and you never know what will happen."

What are your thoughts, feedback, feedback, or words of encouragement for Emily and the rest of the YNPN San Diego crew? Post them here!