Dear Amy,

As a newer member to the HandsOn Board, I continue to be impressed with the commitment HandsOn has to our community. Most recently, HandsOn hosted the annual Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards of Forsyth County. This year, 16 volunteers were recognized for their outstanding service throughout Forsyth County. With nearly 300 people in attendance, this event required months of planning and preparation from the HandOn team and volunteers. As I observed the work that was poured into this event, I realized it takes both time and donations to make this a success. Along with the people hours, this event would not be possible without the support of community sponsors. I would like to give a big thank you to the co-presenters, United Way of Forsyth County and Salem College, as well as our Lead Sponsors, Blanco Tackabery and Novant Health. I would also like to recognize all of those who provided table sponsorship and personal donations. Without you this event would not be possible!



As we look forward into 2024, I would encourage readers to take advantage of the additional programming offered by HandsOn. There are two specific programs I would like to highlight. The Volunteer Engagement Training Program (VETP) and the Women’s Emerging Leaders Program (WEL). VETP will be offered June 17, 18 and 21st and is ideal for those who recruit, coordinate, and manage volunteers. WEL will be kicking off August 28 and 29th. If you represent an organization whose average budget is under $750,000, you can attend either program for just $10! You can learn more about both of these programs later on in this newsletter.

In closing, I personally want to say thank you to all the 2024 nominees and winners of the Forsyth County Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards. Thank you for your commitment and dedication to your work and those you serve. Our communities are a better place because of volunteers like you!

Yours in service,

Sarah

Sarah Carter

HandsOn NWNC Board Treasurer

Branch Manager III, Vice President at The Fidelity Bank

Earlier this week, alongside our co-presenters Salem College and United Way of Forsyth County, we were excited to welcome nearly 300 community members to our Forsyth County Volunteer Service Awards breakfast. Assisted by the services of our emcee, Michelle Kennedy, we honored 16 winners from nearly 30 outstanding nominees. Attendees included nonprofit, business, and community leaders along with the volunteers' friends and family members.

Each nominee was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation from the state of NC and many were surprised by also receiving the President's Volunteer Service Award. Four of our nominees qualified to receive the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, requiring at least 4,000 hours of volunteer service! We'll be reaching out to our winners to share photos from the event in the coming days.

If you are interested in nominating a volunteer for next year's awards, the nomination form is typically available in November--so mark your calendars!

Read about all our amazing Forsyth County

Governor's Volunteer Service Award Winners!

Thursday, May 16, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Location: Intergenerational Center for Arts and Wellness, 114 W. 30th St., Room 209 (see map)

What story do you have to tell about your nonprofit? And to whom should you tell it? Our second-to-last Nonprofit Essentials class in the 2023-2024 year focuses on the important role that nonprofits play in influencing public policy. After all, who are the experts in your field? That's right--you and the clients and issues you work with every day! Learn how to communicate the power of your story to implement successful advocacy strategies that can advance your mission. You'll also discover ways to measure the success of your advocacy, and how to address related legal, ethical and tax issues. 

The class is taught by Barbara Lentz, an innovative advisor, teacher, and attorney who has been active in the nonprofit and philanthropy sector her entire career.  Barbara brings real life experiences and scenarios to her work, advising nonprofits to think creatively and work collaboratively to solve problems.  She teaches classes in nonprofits, entrepreneurship, art law, historic preservation, contracts, and communications, and earned both the Jurist Excellence in Teaching and Innovative Teaching Awards while teaching at Wake Forest University's law school. Barbara serves on nonprofit and social enterprise boards, including the National Advisory Council of the Reynolda House Museum of American Art, and co-founded Forsyth Backpack Program, which partners with public schools and local nonprofits to provide supplemental food to food insecure children in the community.  She is a graduate of Duke University and the University of Michigan Law School. 

Nonprofit Essentials is a series of ten courses designed to strengthen the knowledge and skills of nonprofit board members, staff, and volunteers or those pursuing careers in the nonprofit sector. Offered in partnership with Wake Forest University’s Office of Civic and Community Engagement, Nonprofit Essentials classes cover a range of topics essential to the governance, management, and operation of nonprofits and are taught primarily by WFU faculty, staff, or alums. Classes are held for a half-day once a month from September to June of the following year. You can sign up for the entire series or register for individual classes at any time. 

Cost: $50 for Supporting Partners, $60 for all others.

Lunch is not included but it can be ordered individually in advance and picked up at the Generations Cafe, located inside the building.

Thursday, June 6, 9:00 am to Noon

Location: Intergenerational Center for Arts and Wellness, 114 W. 30th St., Room 602 (see map)

Join one of our most seasoned and beloved trainers in this session designed for board members who are in leadership positions or who are moving towards leadership roles as officers or committee chairs. Topics include a review of board officer roles and responsibilities, committee chair accountability, attributes of effective board and committee leaders, board policies, executive committee structure and responsibilities, key benchmarks for effective boards, a self-assessment leadership instrument, planning processes and tools, leading and conducting effective meetings, group communications, appraising board and committee effectiveness, and other topics of interest as identified by workshop participants. For best results, we encourage you to bring a fellow board member with you.

Karl Yena is a former HandsOn NWNC board member who retired from RJR Nabisco, Inc. as Director of Worldwide Organization Development & Training. He served over 20 years as a senior level manager providing consulting services to RJR corporate and operating company management on a national and international basis in the areas of strategic and operational planning, organizational analysis, staffing structure, training and leadership development. He also served as Special Assistant to the Chairman and CEO. Now in his "second act," Karl works annually with more than 100 nonprofits in North Carolina. He provides on-going mentoring/coaching to several current Executive Directors and assistance to municipalities, churches, civic organizations/associations, and non-profits in the areas of strategic planning, board development & assessment, staff development training, coaching, business planning, organization analysis & structure, executive search processes, potential merger discussions, mediation/facilitation, and human resources policies. He currently Chairs one board and serves on several others; over the past 30 years, he has served on over 200 nonprofit boards.

Cost: $50 for Supporting Partners, $60 for all others

THREE FULL DAYS:

Monday, June 17, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Tuesday, June 18, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Friday, June 21, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Location: Intergenerational Center for Arts and Wellness, 114 W. 30th St., Room 209 (see map)

Are you struggling to get your volunteer program up and running, either for the first time or since COVID? If you are, you are not alone! We're excited to once again offer our Volunteer Engagement Training Program in person, infused with knowledge about how volunteer engagement has changed over the past few years. Developed by Points of Light and its Global Affiliate Network (including us), this engaging, highly interactive curriculum provides a comprehensive understanding of all the moving parts of a successful volunteer program in today's climate. This year, we'll be presenting the series for three full days over the course of a single week (Monday, Tuesday, and Friday,) allowing participants time during the week to reflect on their learning with the rest of their team. Anyone who has responsibility for recruiting, coordinating, or managing volunteers will benefit from the series, which is based on the latest research and best practices in the industry.

Modules 1 & 2, Monday, June 17

Establishing the Framework

Planning for Volunteer Engagement

Modules 3 & 4, Tuesday, June 18

Opportunities and Outreach 

Intake and Onboarding 

Modules 5 & 6, Friday, June 21

Supervision and Support

Evaluation

For more details about each session, please visit our website. Each module is co-facilitated by Dr. Sharee Fowler, Assistant Professor and Director of the Nonprofit Management and Community Leadership Program at Salem College, her alma mater, and Amy Lytle, Executive Director of HandsOn NWNC. They have each spent more than two decades in professional volunteer and civic engagement roles throughout the Triad.

Thanks to an ARPA grant from Forsyth County, the cost is just $10 for staff of small and medium-sized nonprofits (budgets under $750,000) as well as those that might have taken an earlier version of this series and would like a refresher. Classes can also be used for professional development credits for CVA recertification as well as NCAVA.

COST: $10 for ARPA-eligible nonprofits and/or VETP/VMTS alums; $225 for Supporting Partners; $275 for all others. Lunch is *not* provided, but can be ordered individually in advance and picked up at the Generations Cafe, located within the building.

Thursday, June 20, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Location: Intergenerational Center for Arts and Wellness, 114 W. 30th St., Room 209 (see map)

Our last Nonprofit Essentials class for the 2023-2024 season focuses on a much in-demand topic--grant writing! This practical session is designed for beginning grant writers seeking to develop grant research and proposal writing skills. Participants will learn how to:

·       assess the "grant readiness" of your organization 

·       research funding sources

·       become familiar with grants terminology

·       write a successful grant by learning the common elements of a proposal

·       prepare to manage a grant

Susan Brittain was born in Washington, DC, and grew up in Winston-Salem. She graduated from UNCG with a Bachelor’s degree in English, and has a Master’s degree in Education/Counseling from Wake Forest University. She has done grant work for the past 25+ years for both nonprofits and for-profits in the areas of research, writing, reviewing, editing, reporting, and managing. She currently serves as the Director of Grants and Special Projects for the Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County.

Nonprofit Essentials is a monthly series of 10 classes designed to provide the "essentials" needed by nonprofit staff, board members, and volunteer leaders to be successful in the sector. Offered in partnership with Wake Forest University's Office of Civic and Community Engagement for more than a decade, the classes are taught primarily by Wake Forest University staff, faculty, and alums. Classes are held for a half-day once a month from September to June of the following year. You can sign up for the entire series or register for just individual classes at any time.

Cost: $50 for Supporting Partners, $60 for all others

Lunch is not included but it can be ordered individually in advance and picked up at the Generations Cafe, located inside the building.

Thursday, June 27, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Location: Intergenerational Center for Arts and Wellness, 114 W. 30th St., Room 209 (see map)

Because this topic is so popular--and because we know that people in our network have varying levels of experience--we're pleased to offer two different grant writing sessions. This advanced workshop is designed for more seasoned professionals who seek to increase their effectiveness. The workshop will include: Request for Proposal Analysis, Use of Statistics, Collaboration, Identification of Support Documentation Proposal Analysis and Sharpening Your Grant Writing Skills. Participants will have an opportunity to review and critique well-written proposals and seek guidance regarding their specific grant writing challenges. This session features small group work.

The Advanced class will be taught by Ruth Peebles, President of The INS Group. Ms. Peebles offers over 30 years of hands‐on experience in nonprofit management, project management, fundraising and organizational development. The INS Group was founded in 1999 with the mission of helping federal, state, and local government agencies, nonprofits, and faith-based institutions use innovative solutions to build their capacity and sustain their programs and services. Ms. Peebles is an instructor for the Duke University Certificate Program in Nonprofit Management and served as an adjunct instructor for the School of Public and International Affairs Master of Public Administration Program at North Carolina State University. She currently serves on the Wake County Affiliate Board of the North Carolina Community Foundation and Student U Board of Directors. She is a founding member of the Next Generation of African American Philanthropists giving circle. 

Nonprofit Essentials is a monthly series of 10 classes designed to provide the "essentials" needed by nonprofit staff, board members, and volunteer leaders to be successful in the sector. Offered in partnership with Wake Forest University's Office of Civic and Community Engagement for more than a decade, the classes are taught primarily by Wake Forest University staff, faculty, and alums. Classes are held for a half-day once a month from September to June of the following year. You can sign up for the entire series or register for individual classes at any time.

Cost: $50 for Supporting Partners, $60 for all others

Lunch is not included but it can be ordered individually in advance and picked up at the Generations Cafe, located inside the building.

Part 1: Leadership Essentials for Women

Wednesday and Thursday, August 28 and 29th, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm



Location: Senior Services, 2895 Shorefair Dr NW, Weinberg Room (see map)

We're excited to announce that applications are now open for our 2024-2025 Women's Emerging Leaders (WEL) program! We launched WEL over a decade ago to address gender, racial, and wage equity issues within the nonprofit sector by preparing, strengthening, and supporting women and non-binary folx for future leadership roles. Since then, more than 150 women, the majority of whom have been women of color, have benefitted from this transformational program! Watch the video below to hear from a current Executive Director who participated in the program prior to taking on her current leadership role.

WEL is a ten-month program consisting of two components: an intensive, two-day Leadership Essentials for Women workshop, scheduled in-person for August 28th and 29th, and enrollment in Nonprofit Essentials, a monthly series of half-day skill-building classes jointly sponsored by HandsOn NWNC and Wake Forest University’s Office of Civic and Community Engagement that takes place from September through June.

Applicants must be mid-level female or non-binary staff (managers, program directors, program coordinators, and other professionals) located in and serving Forsyth, Davie, Davidson, Stokes, Surry, Yadkin, and Iredell Counties, who are committed to public service and interested in gaining leadership skills to enhance their ability to pursue leadership positions within their organizations or the nonprofit sector. The program is also open to Executive Directors of new or emerging nonprofit organizations who have little experience in their role as an Executive Director.

Again this year, WEL is being funded by a Forsyth County ARPA grant and is being subsidized for staff, Executive Directors, or board members of small and medium-sized nonprofits (budgets of $750,00 or less averaged over three years) that serve a majority of vulnerable, low-income, and marginalized Forsyth County populations disproportionally impacted by Covid. Please visit our website for more details and application instructions.

Cost: Just $10 FOR THE ENTIRE PROGRAM for eligible applicants! YES, YOU READ THAT RIGHT!

At Jasper & Fern, they specialize in helping mission-driven small businesses and nonprofits elevate their online presence through intentional photography and videography, connecting them with the people who need their expertise the most. Their tailored approach is designed to highlight the heart, message, and mission of each organization they work with.

Based in Winston-Salem, their hearts are set on supporting our local small business and non-profit community. With a focus on building authentic connections, they've helped clients elevate their web presence with marketing-centered photographs and authority videos, compelling social media content, and amplified their impact through strategic photography at events. Jasper and Fern has provided professional headshots to the participants in HandsOn's Women's Emerging Leaders program for many years and was the official photographer of the 2024 Governor's Volunteer Service Awards breakfast.

In partnership with marketing and website specialists, The Girlboss Agency, they are currently offering a limited number of Luxury Content Days. Tailored for small businesses, and newer organizations and nonprofits with up to five members, this group experience includes expert assessments of your online presence, brand presence and a laser-focused plan to level up your marketing content.

WXII's Lanie Pope Hosts Series Highlighting the Intergenerational Center for Arts and Wellness!

Starting last week on Wednesday, May 1st, WXII's "Go Lanie" feature will broadcast four segments each Wednesday throughout May featuring different partners and activities of the Intergenerational Center for Arts and Wellness. HandsOn is excited to be part of this collaboration, and our own Casey Capstick was interviewed for one of the segments. Be on the lookout during the next few Wednesday broadcasts for more details! You can view the first segment on WXII's website.

Sign On to Extend Child Care Compensation Grants!

As a member of our local Asset-Building Coalition, we've become aware of the impact that ending of these important federal subsidies in June will have on our local community. Since 2021, these grants have provided higher wages and bonuses to more than 40,000 North Carolina early educators. Without support from the NC General Assembly this session, the vast majority of child care teachers will receive a pay cut, and many may leave the profession as a result. According to a recent survey, 30% of child care programs say they expect to close when the relief funding ends in June, which will impact more than 91,000 young children and families, including those that work in or are served by our local nonprofit sector. You can learn more about the impending crisis here and please consider signing onto a letter of support to extend the grants here.

Pandemic Recovery Focus Groups Reveal Lessons Learned for the Next Crisis

Earlier this year, Amy from HandsOn was invited to take part in a regional focus group hosted by the NC Pandemic Recovery Office. More than 500 people across the state voiced interest in joining a focus group. From this pool, NCPRO and ncIMPACT at the UNC School of Government selected over 100 participants consisting of local government, business, and civic leaders for 16 regionally organized discussions, in person or virtually, through February and March of 2024. The goal was to identify areas of highest concern and help guide policymakers on next steps in North Carolina’s recovery.

Now, the results of those focus groups are available. The new report includes regional feedback on the effectiveness of relief and recovery programs, remaining challenges or concerns, and recommendations for continuing to build more resilient communities. Read about common themes and top concerns from the sixteen regional summaries and six expert interviews held in February and March 2024. You'll find the full report along with regional focus group summaries here.

Pivot Ministry Becomes a Certified Service Enterprise; Founding ED Carol Polk Announces Her Retirement!

Pivot Ministry, a HandsOn Supporting Partner since their founding, made two big announcements last month!

The first is that they completed the accreditation process they began in 2019 and are now an official Certified Service Enterprise!! This program is sponsored by the national organization AL!VE (Association of Leaders in Volunteer Engagement), and is administered locally by HandsOn. This status signifies that Pivot has the capability and management expertise to strategically engage community members and volunteers to improve the performance of their organization and meet community needs. Pivot has now joined the top 11 percent of nonprofits nationwide--and three other local nonprofits--in volunteer management and organizational performance. Research conducted by the TCC Group found that organizations operating as Service Enterprises outperform peer organizations on all aspects of organizational effectiveness, and are more adaptable, sustainable, and capable of scaling their work. You can learn more about their process and results in their April newsletter.

They'll need that adaptability as they navigate the changes to come, as, also in April, Pivot's inaugural Executive Director, Carol Polk, announced her intent to retire in October. While she will be deeply missed by her board, staff, volunteers, partners, clients, and us here at HandsOn, we're all excited for her opportunity to take this next step in her journey. Current staff members, Michelle Minnich and Ivonne Guerra, will remain in their part-time positions, ensuring operational continuity.

And while we all know that Carol is irreplaceable, the board has started the search for a new leader. You will find the full position description on their website. HandsOn looks forward to working with their new Director, even as we say goodbye to Carol, who we know won't be a stranger!

HandsOnNWNC.org

114 W. 30th St, Suite 600, Winston-Salem, NC 27105

phone: 336.724.2866

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