Monthly Archives: February 2011

PlaySpent.org and the Painful Reality of the Working Poor


Posted by ajlovesya

I came across PlaySpent.org yesterday morning and it has stayed with me. You start with $1,000 and no job. How long can you last before running out of money?

This game brought back a lot of painful memories I have from growing up, in particular: moving around a lot (homes and shelters), going to the food pantry/soup kitchen, and asking family and friends for support.  While it doesnt capture all of the nuances of making life work when going without–I wish it explored more how we use libraries, how we work with charities, how we rely on others– it drives home the point of how a series of unforseen obstacles can hurt us.

While reflecting on my experiences and the messages of the game, I walked away with the following realizations:

1. Day to day decisions that can make or break our livelihoods: If there is one thing that stands out in this game is how the decisions we make about food, transportation, housing, location, and even the jobs we take have long lasting consequences. Should you live close to work? Your housing will be more expensive, but you wont need as much gas to get to work. Should you buy fresh fruit? It’s better for you but costs more than refined carbs like white bread and pasta. Should you get health insurance? It will keep you covered from injury (which you are likely to suffer because of your job) but it will eat more than 25% of your income.

2. The strength of our support networks: While playing I had to ask for help frequently to make sure I had enough to cover my bills. But then something occurred to me: aren’t my peers likely to be struggling too? Plus the added stigma of asking for money, the unlikeliness of being able to pay that money back or give when asked, and the fear of dependency makes it hard to reach out.  It made think about the role of relationships in helping us move forward.

3. The role of charity: One thing that didn’t happen during this game was the option to ask for help from outside sources. While there is a mentality that asking for help is a sign of weakness, I wondered what role nonprofits fill and how people in need of help interact with these services on a regular bases. Are they turned away from shleters? Are they being offered help to apply for food stamps? Are they being guided in fighting an eviction? At the end of the game there are ways to get involved–should we have an option for nonprofits to begin harnessing their power to demand more support for the people they serve?

4. The need for a change in our national narrative when it comes to the working poor: The game starts with “Think you won’t need help?” and we are faced with many decisions that have a greater impact than we would expect. It’s not a matter of simply making bad choices; it’s also about realizing the measly choices we have in the first place.

So what do we need? We need to stop thinking that support services are only for *those kind of people* and that we are immune from needing help. We also need to connect our day to day work for social change with larger structural problems. Why is our work needed? What can we do to foster self sufficiency while challenging injustice?

We often waiver between demanding people “pull themselves up by their bootstraps” or pumping more money into programs. However this is a false dichotomy.  It ignores how the two approaches play off of each other and again fosters “us vs them” thinking.  It also ignores the role of relationships in access to resources and support.

Have you played the game?  What did you think?


4 Ways Young Nonprofit Professionals can Establish Good Mentoring Relationships


Posted by ajlovesya

Last week, Rosetta Thurman and I hosted our monthly twitter chat #ynpchat for young nonprofit professionals. The topic was Mentoring: What is it and how can young nonprofit professionals get it? We all know the importance of mentoring in your professional (and personal) growth. The challenge is defining, pursuing, and maintaining positive supportive mentoring relationships. During the conversation I took away some great points. However, it’s clear that each mentoring relationship is unique and structured around the needs of the people in the relationship.

Here are some first steps to get you started:

1. Expand your definition of what a mentor/mentoring looks like.

@hollyhight: used to think mentorship had to be formal agreement. expanding my view of mentors as anyone I can learn from
@DFooksman: My grad school advisor plus several former bosses/ExecDirectors. I also have peer mentors and eMentors
@byik: I see a mentor as someone that will wrestle w/important professional questions w/you and can be constructively critical of you
@lindsayinMPLS: Seek out programs/fellowships with emphasis on mentoring

A mentor can be hands on or a little more removed. You can be mentored face-to-face or have a wonderful e-mentorship. It can be individual or part of a group/fellowship. It really depends on you.

2. Know what you need from a mentor.

@officialjos: I have mentors for diff. areas of my life (i.e. work, np pursuits, loftier goals like writing a novel and even relationships
@bamamm: Each “mentor” provides something different at different times.
@AllisonnTweets: e-mentors-YES. offline mentors-NO. my offline mentors dont have experience in nonprofit; i met before my nonprofit career
@rosettathurman: mentors did many favors when just starting got me into important conferences, intro me to the “right” ppl
@tammiejones: Mentors have also been a valuable resource for me when I’ve felt “stuck” or uninspired in my work.

How your relationship is structured depends on what you need. Maybe you are just starting your career and need some support on thriving in your first nonprofit job. Maybe you want to start a business and specifically want guidance in in first steps or making a big move. Or maybe you dont have a specific need, but want someone who will just be there to support you.

3. Be proactive in finding and maintaing a mentorship!

@mySahana: Network, network, network! Ask friends, classmates, coworkers if they know someone in a field of expertise you need.
@RobynFehrman: Also join/contact professional membership org & see if they have a formal mentoring program. No? Start one!
@odguru: Best prac 4mentees:initiate conversations; debate don’t argue; apply learning & tell them how u did; give fdbk on what’s helpfu
@mysahana: Establish trust and boundaries. Regular check-in schedule helps
@kbleutz: Quarterly check-ins work well, informally. Or, I try to find opportunities to collaborate on a project if we can

While it is true mentorships can be organic, it doesnt hurt to ask someone to be a mentor and be active in maintaining that relationship. Actively search for mentors and when you find someone, don’t be afraid to ask questions and ask for mentorship. Keep in regular contact while being mindful of their time, share feedback on what is helpful, be open to learning.  I also stress the importance of finding a mentor who has time to actually mentor you.

4. Say thank you!

@dan_blakemore: I find it very interesting that so many of us have mentors who may not know that they play that role in our lives

This point by Dan stuck with me throughout the chat. How often do we thank people for their support? Whether it is formal or informal, thank people who have been helping you. I’m a fan of simple Thank You cards :)

Did you participate in the #ynpchat?  What do you have to share?  How do you define mentorship?

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Three nonprofit job websites that offer great resources for nonprofit job seekers and employees


Posted by ajlovesya

When it comes to searching for nonprofit jobs online, the top sites I hear about are idealist.org, Opportunity Knocks, and Common Good Careers.  But what many folks dont know is that these websites have a ton of resources that can help you better prepare for your job search, make you a more competitive candidate, and help you advance in your career once you are employed. So instead of jumping right to the “search” button, spend some time exploring other links on the site. Here are a few of my favorites:

idealist.org: If you scroll down to the bottom of the idealist.org homepage you’ll see two awesome links: Program and Content and Useful Links. Programs and Content is where idealist.org shares all of their blogs, books, and graduate fairs. Under Useful Links information is organized into “Info Centers” where you can find more specific information based on your interest. The Career Center is my favorite as you will find hands on exercises to help you find the right kind of organization and profession.

Opportunity Knocks: There are various information hubs on Opportunity Knocks under their Nonprofit Jobs Information Center. OK Insights has several blogs that help you define, pursue, develop your nonprofit career. Learn how you can use technology to advance your career or get past writers block and craft the best resume, cover letter, and other forms of every day written communication. Want to hear how job seekers are doing and learn from them? Visit OK Spotlight to hear how real job seekers are finding their dream jobs. And if you’re a young professional trying to find your place in the sector there is an entire section of information just for you.

Common Good Careers: Visit their Knowledge Center for a plethora of career planning and job search advice. Articles range from tips on how to master a job interview to how to move up in your current job. The articles are practical and hands-on, allowing you to implement new strategies immediately. I also enjoyed reading their Uncommon Talent Profiles of movers and shakers in the field for inspiration. And if you are looking for other websites with resources that can you help you develop your career, they have growing resource library of organizations, blogs, and publications.

Obviously, there is a lot of information on these sites which makes them both exciting and overwhelming. To make the best use of them figure out what aspect of the job search you are struggling with: is it concrete things like resume writing and interviewing? is it knowledge based challenges like awareness of the sector and your field? is it professional development issues like networking, managing up, or asking for a raise? Narrowing down your concerns will make the sites much easier to navigate.

Additionally, Opportunity Knocks and Common Good Careers are useful because they focus on employers as well as job seekers. Do you want to know about hiring trends, wages, or funding changes so you can better shape your job search? Opportunity Knocks and Common Good Careers share that information. In other words, you can get inside employers’ heads, if only for a few minutes :)

So make sure you bookmark these sites!

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