Last week in Reno, Nevada, +100 leaders from the worlds of Business, Government, and the Community Benefit sector convened at UNR’s beautiful new Student Union building, to ask and answer, “What will it take to make families in Northern Nevada financially stable?” I was blessed to be their facilitator. Blessed because it was a shining … Read more
Reading the paper every morning reminds me how much words matter. Express a thought with one word, and it can conjure a whole different image than another word that describes the same thing. An example: In my local market, I can buy “Organic” vegetables, or I can buy “conventionally grown” vegetables. Another word choice, another … Read more
Have you ever wondered what it takes to sustain an organization’s efforts?* Is it just money? Or is it something more fundamental? I’m thinking about this because we spent time at the Diaper Bank last week – our “grandchild.” There is such an extraordinary energy surrounding the work they are doing, and that feels so … Read more
Well I said in Monday’s Rock Out that I would explain why suddenly I am excited about the Phoenix Mars Mission. And yes, the reason has everything to do with Community Engagement. Let’s start by getting this confession right out in front: There is no less likely candidate for being blown-out-of-the-water engaged with space exploration … Read more
Having founded and retired from the world’s first two Diaper Banks, it is rare for us to have 3 wonderful Diaper Bank things happen, all in one weekend. But being “proud parents,” I must share! First, Friday night, our first-born – the Diaper Bank of Southern Arizona – held its annual fundraiser. And while I … Read more
I went on a rant on Charity Channel this morning. I tried to refrain, really I did – and I lasted almost a whole day. But eventually the devil on my shoulder made me cave. (For those who may have caught that rant, feel free to jump in here and tell me if I’m wrong. … Read more
Whenever the subject of youth and philanthropy arises, I feel like I am in a time warp, listening to Paul Lynde singing “Kids” in Bye Bye Birdie. “What’s the matter with kids today?” In polite conversation, of course, the question sounds more like this: “How do we engage young people in philanthropy?” I admit I … Read more
In last week’s post, I likened Community Engagement to growing my vegetable garden in the front yard of my house. Instead of showing the community only your organization’s well-manicured fait accompli, Community Engagement invites members of your community to become an integral part of the work itself, engaging their hearts, their minds, and their hands … Read more
My black Lab, Hallie, owned our back yard. She would dig. She would run deep grooves into the grass. Garden after garden fell to Hallie’s exploits. Finally, I dug up a plot next to the driveway. And I planted my vegetables in the front yard. That was twenty years ago – two houses ago, a … Read more