Thoughts from Nonprofit Leadership from Every Generation

"You are too young. We can't hire you."
"Managing someone 20 years older than me."

About a week ago, I had the opportunity to attend the YNPN Professional Development event, "Nonprofit Leadership from Every Generation". Professional Development workshops take place every other month. I view them as a great opportunity to foster NP young professionals interactions, tackle some general and day-to-day professional development issues in the non-profit sector and get some great tips from seasoned individuals.

The March workshop was an opportunity to show how one can lead and collaborate successfully within a multi-generational community and possibly help answer some of the questions above.

The moderator was Ryan Feinstein from Next-Gen collaborative and the panelists were Emily Davis (co-founder/chair YNPN San Diego), Sherri Petro from VPI Strategies and John Falchi, former professor and development consultant for NGOs, each of them representing a different facet of the multi-generational leadership.

The workshop began with an intro from each of the panelists showing how they had to deal during their career with multi-generational issues. A couple of anecdotes that stuck:

• John F. spending some time in a frathouse in his 50's and transforming that in a positive experience where everyone came together to organize the First United Nations Earth Run (commemorating 1986 as the International Year of Peace)
• Sherri P. managing people from 18 to 65 years old with a person introducing himself as follows: "Hi, I'm Russ and I have all my teeth."
• The advice of a career counselor to Emily D. about her looking too young: "Put some glasses on and suck it up."

A couple of interesting points that stuck:

• Its more a question of qualities than age.
• It comes down to respect and leveraging, not to age.
• The newcomer in a group has something to prove, i.e., demonstrate success. There is the assumption that with age comes entitlement. Power has to be taken, it's seldom given.
• Common ground is the mission.

After that introduction of the panelists, the workshop moved to a World Cafe format where the question was "What assumptions do we have and how can we challenge those limited beliefs?"
Through group discussion, the following points were brought up:

Assumptions:

• Lack of understanding
• Entitlement
• Tech = younger
• Older = experience
• With age comes authority, power, wisdom
• Young = idealistic
• "Earn your stripes"
• Every generation is persuaded they know best
• Knowledge transfer is unidirectional

Opportunities that come from those limited assumptions:

• Discuss how to communicate
• Address/be explicit about different opportunities
• Come from a place of respect with empathy
• Be willing to have a friendly conversation
• Create/build relationships by checking assumptions at the door
• Ask why someone wants to know about age
• Owning your age - be confident
• Learn how people want to be recognized
• Show your skills, develop credibility
• Wisdom = experience awareness
• More diversity = more results for the mission
• Cross-functional teams create strength

Overall a great workshop! Watch for the next workshop in May with a panel of next gen Executive Directors from San Diego.

Many thanks to Rahul Dangui for the blog contribution!

Peace-ing Communities Together

Hostelling International USA, San Diego Council is pleased to announce the 3rd Annual “Peace-ing Communities Together” – A Peace Building Conference for Young Adults April 10 - 11, 2010. Register here!

The conference is organized for and planned by young adults (ages 18-35). The goal of the conference is to connect young adults through open dialogue and interactive program content; to help participants discover ways they can build peace through personal and social awareness; to assist in building leadership skills; and to foster a sense of accomplishment and confidence through community service.

We use cutting-edge leadership and facilitation techniques to engage and focus participants with integrative tools for deep listening and quiet reflection. If you are ready to embrace your leadership and become a committed, active citizen, do not miss out on this amazing opportunity!

This year’s conference will be held on April 10th-11th, 2010 at San Diego State University. REGISTER HERE! Read below for more details about speakers and sessions.

Fees:

• Regular $30;
• Student $25;
• YNPN or ISCORSS members $20

Please contact Tiffany Olson for more information 619-338-9981 or tolson@sandiegohostels.org.

Learn more about the conference at http://peacebuildingsandiego.org/

Register for the conference at http://pct2010.eventbrite.com/
Conference Schedule

Saturday, April 10th

8:15 - 9:00am: Check-in
9:00 - 9:30am: Breakfast
9:30 - 9:45am: Welcome
9:45 - 11:30am: World Café *
11:45 - 12:30pm: Lunch
12:30 - 2:30pm: Keynote Speakers **
2:50 - 5:00pm: YNPN Workshop ***
5:00 - 6:00pm: Wrap-up
Sunday, April 11th: Service Project Day! Connect with others while serving the community (Limited space available)

Speaker and Session Information

World Cafe*

World Cafe is an innovative yet simple methodology for hosting conversations about questions that matter. These conversations link and build on each other as people move between groups, cross-pollinate ideas, and discover new insights into the questions or issues that are most important in their life, work, or community. As a process, the World Café can evoke and make visible the collective intelligence of any group, thus increasing people’s capacity for effective action in pursuit of common aims.

Sherehe Hollins

Through her highly acclaimed one-woman show, titled after her book, Ms. Roze utilizes her poetry and performance art as a platform to promote self and multicultural awareness. Through Heart Love she has developed and conducted bilingual workshops on the primary, middle, secondary, and post secondary grade levels throughout San Diego, Riverside, Los Angeles, Chicago and Puerto Rico. Ms. Roze realizes the value of connecting cultures. She has studied in Cuernavaca, Mexico, Barbados and Puerto Rico. She is bilingual and writes and performs in Spanish. She is the creator of a bilingual curriculum, which highlights Africa’s legacy throughout Latin America. The goal of her work is to foster understanding, cultivate awareness, and build positive relationships amongst diverse groups of people.

Starla Lewis

Starla Lewis is a woman on a mission. She has developed and facilitated seminars in the areas of Cultural Diversity, Life Mastery and Human Potential both nationally and internationally. Her 36 years of research and experience in Ethnic Studies, Women Studies and African Studies have enhanced her ability to connect diverse communities. Ms. Lewis works with corporations, social organizations, penal institutions and school districts. She has utilized her creative abilities as an author, poet, and performer to create a unique "edutaining" environment for her experiential lectures, workshops and seminars. She has appeared on numerous television and radio programs, and The San Diego Union Tribune recently profiled her as the Bob Marley Peace Award recipient for leadership. Starla holds a M.S. degree in Counseling and is a six-time recipient of the Mesa College Teacher of the Year Award. She is currently Professor of Black Studies at San Diego Mesa College and is completing her latest book on Racism and Sexism.

YNPN San Diego

Join YNPN San Diego and leaders from the San Diego nonprofit community to discuss what leadership looks like throughout the generations. Listen in as the panelists discuss what each generation brings to the leadership table and how we can together prepare for the future of leadership. Following the panel, we will open the space with facilitated group conversations about multiple generations working together to advance the nonprofit community in San Diego. Panelists include Mallory Kozar from Shakti Rising, John Falchi, and Sherri Petro. The session will be facilitated by YNPN San Diego's own Emily Davis.

Recurring Donation to Support Emerging Leaders

Many of us get so busy with our lives that we can often forget to make that much-needed contribution to an organization that supports us and our work. YNPN San Diego may be that organization for you. We provide online and in-person networking opportunities, professional development workshops, and soon, mentorship to our members all WITHOUT membership dues. The only way we can keep this happening is through YOUR generosity.

Recurring monthly or quarterly, online donations are a great way to support YNPN San Diego without having to worry to remember to write a check or visit our website. You can easily set up a recurring donation through our website our through our Facebook Cause.

Every other month we feature one of our recurring donors and the impact they make in the community - we'd love for you to be the next donor we feature! Please consider making a donation today!

The Cause Conference from Joe Buehrle

A week ago I had an amazing opportunity to attend the the San Diego Chaphter of American Marketing Association's Cause Conference. Further, as a member of the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of San Diego I want to thank Sempra Energy for their gracious scholarship to YNPN San Diego which made it possible for me to attend. As the recipient of this scholarship, my participation in this conference could not have come at a better time.

Six months ago I accepted a new position as a Program Coordinator at a local nonprofit here in San Diego. I have been on a huge learning curve ever since. This is my first true management position since I started in the nonprofit sector about ten years ago. Like most of us in the nonprofit field, particularly under a budget crunch, we must quickly develop a vast array of skill sets. I can go from presenting before the County Commissioners to writing grants to doing finger painting with five year olds all in one day. My current position holds such a diverse array of challenges and opportunities that "cause marketing" activities many times do not make it to the top of the day's agenda.

Yet, as reiterated through the conference in a down market and dollars scarce, the process for knowing and being able to articulate the agency "cause" is that much more imperative! I have come away from this event energized and plan to bring back and begin the process for rethinking and reorganizing how I am communicating what we "do"......... and how this can lead to new philanthropic partners!

While common sense to many, for me the following became some of my favorite takeaways from the conference:

• Brand = Feeling. We already have a brand.....and it must be built over time and managed.
• The biggest mistake for marketing is thinking internally.
• On the relationship between donor/corporation and agency:
• Sponsorship = Dating; Cause Marketing = Marriage
• and lastly, be able to answer the question- What do you do different that MATTERS?

Did you go to the American Marketing Association Cause Conference? What did you think?

Second Annual Bday Bash

Save the date - We're celebrating our second birthday at Karl Strauss in La Jolla on April 15th and we want YOU to be there! Register here.

Join YNPN San Diego as we celebrate two years in San Diego providing networking, professional development and community for nonprofit staff, board members, and volunteers throughout San Diego. We've made quite an impact in this town and we want you to be there to help us celebrate!

Doors will open at 5:00 p.m. and we'll have happy hour drink specials through 8:00 p.m. Register today and THANK YOU to Karl Strauss La Jolla for hosting us!

Meet the Board: Joe Buehrle

What are your roles within the nonprofit community?

I love the nonprofit field and have worked in a variety of sectors from child welfare to adult mental health. Currently I serve as the Program Coordinator for SAY San Diego’s Healthy Start Military Family Center where we provide parent support and empowerment activities for military parents and children. I also enjoy volunteering on the YNPN San Diego Board (Partnership Committee Co-Chair) and with a local community organizing group, the San Diego Organizing Project.

Tell us about a great experience you have had with YNPN San Diego.
I moved to San Diego about a year and a half ago without a job. YNPN San Diego was a great networking resource to meet great likeminded folks. My favorite part of YNPN is the Meet and Greets. Beyond professional support, being new to San Diego, YNPN lead me to a great group of friends I now hang out with on a regular basis.

Name a person or resource that has helped you in your nonprofit career and why.

I must continue the shout out to YNPN. I finished graduate school ready to “change the world” and moved to San Diego only able to find a minimum wage job. YNPN became my only source of hope, sanity and professional fulfillment. Through [YNPN], I have met [many] people, opened doors to numerous professional opportunities, found my current job and was lead to great resources… not to mention spending many fun nights on the town at award events, conferences, galas, and taking in the arts.

Just for fun – what was the last dream you had?

Well… you may regret to have asked, but the truth is… my last dream was about me and a buddy from graduate school kicking guacamole filled soccer balls around in a field of guacamole. Why I dreamed this, I have no idea but it is an odd combination of three of my favorite things: soccer, guacamole and good times with friends!!!

Thanks for sharing Joe! Who knows, maybe guacamole soccer may become a reality – Guacamole Goalie – I like the sound of that!

Last Week to Register - Limited Space

YNPN San Diego is about to put on an amazing professional development workshop with fantastic panelists – we hope you will join us. Only 20 spots total available by registering here!

About the workshop:

Join YNPN San Diego and leaders from the San Diego nonprofit community to discuss what leadership looks like throughout the generations. Listen in as our panelists discuss what each generation brings to the leadership table and how we can together prepare for the future of leadership. Following the panel, we will open the space with facilitated group conversations about multiple generations working together to advance the nonprofit community in San Diego. Join our panelists and your colleagues as they share their own experiences and lessons learned related to leadership and provide you with an opportunity to ask questions, get feedback and share your own input on multigenerational leadership.

Date: March 18th 6 – 8 pm

Location: Dean’s Conference Room @ The School of International Relations and Pacific Studies. Please follow THIS LINK for directions and the nearest parking structure. Dean’s office on the second floor of the RBC 4 (Student Affairs/Dean’s Office) Building.

Fee: $10

Registration: http://ynpnsdmarch10.eventbrite.com/

About the Facilitator and Panelists:

Ryan Feinstein – Facilitator
Co-Founder, Next-Gen Collaborative

Ryan Feinstein is the Co-Founder of the “Next-Gen Collaborative” – a strategic consulting and leadership development organization that offers collaborative tools and practices for next-gen leaders to be successful professionally and fulfilled personally for making a contribution in their lives, communities, and organizations. He is also the founder of the Global Youth in Action Programs and Program Development Director for the Bali Institute for Global Renewal, a non-profit that offers programs on leadership and indigenous wisdom. Working with the World Café Community Foundation, Ryan is currently helping to develop new ways for conversational leadership to be brought into communities and organizations as a basis for social innovation and transformation.

Emily Davis – Panelist
President, EDA Consulting & Co-Founder/Chair YNPN San Diego

Emily began her career working in the field of ending violence against women more than 10 years ago as a community activist, victim advocate, and trainer. She now focuses her attention and expertise on next gen issues in both philanthropy and the nonprofit sector, presenting her research and trends throughout the country. Since Spring 2007, Emily has been serving as a nonprofit consultant and philanthropic advisor to various individuals and organizations through her company, Emily Davis & Associates Consulting. She has served on numerous nonprofit committees and boards in Colorado and San Diego and recently completed her Masters of Nonprofit Management from Regis University. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Association of Fundraising Professionals San Diego; as an adjunct-professor at UCSD Extension's Fundraising Certificate program; Editorial Advisor for Nonprofit World Magazine; and serves on many other committees.

Sherri Petro - Panelist
President, VPI Strategies and founding partner in Workplace Evolution

Sherri Petro has been consulting for 10 years in the for-profit, nonprofit, and government sectors after a 16 year corporate career. Sherri creates financially sustainable organizations and helps bridge the gap between generational misunderstandings that result from different belief structures and lack of coherent communication. She shares the motivations of each generation to help organizations create better targeting, messaging and connections to the marketers. Her diverse professional background includes customer service, operations, administration, sales, marketing and strategic planning. Sherri earned an MBA from Pepperdine University and BA in Psychology from Youngstown State University, magna cum laude.

John Falchi - Panelist

The general purpose guiding John in his calling is "Positive Well-Being for All Living Things." Although he is retired from being a College Pol. Sci. Professor, a Chief Development Officer for Major NGOs, and a Development Consultant to Non-profit Organizations, John continues to help many organi-zational leaders, who are in concert with his general purpose, to meet their goals and objectives, in fund raising, organizational planning, membership building and PR work, pro bono, through the Global Culture Network of P.A.C.E

Register here: http://ynpnsdmarch10.eventbrite.com/

Panelists Announced for March 18 Workshop!

Limited space available - register today!!!

Nonprofit Leadership from Every Generation
March 18th 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Location: TBD

Join YNPN San Diego and leaders from the San Diego nonprofit community to discuss what leadership looks like throughout the generations. Listen in as our panelists discuss what each generation brings to the leadership table and how we can together prepare for the future of leadership. Following the panel, we will open the space with facilitated group conversations about multiple generations working together to advance the nonprofit community in San Diego. Join our panelists and your colleagues as they share their own experiences and lessons learned related to leadership and provide you with an opportunity to ask questions, get feedback and share your own input on multi-generational leadership.

Ryan Feinstein - Facilitator
Co-Founder, Next-Gen Collaborative

Ryan Feinstein is the Co-Founder of the “Next-Gen Collaborative” – a strategic consulting and leadership development organization that offers collaborative tools and practices for next-gen leaders to be successful professionally and fulfilled personally for making a contribution in their lives, communities, and organizations. He is also the founder of the Global Youth in Action Programs and Program Development Director for the Bali Institute for Global Renewal, a non-profit that offers programs on leadership and indigenous wisdom. Working with the World Café Community Foundation, Ryan is currently helping to develop new ways for conversational leadership to be brought into communities and organizations as a basis for social innovation and transformation.

Emily Davis - Panelist
President, EDA Consulting & Co-Founder/Chair YNPN San Diego

Emily began her career working in the field of ending violence against women more than 10 years ago as a community activist, victim advocate, and trainer. She now focuses her attention and expertise on next gen issues in both philanthropy and the nonprofit sector, presenting her research and trends throughout the country. Since Spring 2007, Emily has been serving as a nonprofit consultant and philanthropic advisor to various individuals and organizations through her company, Emily Davis & Associates Consulting. She has served on numerous nonprofit committees and boards in Colorado and San Diego and recently completed her Masters of Nonprofit Management from Regis University. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Association of Fundraising Professionals San Diego; as an adjunct-professor at UCSD Extension's Fundraising Certificate program; Editorial Advisor for Nonprofit World Magazine; and serves on many other committees.

Sherri Petro - Panelist
President, VPI Strategies and founding partner in Workplace Evolution

Sherri Petro has been consulting for 10 years in the for-profit, nonprofit, and government sectors after a 16 year corporate career. Sherri creates financially sustainable organizations and helps bridge the gap between generational misunderstandings that result from different belief structures and lack of coherent communication. She shares the motivations of each generation to help organizations create better targeting, messaging and connections to the marketers. Her diverse professional background includes customer service, operations, administration, sales, marketing and strategic planning. Sherri earned an MBA from Pepperdine University and BA in Psychology from Youngstown State University, magna cum laude.

John Falchi - Panelist

The general purpose guiding John in his calling is "Positive Well-Being for All Living Things." Although he is retired from being a College Pol. Sci. Professor, a Chief Development Officer for Major NGOs, and a Development Consultant to Non-profit Organizations, John continues to help many organi-zational leaders, who are in concert with his general purpose, to meet their goals and objectives, in fund raising, organizational planning, membership building and PR work, pro bono, through the Global Culture Network of P.A.C.E