Q&A Spotlight with Community Council Member Rebecca Alvarez

Earlier this week one of YNPN San Diego's Advisory Board Co-Chairs (Mariel Berry) had the opportunity to talk with Rebecca Alvarez, one of our Community Council members to ask her a few questions and learn about what motivates her to be part of the San Diego non-profit community.

Mariel Berry: What is your current role in the nonprofit community?

Rebecca Alvarez: I am Executive Director and one of the founders of NP Strategies, a nonprofit strategy consulting organization here in San Diego. I'm also on YNPN's Community Council and a volunteer at my son's school.

MB: How did you come to be involved with nonprofits?

RA: I have been involved with nonprofits as a volunteer since my youth, but professionally I first became involved when I was doing management consulting in the for-profit sector. One of my clients (for a merger/acquisition project) was a large ($150 million) nonprofit in Washington D.C. It was a very interesting/challenging project and peaked my interest in the nonprofit sector. Working with San Diego nonprofits began when I made a career transition from the for-profit to nonprofit sector and began as the founding ED of NP Strategies.

MB: What motivated you to get involved with YNPN San Diego and their Community Council?

RA: I think its a great organization and plays an important role building a community/network of emerging sector leaders. I see it as one of the "infrastructure" organizations that plays a role in strengthening the nonprofit sector overall, and that is something I'm passionate about.

MB: How do you see YNPN San Diego impacting the nonprofit community?

RA: See above -- how I see it impacting the community is the reason I got involved -- connecting leaders with future leaders, future leaders with one another [etc.]....Also the listserve is a great resource because it serves as a central place for sharing information about what's going on in the sector.

MB: What advice would you give to emerging young professionals in the nonprofit sector?

RA:Don't focus your learning on what is specific to nonprofits -- there is plenty to learn there, but a LOT can also be learned about just general management, leadership and strategy -- topics that are not unique to the sector.

MB: Is there anything else that you would like to share about the YNPN San Diego network or the San Diego nonprofit community?

RA: Keep up the great work!

Thanks for the great words and unique perspective you have shared with us, Rebecca. We are lucky to have your experience and positive attitude cheering us on!

Signing off,

YNPNSD

Meet Our New Board Members!!!

Welcome to the new members of the YNPN San Diego Advisory Board! Below you will learn a little bit more about these dynamic individuals who are a part if YNPN San Diego's leadership team...

Laura Purdom

Laura Purdom currently works at St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center (SMSC), a day program for Adults with Developmental Disabilities. As the assistant to the Executive Director she is involved in all aspects of the organization, including operations management, event planning, marketing, board coordination, safety, assisting in the grant process and strategic planning. Prior to working at SMSC, Laura worked in the “corporate world” in a variety of fields, but most recently title and escrow services for new housing developments. During that time she was an Ambassador for the San Diego Building Industry Association.

Laura has a B.A. in Psychology from the University of California, San Diego. She is a graduate of the 2010 East County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program and currently serves on their Marking and Recruiting Committee. When she has time, Laura enjoys volunteering at various organizations, cooking and reading a good book.

Danielle Reyes-Acosta

Danielle Reyes-Acosta is co-founder of a Carlsbad-based interactive design firm, where she interfaces with designers and developers to help non-profit, government, and corporate clients form sustainable brand identities. She also consults with Metric Systems Corporation, a Vista-based telecommunications company, assisting in their development of an international export sales campaign. In both capacities, she has been responsible for procuring and facilitating projects that encompass campaign management, web development, identity formation, and interactive application design.
Danielle has a B.A. from the University of California, Santa Barbara in Global Studies, where she focused largely on international human rights issues. A longtime veteran of non-profit work, she served as Fundraising Chair of the International Convention on Human Rights to hold Santa Barbara’s inaugural Human Rights Day Festival in 2006. Studying abroad in Barcelona, Spain in 2004-2005, Danielle also worked with Amnesty International at a time when the Darfur conflict inspired heightened international outcry. While at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), she continued her studies in Spanish (Castellano), Catalan, and French, and traveled throughout Spain and France to hone her skills.

A Southern California native, Danielle enjoys surfing, snowboarding, being outdoors, and giving back to her community. In addition to serving on YNPN’s Advisory Board, Danielle is YNPNSD’s Communications Committee Co-Chair, and also volunteers for the Member Relations and Fundraising Committees.

Natacha Tullier

Natacha Tullier currently works for the Girl Scouts San Diego-Imperial Council in Balboa Park. As Fund Development Assistant, she oversees the Council’s donor database, generates donor acknowledgements, financial reports, and performs prospect analysis. She also takes part in the production of the Council’s largest fundraising events, including San Diego’s Cool Women and Urban Campout. Prior to coming to the Girl Scouts, Natacha worked at the San Diego Museum of Art as Membership Assistant, soon after discovering her passion for nonprofits through an internship at the San Diego Museum of Man in 2007.

Originally from France, Natacha has tutored students in both French and English, in addition to providing freelance translation services. She is currently enrolled in the Spanish for Communication series at UCSD Extension, and hopes to become trilingual. She holds a BA in Communication and a minor in International Studies from UC San Diego.

Board Member Spotlight: Cynthia Skogerboe

What are your roles within the nonprofit community (staff, volunteer, philanthropist, etc.)?

My passion lies in raising people out of poverty. I’ve tried to shape my various roles in the community to reflect this passion at different levels by involvement with local and international relief efforts, literacy and education, and the infrastructure support organizations that assist the sector.

I am currently on staff as the Senior Staff Manager and a Consultant with NP Strategies and in addition to financially supporting NP Strategies and YNPN San Diego, my husband and I tithe to our church, provide a monthly sponsorship for a boy living in Malawi through Children of the Nations.

Tell us about how you’re currently involved with YNPN San Diego.

Since joining YNPN San Diego, I’ve been a Co-Chair for the Board Development Committee, an internal Advisory Board Committee that drives the Board recruitment, assessment and strategic planning for the organization. Most recently, I serve as Advisory Board Treasurer, working with Volunteer San Diego and our Executive Team to manage financial reporting and oversight.

What advice would you give emerging leaders who are interested in the nonprofit sector?

Focus on your interests. So often the advice is to just ‘dive in,’ but oftentimes, whether looking for a new job, volunteer position or even in giving, it’s easy to get pulled in a million different directions and spread yourself (and your resources) thin. Just as it’s important for organizations to clarify vision, mission and values to ensure successful growth, so too should you have a personal (or family) vision, mission and values you refer to in decision-making. Then, it’s easier to focus your time, treasure and talent on those things you care most about. It’s bound to prove a more successful engagement in the long run, provide deeper levels of satisfaction and prevent burn-out!

Just for fun – what’s the best joke you’ve ever heard?

Best joke? Too tough. How about most recent joke compliments to my sister:
Q: Where does the King keep his armies?
A: Up his sleevies.

Ba-dum-bum.

PHEW! Cynthia is DEFINITELY out in the community. If that's not enough, she also donates her time and/or treasures to:

• Her alma maters (Drake University and University of California, San Diego’s IR/PS Graduate School (Donor)
• Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) (Donor)
• The International Rescue Committee (Donor)
• The American Red Cross and San Diego Blood Bank (Blood Donor)
• The Flood (Volunteer)
• San Diego Public Library’s READ program (Volunteer)

YNPNSD's New Volunteer Management Style

In the last few months, we've been trying an approach that Mariel Berry (Board Co-Chair) and I learned about from YNPN San Francisco Bay Area at the YNPN National Leaders Conference in April. What approach is this, you ask? Formal volunteer management--after all, we are an ALL-VOLUNTEER-RUN organization. I'd say it's a rather important element, wouldn't you?

We meet with all new prospective volunteers to offer a kind of orientation about the organization and to assess what position would be the best fit for the volunteer. We've even recruited a new volunteer to help with this management process. Jocelyn Garcia of Volunteer San Diego brings a fabulous set of volunteer recruitment/management skills.

Here's how it works: A new member joins YNPN San Diego and expresses interest on his or her application in joining a committee. If there are open opportunities on that committee, then Jocelyn and I arrange a meeting at which we get to talk about all the fabulous things YNPN San Diego is up to now that we've had an AWESOME strategic planning session with NP Strategies (your org really MUST do this). Then, we talk about the new member's expectations and wishes for a volunteer opportunity, and, based on his or her availabilty and needs, we find the right position on the right committee. The next step is an "E-Introduction" (this is coming to be quite popular for networking) to to the Committee Chair who then invites the volunteer to a committee meeting.

After the new volunteer fills out a quick email survey a few weeks later (very few questions, but...just enough I'd say), we figure out exactly what needs to happen to ensure a satisfying volunteer experience. I'm not gonna lie...people almost always want more :) That's why we have board recruitment twice a year--hint hint...we are currently in the middle of recruitment now, so the time has never been better to send in your application if you're interested in some excellent hands-on professional development as a 2010-11 YNPN San Diego Board Member. Learn more about applying to the Board by clicking here.

What do you think about this process? How can we change or improve?

Blog post by Jessica Rodgers. Interested in contributing to this blog? Email us at ynpnsandiego@gmail.com.

YNPNSD Recruiting Board Members!

Calling all talented young nonprofit leaders! If you are looking for an amazing opportunity to build and maximize your skills within the San Diego nonprofit community, consider joining the YNPN San Diego Advisory Board! 

With more than 600 members, the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of San Diego is growing quickly.

We continue to seek the expertise and commitment of our members to guide our organization through its next phase of development. 

Board membership is an unparalleled opportunity to be part of a welcoming and interesting group of colleagues at the regional and national level, and develop one’s own leadership in and knowledge of the nonprofit sector. Use your talent and develop new leadership skills as part of the YNPN San Diego Advisory Board.

Applicants should be YNPN San Diego members and currently engaged as a professional or volunteer in the nonprofit sector and should display: 


• Commitment to YNPN San Diego’s mission of strengthening the next generation of nonprofit leaders by making nonprofit careers more viable for young people;
  
• Outstanding leadership skills. We are particularly looking for those with skills in: accounting, resource development and fundraising and database management; and
  
• Willingness to act as an ambassador for YNPN San Diego’s in the nonprofit community and the ability to meet the responsibilities outlined here.
  

The deadline for applications and resumes is August 27th. You can find the application and process on our website. The Board Development Committee will review applications and follow up with interviews. Prospective candidates will be invited to a YNPN San Diego Board meeting to get an inside look into how YNPN San Diego operates. If you have any questions, email us at ynpnsandiego@gmail.com.

Have a job to share?

At YNPN San Diego we want to remind all of our members that sharing job openings through the YNPN San Diego network is a great way to bring interest to your organization along with lots of great candidates! You can use the YNPN San Diego network in many ways:

1. Post the YNPNSD listserv (nearly 600 individuals) by emailing the job posting to ynpnsd@lists.ynpn.org.
2. Post to our LinkedIn job board
3. Post the link on our Facebook Page

There are also plenty of resources locally and nationally where you can look for a job and post jobs. You'll find a nice list of these links on our website under the Career Resources page. Some of our favorite spots to look for and post jobs include:

• NPWorks.org (job board by Nonprofit Management Solutions)
• Idealist.org (national)
• Association of Fundraising Professionals (members only)

If you're looking for a job nothing beats networking and building personal relationships within the community - if people know you personally you have a better chance of getting that job you want. Of course, gaining experience where you might have gaps in skills always helps too! YNPN San Diego is always looking for board and committee members who are looking to develop their skills while helping to contribute to our organization - be part of the movement!

Has a job posting led with YNPN San Diego led to your finding a job or filling a position? Share the news hear and let us know!

A First Hand Look at the Self Care Workshop

Growing up with both parents working, I've experienced first hand the work / life balance and the decisions and choices people make to create this balance. When I first entered the work force (in Corporate America) I thought I understood the theory behind this balance - meaning I would dedicate time to work and then time to myself separately, creating a balanced life. However, when I transitioned to the nonprofit sector and discovered the passion I could have for work, that work / life balance theory wasn't as clear to me anymore.

What happens when you love what you do and the line between work and life isn't clearly defined? Working for Volunteer San Diego and living out the mission of meaningful service outside of work hours made me start rethinking the theory. When talking to my fellow young nonprofit professional peers, they were experiencing this too: the blur of balance. How can something balance when there aren't defined things to balance?

When the idea to partner with the Red Lotus Society for the Self Care YNPNSD Professional Development Workshop came up, I got really excited! Then I met Dave Macek (Executive Director of Red Lotus Society and Facilitator of upcoming Self Care Workshop) for the first time and the ideas between him and our Professional Development Committee just started flowing. It was obvious this was a hot topic and bringing our peers together to share and create a holistic approach to self care was guaranteed to be a workshop I would not want to miss.

At our upcoming workshop, we will engage in a unique dialogue on the importance of self care; break through any obstacles preventing you to creating a healthier and happier YOU; and identify small steps to take you in that direction while sharing resources and tips of successful self care practices.

I'm looking forward to sharing ideas with you all and continuing to build on my own personal self care and live a life I love in work, play, family, friends and more.

Many thanks to Jaci Feinstein for her contribution to this blog post!

Learn About YNPNSD's Meet and Greet Committee

After joining YNPN San Diego in early 2010, I wanted to discover more about the organization and meet some of its members. I decided to go to my first Meet & Greet (The YNPNSD Birthday Bash in April 2010) where I hoped to meet other nonprofit enthusiasts. As soon as I arrived, the members of the Meet & Greet Committee welcomed me and even introduced me to other YNPNSD members. Everyone was very warm, friendly, and I immediately felt part of the group. I found the La Jolla Karl Strauss to be a great venue because of the outdoor patio and the mellow, happy hour atmosphere. I felt really comfortable meeting other people who are passionate about nonprofits, and I found the networking experience to be very rewarding. I highly encourage all YNPNSD Members and Non-Members to take advantage of other Meet & Greet events in the future. Have thoughts or questions? Leave them here!

-Natacha Tullier

Changing of the Guard

There are some exciting leadership changes happening here at YNPN San Diego. With the summer months upon us, YNPN San Diego is bringing in a new wave of next gen leaders to run our amazing organization. Some of these folks will be familiar to you, yet but be sure to reach out to them and learn more about them and all they do.

After two years, the executive committee at YNPN San Diego is changing hands. We couldn’t have made it anywhere without Megan Lim, Jeremiah Sacksteder, and Caitlyn McTaggart. They dedicated countless hours of time, talent, and treasure making YNPN San Diego possible in the community and growing it to the size it is now!

We are proud to welcome Jaci Feinstein (co-chair), Mariel Berry (co-chair), Joe Buehrle (Secretary), and Cynthia Skogerboe (Treasurer) into these new leadership positions. The transition process has been tremendously smooth due to the foresight and planning efforts of Jaci Feinstein and the Board Development Committee. For the past three months we have overlapped incoming and outgoing executive committee members to facilitate organizational learning and maintain organizational history. It is one of the best processes I have ever seen!

As many of you may already know, this will be my last month on the board of YNPN San Diego. I am stepping down as Chair of YNPNSD and will be replaced by Mariel and Jaci on July 1. It has been an amazing two years with the organization and two and half years in San Diego, but now I am going to return to the majestic mountains of Colorado – my home for 12 years before coming to San Diego.

None of what I have done or been involved with in San Diego would have ever been possible without YNPN San Diego, the incredible board leaders, and our members. I’m constantly amazed at the phenomenal committees and volunteers that keep YNPN San Diego running. We collaborate and partner with organizations that further our mission in the community and serve our members. We have grown to 600 members! All of our programs and membership development has been completely volunteer-run!

It is my hope that the next chapter of YNPN San Diego brings nothing but success and growth. I know that the incoming and existing leadership at YNPN San Diego will strengthen the community and prepare San Diego for embracing leaders at every age. I’m proud of all the success we have had thus far and for becoming a model for other YNPN chapters and organizations locally and nationally. Kudos to everyone who has made this possible!

Please welcome the next executive committee by leaving a note here on our blog or posting something to our Facebook page. We would love to hear from you and get any feedback you have for the next year to come!

Finally, please consider making a donation to YNPN San Diego of any size. Keep the organization moving forward and serving this community in such a meaningful way. Your contributions will personally warm my heart and let me know the impact I and this amazing team continues to make! Read more on how to donate by visiting our website.

Board Member Spotlight: Mariel Berry

What are your roles within the nonprofit community (staff, volunteer, philanthropist, etc.)? Currently, I work at San Diego State University as the Associate Director of Development for the College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts. I spend most of my volunteer time with YNPN San Diego. I am about to start as a new volunteer with the Hearts & Hands Doula Program at UCSD Medical Center, assisting and supporting women during childbirth. I've also spent significant time volunteering as a coach for Girls on the Run, and as an AmeriCorps Promise Fellow at Volunteer San Diego.

Tell us about what you’re currently involved with in YNPN San Diego. I sit on the Advisory Board and serve as the Secretary on our Executive Committee. I co-chair the Partnerships Committee and help lead our Community Council, a group of tenured nonprofit leaders that help support the Advisory Board and launch of new YNPN programs. I've also been very involved with shaping YNPN's new Mentorship Program.

What advice would you give emerging leaders who are interested in the nonprofit sector? Carry confidence in what you bring to the table-- your skills, abilities and opinions. Don't be afraid to get involved, especially if you're passionate about the cause. Getting involved, no matter what your role, will benefit and help make change in our community.

Just for fun – what’s the best joke you’ve ever heard? Hmm. This is a tough one.... It's actually more of a riddle but here goes---"Railroad crossing without any cars, can you spell that without any cars." My Dad stumped me for a solid day with this one when I was little! I still enjoy sharing it with new people...and stumping them! :)

YNPN SD Tools You Can Use: The Listserv

While it may be true that many listservs out there are full of extraneous information and community requests, I can personally attest to the authenticity and value of the YNPN San Diego listserv. This daily compilation of San Diego-based events, workshops, and job announcements is different from its many contemporaries for two reasons: the quality of its content is consistently high and the worth of the postings often far outpaces the initial effort required to follow up on a given lead.

With a membership base of nearly 600 nonprofit professionals hailing from organizations that specialize in areas ranging from human rights to business development to community services, I have observed over time that YNPNSD listserv notices consistently cover a wide interest area while still maintaining the ability to captivate an equally diverse audience. Joining the listserv is easy; all you have to do is be a YNPNSD member. Visit the YNPN San Diego website to complete a membership form - it's easy! Read how you can modify your subscription on the YNPN San Diego website as well as learn about the listserv guidelines and policies. Being a contributor to the listserv is what helps to maintain and increase its relevancy among users. It is also a great way to bring greater reach and/or leverage to your organization. It's easy to use the listserv as a member - simply send your email to sandiego@lists.ynpn.org!

In gauging listserv relevancy, I considered several factors: daily interest level (“significance”), user interaction, and payout. From conversations I have held with people both inside and out of the YNPNSD circles, the events, workshops, and jobs posted to the listserv are noteworthy in that they are all directly related to furthering nonprofit leadership in our community. If San Diego is a microcosm of the world, then this listserv is an excellent way to get a sampling. Since there are so many community contributors—including those who have just heard of its reach, and are starting to learn more about the organization—the listserv is a means for capable individuals to represent themselves as the community-minded and motivated people they are to in turn exemplify the organizational membership.

Payout is measured by only one means—results. One particular case study comes to mind when I think of listserv results: Vietca Do, a member of the YNPNSD’s Member Relations and Meet & Greet communities, found her calling via YNPNSD tools. Two years out of college and with all the prospects of the world before her, Vietca was caught in the troubled times of an economic recession. Still, she remained enthusiastically involved in her community commitments—she now maintains the official Facebook page --and one day found a job lead. Her YNPNSD experience had both helped to build her skill set and increase community connections, resulting in a hire.

The listserv is but one facet in the YNPNSD toolbox, so I encourage you to start learning more about member benefits. Next month I will be back with another post, so follow our blog if you're a fan. After all, if the opportunities to improve yourself and your community are endless, then the chance to be a part of a movement is just beginning.

- Danielle Reyes-Acosta, YNPN San Diego Member Relations Committee Member

YNPNSD Helps People Find Jobs

I have felt invincible at least twice in my life.

The first time, I was 8 years old and had jumped off the back of a friend’s moving bicycle. As I was rolling to a stop, I felt no pain, fear, embarrassment, and most importantly, no regret. I was even ready to do it again, if it wasn’t for the gash in my knee and forehead… as well as my mother’s inevitable scolding.

The second time was when I was 24 years old, and it was that nanosecond right before I was officially laid-off from a job I started a year prior.

Wait… what? I just graduated college… my student loan bills have already started coming in... I finally matured from ramen and Easy Mac for dinner (almost – they are pretty tasty). The moment it sunk in that I no longer had a job was when I felt my invincibility slip away. I felt no pain, fear, embarrassment nor regret, but the difference between this instance and that of 16 years ago was this time, I knew there weren’t enough band-aids to patch me up along with the other 10% of the country going through the same thing.

I really started reflecting about my career: should I stay in nonprofit, go back to school? I got my answer three weeks later when I was offered a job that paid very well, but turned it down because it didn’t feel right. Then, when I started getting rejections like, “You’re not qualified enough,” and, “You’re too qualified for this position,” I didn’t know what to think anymore. Am I in some kind of professional purgatory? Was I being punished for being picky?

Then, I saw it – a job posting through the YNPN listserv. After reading the description, I knew this is what I was looking for. So, in goes my application, but once again, out it comes with a red stamp on it, except, with a note from a fellow YNPN San Diego member who happened to be on the receiving end of my application. She referred me to Junior Achievement and two interviews, some squealing and celebrating, and 10 months later, I’m sitting here writing to you about how YNPN San Diego has helped me in my career.

I did not spend months just sending out resumes and applications. I dove into YNPN San Diego and got my hands dirty with the Member Relations Committee as well as the Meet and Greet Committee. I manage the Facebook Fan Page as part of their social media strategy, an asset valuable to my job description here and now.

I learned I am still invincible, and things will get better if I just work at it. I just needed to jump on that bicycle again, unafraid and un-regretful that I waited for what I wanted instead of settling. Thanks, YNPN San Diego for being my metaphorical door opening while all those gently closed behind me.

Many thanks to Vietca Do for her generous contribution to the YNPN San Diego blog and all her work on committees!! To learn more about YNPN San Diego, visit our website and read all about our committees. If you are interested in writing for the YNPN San Diego blog, email us at sandiego@ynpn.org.

Strategic Planning with NP Strategies

There has been a lot of strategic planning going around lately. This weekend, YNPN San Diego spent all of Saturday discussing our strategic plan with the facilitation and preparation by NP Strategies. It was an amazing experience and with the help of a company that professionally facilitates these business planning conversations.

Prior to the in-person meeting, NP Strategies took the time to gather information through our database and both internal and external interviews. They reviewed our materials, including our visioning process from Van Dolah and Associates and were able to clearly and accurately synthesize the information. One of the best pieces of information we heard was that the YNPN San Diego's mission is clearly understood by both our internal and external stakeholders. With so many complicated and bulky mission statements in the community, this felt like a real success.

NP Strategies facilitated our strategic planning process with three primary individuals including their Executive Director, an intern, and a third associate who is actually a YNPN San Diego board member. So you could say that the strategic planning was facilitated both internally and externally. We benefited enormously from having an outside facilitator the day of the strategic planning retreat which allowed us to talk through all the pieces of the plan without wearing too many hats. As a result, the organization came away with a common vision and ownership of the organization; we became more concise in the direction of our programming and, therefore, our funding and communications.

Having an outside company that specializes in strategic planning helped YNPN San Diego to identify everything from our theory of change to the quality of our programs. If you have an academic program in your area that teaches strategic planning you could always consider having a student facilitate your strategic planning for low or no cost.

One of the ways that YNPN San Diego builds its "next gen" leadership is by providing them with access to experiences like strategic planning. Any organization can encourage younger staff and volunteers to join a board and learn more about the process so that they can bring it back to your organization, helping to serve your mission to grow and investing in the professional development of future leaders.

Many thanks to NP Strategies for all their help in focusing YNPN San Diego’s efforts and making sure that we are all moving towards the same goals with a common vision!

More Than Happy Hour

As co-chairs of the Meet & Greet committee, we’ve had the opportunity to meet some great people doing inspiring work for amazing organizations throughout San Diego. We’ve helped to organize over a dozen events in venues around town, hoping that these mixers would bring nonprofit professionals together to connect and network, but I think we’ve found that it has been more than that.

These ‘mixers’ have also helped YNPN members find jobs, make friends, share resources, gain volunteers and explore new restaurants and bars in town. Our members have learned about organizations in town they never would have heard of otherwise. They met someone who works for an organization they love and happens to live a few blocks from them. They’ve found a shoulder to lean on when work has been hard and had a supportive audience when their goals were achieved. They’ve found people to brunch with and heard a great personal review of a restaurant they’ve been meaning to try. They’ve connected with and created a network of colleagues, on a personal and professional manner.

We hope these events have been more than the typical ‘happy hour’ because when your day has been long and the work has been hard, and when we’re trying to fight the good fight, it often is only other nonprofit professionals who understand how we feel. We have friends, family and significant others who support us and listen to us but talking to another person who understands the daily ins and outs of the nonprofit world can mean so much more. And being able to vent and laugh and tell stories with each other, especially over good food and fun drinks, can make the hard work we do worthwhile.

We have had a great time co-chairing this committee. The venues who have hosted us have gone above and beyond in providing great locations, staff and specials. The committee has worked hard to pull off these events, from finding venues and promoting the events to cheerfully checking in our guests. And our amazing Advisory Board has been so helpful, coming up with new ideas and new venues to keep these events fun and entertaining.

We termed-off the Advisory Board in April, so we will no longer be co-chairs of this committee but will definitely still be involved. We would not want to miss the opportunity to meet more amazing nonprofit professionals working hard to better the San Diego community. Emily Davis will be overseeing the committee and these events will have a new name: Sector Social. We hope that you will continue to make these events the place to meet other nonprofit professionals in this town. And, if you have the time, we’d love you to join the committee to help ensure these events are the best they can be! We have organized these events with you in mind, so please help if you can! With over 500 YNPN members in San Diego, let’s make these events THE place for nonprofit professionals to connect!

Hope to see you very soon!
Lenise Andrade and Emily Bhatti
Former Meet & Greet Co-Chairs &
(Proud) YNPN San Diego members

New Board Member: Kimmi Long

Kimmi Long has worked with a variety of local and national nonprofit organizations and events since 1995, including but not limited to the American Running Association, San Diego Youth Services, Carlsbad Lightning Youth Soccer, La Jolla Youth Soccer, StandUp for Kids (DC, Oceanside and San Diego) and DC SCORES.

Her interest in helping nonprofit leaders develop a strong set of leadership and governance skills blossomed when she formed the Grom Project, Inc. as a 5051(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2003. She quickly found that there is a huge gap in knowledge and guidance provided to new business owners and in particular nonprofit business owners and leaders, and was relieved to discover the network and knowledge base that YNPN San Diego proudly facilitates.

Currently Kimmi completes her work with nonprofits as both a paid and volunteer consultant providing guidance for startup, volunteer management, public relations and fundraising. She is also a fitness coach and certified personal trainer and will graduate as a Massage Therapist from Body Mind College in the Fall 2010. She has been an active member of the YNPN San Diego Membership Committee since early 2009 and manages the LinkedIn group.

New Board Member: Shana Hazan

Shana Hazan works at Jewish Family Service (JFS), where she oversees all aspects of the Hand Up Youth Food Pantry’s teen leadership programs, including a thriving Student Executive Committee and a network of Hand Up Clubs at 10 area high schools. Under her direction local teens engage in issue advocacy, food drive coordination, volunteer management, in addition to planning innovative awareness raising fundraisers, like Rock Out for Hunger. Shana also manages corporate donor outreach and affinity group development for Jewish Family Service. In this capacity she launched Emerging Leaders at JFS in the fall of 2009 along with the Ruby Schulman Memorial Golf Tournament. This group boasts over 35 young professionals who support JFS though philanthropy and service.

Shana holds an MS Ed. from the School of Education and Social Policy at Northwestern University and a BA in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin. Before returning to her native San Diego she worked in Public Relations, taught elementary school in Chicago’s inner city, and served as the Safe Routes to School Director for Active Transportation Alliance in Chicago, where she was actively involved in advocacy and program development to reduce childhood obesity by increasing physical activity and active transportation across Illinois.

In addition to serving on YNPN’s Advisory Board , Shana is Marketing Committee Chair and Advisory Board Member for Run Women Run and on the advisory board of Stanley E. Foster Construction Tech Academy. Shana also lends her time to Crystal Crawford’s 2010 State Assembly campaign. In late 2009, she brought together community partners to present the first annual Evening of Empowerment for Young Women. Shana was profiled on San Diego News Network’s 35 Under List of Community Leaders in 2010.

New Board Member: Rahul Dangui

Rahul Dangui currently works at Qualcomm, where his mission is to develop future wireless technologies to create compelling user experiences with new mobile devices. He moved to the US in 2003 from France. After attending grad school in the Midwest, he relocated to San Diego where he became interested in volunteering and having a positive impact on the community. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Kids Included Together (KIT), a non-profit supporting inclusion of kids with disabilities, where he works on event planning, marketing, social media and heads the Young Professionals Committee. He holds a Master of Science from University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign and from École Supérieure d'Électricité -Paris, France.

Meet the Board: Emily Bhatti

What are your roles within the nonprofit community (staff, volunteer, philanthropist, etc.)?

I am the Coordinator, Corporate & Institutional Giving at the San Diego Museum of Art, I've been on the YNPN SD Advisory board for the last two years and Co Chair of the Meet and Greet Committee.

Tell us about a great experience you have had with YNPN San Diego.

I love being the co-chair of the Meet and Greet Committee because it gives me the opportunity to use skills that I don't use in my day job. Being involved in a YNPN committee is great way to learn and gain new experiences... I think the variety keeps me excited about what I'm doing. Meet and Greets are also a great way to meet new people and form partnerships with other nonprofits.

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

YNPN was a great resource for me when I was laid-off from my job. With the connections I made through YNPN, I had people sending me job postings pretty regularly (plus the listserv and career resource page on the website). My YNPN friends were very supportive. I also think that you should never underestimate the board of directors of your organization. They can be great resources as well. Their backgrounds in for-profit business can be a vital perspective in your nonprofit and your career.

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

I have a hard time remembering my dreams but the last one I remember: I was trying to get to work but for some reason I didn't have a car and so I had to ride my son's tricycle.
Emily Bhatti has been part of YNPN San Diego since our inception and will be transitioning off the board in the coming month. We are indebted to her leadership and passion for YNPN San Diego. Thank you for all that you have done!!!

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!

YNPN SD Welcomes New Board Members!

San Diego's Young Nonprofit Professionals Network (YNPN) is excited to welcome seven new members to its Advisory Board. Jaci Feinstein, Holly Gilbertson, Gypsy Walukones, Joe Buehrle, Amy Thoe, Laura Stein and Mariel Berry join the nine previous Advisory Board members that have steered San Diego YNPN chapter through its incredibly successful first year.

Our new Advisory Board members bring forth passion, diverse experiences, extensive knowledge of the nonprofit sector, and fresh ideas that will further the growth and development of YNPN in San Diego. Less than two months into their new positions, our new board members have jumped right in! They are already chairing committees, streamlining our online communication tools and planning upcoming member events. They are fully committed and dedicated to strengthening the next generation of leaders in San Diego!

With an extremely successful first year under our belt and over 400 members throughout San Diego, the new Advisory Board looks forward to growing our network while promoting an efficient, viable and inclusive nonprofit sector that supports the growth, learning and development of young professionals.