13 minute read
Nonprofit Partner Fair: Making Community Connections
by Allison Gallaspy
On August 25, the Community Council of Junior League of New Orleans (JLNO) hosted its annual Nonprofit Partner Fair, which was conducted virtually this year. The fair was an opportunity for JLNO and local nonprofit organizations to explore potential new community partnerships. Formal JLNO support for partners comes in several forms, including financial, volunteer and other resources and guidance.
“Any new potential partners are good,” says Rachel Stickney, 2020-2021 Community Council Director. Rachel says attracting new community partners helps JLNO diversify its efforts geographically, including both the populations we serve and volunteer opportunities for League members.
Rachel highlights how a wide variety of volunteer opportunities will be especially important this year in light of COVID-19. “We want to provide JLNO members with volunteer opportunities that are comfortable for them, whether that’s virtual, contactless or present but socially distant,” she said. The fair is one way JLNO can identify organizations that fit into the mission and provide non-traditional ways to channel member volunteer efforts.
In addition to bringing in unaffiliated organizations that may qualify for partnerships, the Nonprofit Partner Fair aims to deepen the relationship with the League’s existing partners. Current community partners who participated in the fair learned more about extending their involvement within the League. If an existing partner organization receives volunteer support, they might learn more about other potential benefits of their partnership, like qualifying for grants from the Community Assistance Fund and participating in the Diaper Bank and period supplies initiatives. Additionally, they may be able to fill vacant positions on their executive board with trained board members through JLNO’s award-winning Get On Board program.
Participating in the fair is the first step nonprofit organizations can take to develop a partnership with JLNO and learn about the multi-step selection process that the League uses to evaluate their proposals and applications. JLNO considers community partnerships key to the League’s impact in the community. The Nonprofit Partner Fair is pivotal to identifying new opportunities to advance the wellbeing of women and children in New Orleans. •
Women Leading Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for a Greater New Orleans
Victoria Adams Phipps
How did you get to where you are today? What decisions, obstacles or milestones have defined your success? My contributions to my community have defined my career in economic development. I began my career at The Idea Village, a small nonprofit that grew to play a significant role in the economic recovery of New Orleans post-Hurricane Katrina. Within that role, I became deeply passionate about equitable economic growth, specifically focusing my efforts on building innovative programs that would infuse our community with critical resources. The most notable of these was New Orleans Entrepreneur Week, an annual event that has infused millions of dollars into our local economy and its startup ventures. I’ve taken those priorities into my current role at the New Orleans Business Alliance (NOLABA), where I drive strategies to create economic growth for the businesses and residents of New Orleans. Photo provided by Victoria Adams Phipps A defining career accomplishment has been my most recent effort at NOLABA. As the effects of COVID-19 took hold within our economy, I launched the Gig Economy Relief Fund, securing $1 million in funding to provide more than 1,200 local gig workers with relief grants, including musicians, rideshare drivers, and local artists. I’m deeply proud of the tangible impact I’ve been able to create over the past decade.
How do you champion diversity, equity and inclusion in your daily life—personally and/or professionally? Why are these important values for our community?
As a Black woman, I hold diversity, equity and inclusion as deep values for my life, both professionally and personally. On a personal level, I am a vocal advocate for diversity, inclusion, and equitable practices within the spaces I occupy, whether that’s within the League, the various boards I sit on, or simply with friends and family. In addition, my husband and I are extremely intentional about where we spend money, ensuring that the businesses we frequent (and their ownership) align with our values. On a professional level, I’m the executive sponsor of our internal DEI committee. Within that group, we are constantly pushing ourselves and our partners to operate with a stronger eye towards equitable practices and outcomes, both internally and externally.
These values are critically important as we seek to address and dismantle historic inequities, such as the gender wage gap and systemic racism. We are collectively more prosperous when we equitably include, embrace, and elevate our fellow community members, whether that’s at work or in our everyday lives. Most importantly, we must remember that we all have power and influence we can leverage to bring about change.
How has the League influenced you personally and/or professionally? How has JLNO advanced DEI priorities and where do you hope to see this work evolve?
My time within the League has brought about rich friendships and has allowed me to build strong relationships with incredible women across the community. In my six years of membership, I’ve felt encouraged by the increased diversity of our members; however, there is much work that we, as a League, can continue to do to ensure that our membership is reflective of our community and that those members are embraced and included. As we seek to “develop the potential of women,” we must be clear-eyed about the challenges that many women and many of our members face, both in and outside of the League. We must be willing to face our own hard truths if we truly want to emerge as a stronger, more equitable and diverse League.
Ty Rhea Salvant
Founder and Executive Director, Young Scholars NOLA, NOLA Homeschoolers
How did you get to where you are today? What decisions, obstacles or milestones have defined your success?
Faith, family and friends all contribute to my success. One of my tenants is to enthusiastically say "yes" when called to serve. Without a deep bench of supportive people, I would not be able to accomplish as much as I do. My husband Derrick assists me wherever, whenever and with whatever, from manual labor or computer assistance to being my photographer or second set of hands. Likewise, my friends support my crazy ideas, work around my chaotic schedule and continuously help me to put my best foot forward. Additionally, I almost feel like my mom works harder now than she did when I was a child. Her "yes" enables me to say "yes" to so many. I am eternally grateful for those God has put in my life.
Deciding to leave my career behind almost two decades ago to be a stay-at-home mom turned homeschooler was a leap of faith that produced more fruit than I ever could have imagined. Living on one income isn’t always easy, but the opportunity to serve, educate and inspire others gets me through the challenging days.
How do you champion diversity, equity and inclusion in your daily life—personally and/or professionally? Why are these important values for our community? Photo provided by Ty Salvant I amplify diversity, equity and inclusion across multiple platforms. As a homeschool parent and leader, I offer an alternative image to the face of traditional homeschoolers, enabling others to feel more comfortable with that decision. I created a homeschool program to enable families from various backgrounds, abilities, classes and faiths to provide a high-quality education to their children. In order to better educate my children and inner circle, I seek diverse and inclusive field trips, resources, teachers, and presenters. For the past 20 years, (my husband) Derrick and I have been able to share our lives, both marital successes and failures, with engaged couples through Engaged Encounter. As a blogger for NOLA Catholic Parenting, I appreciate a platform to share how I incorporate my faith and social justice issues in my role as a parent. Likewise, participating in the Racial Harmony Committee allows me to contribute to helping the Church live out its commitment to assist all parishes, schools, administrative offices, and individual Catholics of the Archdiocese of New Orleans in faithfully learning and implementing ways to promote racial harmony so as to build a more loving, accepting and respectful community.
Exposure matters. I believe the more connected we are, the easier it will be to change hearts and to eventually make a more just and equitable society. Volunteering offers many opportunities to improve our community while connecting with others from different walks of life. Some of my closest relationships began through a mutual desire to positively impact our community.
How has the League influenced you personally and/or professionally? How has JLNO advanced DEI priorities and where do you hope to see this work evolve?
The League provided opportunities for personal and professional development, and it introduced me to a diverse group of women with a desire to improve our city. When I first joined the League, it reminded me of many of the schools I attended where I could count the number of Black people in the room with ease. Over the past few years, the League has become a much more diverse organization. Beyond creating a committee to examine policies, procedures and culture to address needed change and challenging members to do the hard work required to embrace a more inclusive population, the League continues to have a positive impact on our community.
I envision a time when membership is more reflective of our community, when young girls from every part of the city realize that the Junior League of New Orleans that served her today will embrace her as a member tomorrow. Finally, I look forward to a day when we are so interconnected and intertwined that we don’t have to think about being inclusive, that it will come as naturally as changing a diaper.
Tomoro Letrice Wilson
Paralegal, BPA
How did you get to where you are today? What decisions, obstacles or milestones have defined your success?
I've learned that life experiences help you to fully understand how strong you actually are. I’ve always been a goal-oriented individual, but as we know, life sometimes throws you a curve ball, and you have to have the willingness to adapt. While being a newly divorced, single mother, I returned back to school to obtain an additional degree. This journey was completed with its share of ups and down. I worked a full-time job, cared for a growing child, and had leadership positions both at the university and within the community. This was only possible through my village of strong individuals and a faith. My son is now a college graduate and I am working in a career that is fulfilling. I am able to not only serve the community while on the job, but also through service with several nonprofits in New Orleans.
How do you champion diversity, equity and inclusion in your daily life—personally and/or professionally? Why are these important values for our community? I’ve always had a diverse circle of friends and I have never limited my interactions or relationships. At times, I have even been the “lone” person of color. My parents have worked doing missionary work abroad and community service within the communities we’ve lived. Photo provided by Tomoro Wilson This exposure to different cultures and the willingness to serve has been engrained inside of me since I was a young child. So, it has been second nature to want everyone to feel as if they are a part and that their voice is valid and should be heard.
To be selfless, courageous and willing to serve others are important values for our community. Oftentimes, we don’t think of how there are individuals, who because of a lack of exposure or knowledge, honestly do not know what opportunities exist. I recall working as a coordinator for an internship program. Although the participants were excited about the chance to obtain a job, a high percentage lacked the resume writing and interview skills. This showed me that it is important for us as a community to help and not just simply dismiss those who just through guidance can be even better at the goals they are trying to accomplish. Selflessness compels others to dig and realize that there is indeed a place where everyone fits and can thrive in a community. Courageousness is being willing to stand up when you see injustices and to be a voice even when it goes against the grain. Service is important because it provides not only a sense of fulfillment, but also helps those who sometimes cannot fully help themselves.
In the big scheme of things, we all have a purpose that we are destined to fulfill. This purpose not only benefits us individually, but also collaboratively as a part of the human race.
How has the League influenced you personally and/or professionally? How has JLNO advanced DEI priorities and where do you hope to see this work evolve?
Throughout my experience in the League, I have been able to develop both personally and professionally. This past year, I was tasked with jumping in to moderate a very well-attended forum. I must admit I was nervous. After it was all said and done, I enjoyed it and received great feedback. Unknowingly, overcoming the anxiety of this prepared me for a presentation that I gave to the entire agency that I work for. I was able to gain even more confidence through that experience.
When I initially joined the League, I wondered how I would fit in. If I am being totally honest, I did not see many people that looked like me. I wondered if there would be a place for me. I’ve seen an evolution of the willingness to have members and those we serve to feel included. One of the first steps I witnessed the League taking was the Ad Hoc Committee of Diversity and Inclusion. Brandy Cunningham and I were asked to chair this new committee. The task was to find out how and where JLNO could consciously take steps to become more diverse and inclusive. It was amazing to see ideas we’d come up with actually take shape and be implemented. I believe that the journey to think out of the box and continue to dispel unconscious bias is a continual process. We can only accomplish this by selflessness and a willingness to educate and make an effort to evolve to the needs of our ever-changing world. We have to look at each person beyond their religion, race or socioeconomic status. Sometimes, that includes changing what we have considered the norm and adapting to what is actually needed at that time.
