You want to move to the next level? Do something!

I have been having a fabulous time traveling across the country on a book tour for How to Become a Nonprofit Rockstar. I have met many great young professionals who are trying to figure out how to get the most out of their social sector tours. After each presentation or discussion with someone who is struggling with how to excel in their careers I wish I had more time to dig deep in the book's content. Now I finally have that chance! Rosetta and I are hosting a Leadership Intensive September 30- October 2nd to help you move to the next level of nonprofit leadership. We will be limiting attendance to make sure that you get personalized attention and build relationships with the other participants. Act quickly if you want a spot! REGISTER NOW

How to Become a Nonprofit Rockstar: 50 Ways to Accelerate Your Nonprofit Career authors Rosetta Thurman and Trista Harris are hosting an exclusive leadership intensive in Washington, DC from September 30-October 2, 2011. This program will focus on helping nonprofit professionals strengthen their leadership skills to be able to serve their organizations and communities in a bigger, more meaningful way. Participants will learn how to develop expertise, build a strong network, establish a great personal brand, practice authentic leadership, plan for balance, and move up in their organizations.

Each attendee will leave the program with an individualized Action Plan for the next stage of professional growth. All who attend the intensive will experience and receive the following:

  • A 30-day Action Plan that defines your immediate next steps for strengthening your leadership skills.
  • A complimentary copy of Rosetta and Trista’s book How to Become a Nonprofit Rockstar ($24.99 value) as well as the Nonprofit Rockstar Workbook ($10 value).
  • Course material that will reinforce the ideas and principles learned at the retreat. You will learn how to excel in six essential  areas of personal and professional development.
  • A fun and supportive environment to nurture your leadership skills and self-development. This will be an intimate group learning experience to ensure personalized attention.
  • Insightful guest speakers such as top nonprofit leaders, subject matter experts and executive coaches.
  • Small group discussions, activities, and workshops that will prepare and inspire you to lead at a higher level.
  • Pre- and post-conference calls to ensure that participants fully maximize the leadership development experience.
  • The beautiful surroundings of suburban Washington, DC during the fall. We will be staying at a relaxing retreat center that feels like it’s light years away from the hustle and bustle of downtown DC!

 We hope you will join us for this unique leadership development opportunity!

REGISTER NOW

Summer Bucket List

To give a little context, I live in the lovely state of Minnesota. I live here because for 3 months Minnesota is one of the most glorious places in the world (National Geographic agrees). The other 9 months have me holed up, in front of the fireplace, dreaming of a warm breeze. So as I looked over my calendar for this month, I was surprised that I have completely booked the month of June with meeting after meeting in windowless conference rooms. If this doesn't stop soon, it will be Fall and I'll still be the color of printer paper. The solution is the summer bucket list. Thinking about all of the specific things that I want to do, will encourage me to actual schedule it and do it. I'd also like to hear your summer bucket list ideas in the comments.

1. Go to a drive-in movie

2. Strawberry picking at the end of June  We went to a farm by our house, it was one of those experiences where I will look back at the pictures and say "wow, we had such a great time". The actual experience was filled with complaining children and the smell of manure. On the positive side, the stawberries were delicious and my kids could see that food actual grows somewhere.

3. Concert at Lake Harriet Bandshell

4. Comedy at the Park

5. Kayaking at Lake of the Isles and lunch at Tin Fish Restaurant

6. Twins Game (so what if I hate sports, I want to see the new stadium)

7. Uptown Art Fair- August 5-7

8. Izzy's Ice Cream I was probably eating the ice cream before the post was complete. MMMM Izzy's.

9. Minnesota State Fair

10. Wine tasting at Chateau St. Croix Vineyard This was so much fun, if you are in the Twin Cities look for their deals on Groupon and Crowdcut.

11. Visit Northern Minnesota, including a ride on the Alpine Rollercoaster at Spirit Mountain My hubby and I took a short vacation to Duluth and had a great time! I convinced him to go on the Alpine Rollercoaster and it was fabulous. Beautiful view the whole way down.

12. Visit Taylor's Falls

Walking the Talk

I just received a press release that made my heart sing. I know that is rare but hear me out. Many nonprofit organizations and consulting firms complain that there are not enough young people with the skills and interest to lead the nonprofit sector. This is an example of a firm that is actually doing something by giving undergraduates the chance to do social change work at their firm. I think it's a great example for all of us. From Frontline:

 In June, the philanthropic sector will be introduced to six undergraduates handpicked by the social change organization Frontline Solutions. The Hilliard P. Jenkins Undergraduate Fellowship Program, now in its second year, is an internship opportunity for students to receive practical training with senior staff at Frontline Solutions. Aimed at aspiring professionals with a passion for the fields of social justice and entrepreneurship, the Hilliard P. Jenkins Fellowship Program is a venue to aid and learn from Frontline’s ongoing work of supporting foundations and nonprofits and the communities in which they serve. Through the summer internship, HPJ Fellows are placed at one of Frontline’s offices in Durham, NC, Philadelphia, PA, and Brooklyn, NY. The students receive introductions to organizations in their base office and around the country, and receive professional development opportunities by working on a variety of high-impact projects.  “Being a part of exposing students to the multiple facets of the social change sector is both fun and fundamental to our mission to invest in the pipeline of emerging social change leaders,’” says Frontline Senior Partner Marcus Littles. “Our work allows us to engage with policymakers, academicians, community leaders, organizers, grantmakers and entrepreneurs. We have been privileged the past couple of years to have the best and brightest students work along with us, and this year is no exception.”

The program is designed to expose fellows to the inner workings and strategy development of a start-up consulting firm in its sixth year of operation as well as the work of Frontline’s clients, such as W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, Community Investment Network and Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy.  Before the program ends in August, each fellow will take at least one Frontline-supported work trip and participate in multiple meetings with clients and community partners around the country. Read more about the HPJ Fellowship.

Frontline Solutions (helpingchangehappen.com) is a social change organization that invests in the pipeline of social change leaders; provides consulting services to institutions in the nonprofit, government, and philanthropic sectors; and engages in field-building in three areas of expertise: Education, Social Innovation, and Males of Color.

Rosetta, Nonprofits, and Diversity

The fabulous Rosetta Thurman has a great post about The Voice of Nonprofit Talent Report. Diversity is critical to the sector but most reports dance around this idea. From Rosetta:

About a dozen people sent me the link to The Voice of Nonprofit Talent: Perceptions of Diversity in the Workplace, a new study produced by Commongood Careers and Level Playing Field Institute. I didn’t read it right away because honestly, most reports about diversity in the nonprofit sector pretty much say the same damn thing and are a total waste of funder’s money.

Does any of this sound familiar?

Nonprofit staff isn’t very diverse. Nonprofit boards aren’t very diverse. Nonprofits need more diversity. Nonprofits don’t know where to find people of color. Nonprofits can’t seem to attract young people. Or gay people. Blah blah blah. Whatevs.

But this study is a little different. Yes, the study focuses on ethnic and racial diversity in the nonprofit workplace, but it’s the first report I’ve seen that doesn’t focus on the fact that nonprofits are ruled by white people.

Instead, it examines the repercussions of what happens when organizations do nothing to change this reality.

Read the rest of this post here.