News Round Up-Kiva Opens Lending to US

Inc Magazine: Microloans for All?

Tech Crunch: Kiva Brings Microlending Home to U.S. Entrepreneurs in Need

ABC News: Kiva Brings Life Changing Loans to the US (profiles of entrepreneurs)

Change.org Social Entrepreneurship: Kiva Brings Loan Program to the US

Change.org Poverty: Microlending  Comes to the US

In general I recommend people stay away from comments, but this time the discussions happening are insightful.  Lenders are voicing their excitement/concerns to Kiva’s new initiative and I am learning  alot about Kiva, its appeal, and its goals.

A recurring argument I’ve seen is that giving abroad makes more sense because they need it more.  But couldnt a similar argument be made about all social issues?  Why give to schools here when schools in Ghana need help?  Why give money to the homeless when there are people in Nepal without homes?  It all comes back to an unfortunate hierarchy of who is more deserving, which makes me wonder about our motivations for giving in the first place. Are we giving because we truly believe in the business being presented or because we feel bad for the person asking?

In fact what has struck me is the romanticization of people in developing nations and the demonization of Americans.   Personally, I am more inclined to give domestically than internationally because I feel closer to the cause and the entrepreneur. At the same time, Kiva’s approach fosters intimacy and a wonderful opportunity for learning.  Are entrepreneurs across the globe facing similar challenges?  Will we see investors from other countries investing here?

What do you think of Kiva’s new initiative?


A Powerful Lesson from the Do Something Awards

Given the loud applause, numerous celebrities, and amazing music, you would have thought you were at an all star rock concert if you were in the Apollo Theatre in Harlem last Thursday. Instead you would’ve been at the annual Do Something Awards Ceremony, honoring five young people who are bringing about social change.

I had the honor of attending the event and was blown away by bold actions of the five activists awarded that evening. Beginning with an introductory poem by Divine Bradley of Team Revolution—a youth-led nonprofit he started at age 17 to provide his peers with a creative outlet in his Brooklyn neighborhood—the change makers were each given $10,000 with one winner, Maggie Doyne who started an orphanage in Nepal at age 18, winning $100,000 for her organization.

There was so much to celebrate but also so much to learn. Being an idealist is not easy; it can be grueling even isolating work. But these young people proved that not only is it necessary to work towards change, but it can also be rewarding.

I took away something else from this event: that celebrating people who do good work is one of the best ways to encourage others to do good work as well. You can’t help but be inspired and pushed to make the world a better place when you realize that change is possible.

Sparks went off and emotions ran high all in the name of social change. Many of us were moved to tears by the story of Darius Weems, 19, who is spending his time finding a cure for a disease that will eventually kill him, or Marvelyn Brown, 25, who risked losing her friends and family because she refused to be silent about being HIV positive and is on a nationwide tour to help other young people get tested for HIV. We were encouraged to engage and support the young people around us by the work of David Burnstein, 20, who is pushing members of his generation to be more involved in politics and Eric Glustrom, 24, who teaches young people in Uganda to be socially responsible leaders.

So let’s talk about and celebrate the work we do to make the world a better place. Doing so connects us with others , encourages people to get involved, and demands that we take note of all changemakers of different backgrounds. And besides, there is nothing wrong with a little praise.

Check out additional coverage of the event:

Black Enterprise: Young Activist Honored at Apollo Theatre

Tonic: Do Something Awards Stars Shine in 2009

VH1: Do Something Award Winners

Do Something Awards Live


YNPN NYC is Looking for Board Members

20071031_ynpnnyc_logo_2With more than 2,000 members, the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of New York City (YNPN-NYC) 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.

Applicants should be currently engaged as a professional or volunteer in the not for profit sector, and should display:

  • Commitment to YNPN-NYC’s mission of strengthening the next generation of nonprofit leaders by making nonprofit careers more viable for young people.
  • Leadership skills – particularly in nonprofit management and governance, communications development, membership services, and organizational growth.
  • Willingness to act as an ambassador for YNPN-NYC in the nonprofit community and the ability to meet the responsibilities outlined below.

YNPN-NYC is committed to engaging diverse people and perspectives in leadership positions at every level. To apply for one of the open Board positions, please review the information and application process outlined below.

For more information about YNPN-NYC, please visit our website at www.ynpnnyc.org. If you have questions about YNPN-NYC or the application process, please email membership@ynpnyc.org.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Best,

YNPN-NYC Advisory Board

________________________________________________________________________

YNPN-NYC Advisory Board Seeks New Members

1) Basic Duties

2) Open Board Positions

3) Application Process

1)      Basic Duties

Board members are expected to attend all monthly Board meetings. In order to understand the ongoing work of the organization, Board members are also required to serve on at least one committee of the YNPN-NYC Advisory Board. Board members will commit to serving from July 2009-July 2011.

Board members receive no financial compensation for their service, and must:

  • Demonstrate an enthusiastic commitment to YNPN-NYC and all that it represents, motivation to grow and learn with the organization, and potential for future leadership.
  • Participate in monthly Board meetings per month (generally 2 hours each)
  • Commit to a minimum of 20 hours per month of Advisory Board and committee work.
  • Participate in group decision-making and policy-setting discussions.
  • Subscribe to the highest ethical standards.

2) Open Board Positions

There are currently several open board positions on the YNPN-NYC Advisory Board.

In your cover letter, please describe how you would meet the qualifications and responsibilities of the position you are most interested in.

Membership Chair and Vice-Chair:

The Membership Chair and Vice-Chair manage all relations with our members, addressing concerns and serving as a liaison between the board and the general body.  The Membership Committee is responsible for managing the recruitment of new members and retention of existing members.  Specifically, the Membership Committee organizes general body meetings, serves as the first point of contact for volunteers, and works with the Executive Board in the search and selection process for new board chairs.

Internal Communications Vice-Chair:

The role of the Internal Communications Vice-Chair is to assist the Chair in creating and disseminating the monthly newsletter to YNPN-NYC members and in building and maintaining the YNPN-NYC blog.  Responsibilities include: recruiting and managing volunteer writers (as needed), conducting interviews and research for articles, and writing articles.

External Communications Vice-Chair:

The Communications Committee is responsible for organizing YNPN-NYC’s annual communications calendar. The External Communications Vice-Chair is primarily responsible for supporting the External Communications Chair in all efforts to increase awareness of YNPN’s activities, expertise, and objectives through the media, outreach, and internally produced materials.

Technology Vice-Chair:

The Technology Vice-Chair supports the Technology Chair in serving the information technology needs of YNPN NYC. S/he helps to maintain the organization’s website and listserv, and supports all efforts of the organization to connect the board with members and facilitate communication between members for all purposes as expressed in the mission statement of YNPN.  Knowledge of iModules is a plus.

3) Application Process

Email a resume and a brief cover letter to membership@ynpnnyc.org by June 19th with the subject line “[Position Title] YNPN-NYC Board Application [First Name] [Last Name].” The letter should explain your interest in and vision for YNPN-NYC, and how you would meet the qualifications and responsibilities of one of the open Board positions outlined above.

Applications and any inquiries should be sent to membership@ynpnnyc.org.


Building the Support System You Need to Thrive in the Non-Profit Sector

I wrote this piece for Rosetta Thurman’s advice blog over at Jobs for Change, a new initiative by change.org to get more people interested in careers in social change. You can ask the team of career advisors questions, subscribe to their blogs, and look for jobs. It is an amazing project and I encourage you to read and participate!

If you are new to this blog, welcome!  Why not grab the feed or subscribe via email and stay a while.  Take a look at the Table of Contents to get a sense of what I blog about.

As a young non-profit professional I have found it helpful to develop a strong support system of like-minded young people to share my aspirations, frustrations, and to grow with. However, reaching out is not always easy, especially if you are living in a new city. The resources and advice below can help you reach out so you can connect with your peers and develop your own support system.

Harness social media: Many of us use websites like Facebook and Myspace to keep in touch with friends. However there are other websites and social media that allow you to both connect with people you know and expand your network.

  • Start a blog: Through blogging you can share your experiences while connecting with others in the blogosphere. Brazen Careerist syndicates over 300 bloggers under the age of 30 who live around the world and have meetups. You can also meet fellow bloggers through groups like ChangeBloggers/ChangeMakers.
  • Go to a Meetup: Meetup.com is a great place to look for clubs that meet regularly around a certain issue. Just put in your zip code and your interest and a list of great opportunities to meet others pops up. Or, if you don’t see one that has what you are looking for, start your own!
  • Get LinkedIn: LinkedIn.com is a professional networking site that allows you to connect with people in your field, join groups, and ask/answer career related questions. You can bring your peers offline by inviting people out or going to events posted in groups.

Tap into your alumni network: Alumni chapters are a great way to meet people. Not only will you have something in common but also you will be able to stay connected with your alma mater. It is also a great way to highlight public service careers for current students. Contact the alumni office of your college to see if there is an alumni chapter near you or if they would be willing to one.

Join a young professionals group: Many nonprofits have young professionals groups that allow young professionals with a variety of interests, talents, and backgrounds to come together and work for a great cause. You can also look for a Young Nonprofit Professionals Network chapter in your city. Each chapter is different, however they all provide workshops, happy hours, and a list-serv that provides general information about events/programs in the city that are of interest to young nonprofit professionals.


Lessons on Leadership from Joel Klein

Last week at my NYU fellowship meeting, I had the opportunity to meet Joel Klein, the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education the largest public school system in the country.  Since becoming chancellor in 2002 he has been nothing short of controversial, drawing both praise and criticism for his emphasis on teacher and school accountability and support of mayoral control of schools.

Unsurprisingly, he viewed being controversial as a badge of honor.   While sharing his successes and failures he told us some qualities that make a great leader:

  • Know yourself:  Good leaders have great self awareness. They know their strengths, their weaknesses, and their desires.   You can’t lead unless you know who you are.
  • Focus on others:  You can’t lead people unless you know what they need.
  • Risk failure:  If you are interested in maintaining the status quo, you are not a leader, you are a manager.  Leaders see new opportunities and move forward with new approaches, which means they are not afraid to fail.
  • Don’t accept the status quo:  Anytime you try to do something new or different, people will have problems with it.  But if you aren’t controversial, it means you aren’t doing enough.
  • Pick your friends carefully:   This does not mean pick people who will agree with everything you say.  It means pick people who value you and your contributions and are willing to engage you and challenge you when necessary.

One thing I am learning from this fellowship is that people have pretty different approaches to leadership.  Klein, for example, emphasized taking bold decisive moves when it comes to bringing about change, while Schall (Dean of Wagner) discussed collaboration and passion.  Of course you don’t take bold actions on things you aren’t passionate about no one operates in a vacuum, but what’s clear is that different attitudes and approaches affect our leadership styles and positions.  I’ve found a willingness to get advice and mentorship have been crucial for my leadership development.  There is so much I dont know and need to know so reaching out and building connections has been incredibly healpful.

What attitudes or approaches have been successful in developing your leadership?