Sometimes You Just Need to Take a Step Back

Too often (especially in this economy)  fundraisers and Development officers don’t have the opportunity to engage in their organizations programs and essentially their mission.  I have been fortunate these past two weeks as I’ve had the opportunity to both volunteer with JA at Capital One/ Junior Achievement Finance Park and attend the 3/31 NJ Business Hall of Fame (NJBHOF) Meet and Greet, both extraordinary programs that reinforced my belief in what I do.

Although not an easy task to put aside my “work” during my busiest season, I’m certain that revisiting my organizations mission gave me the boost that I needed.  Having just completed two new and large projects (JANJ’s Annual Report and the 1st Annual Latino Professional JA Community Initiative), I am significantly far behind in securing items for the NJ Business Hall of Fame (NJBHOF) auction that is just two weeks away.

At the NJBHOF Meet and Greet today, I had the absolute pleasure of attending Franklin High School where JA High School Heroes received real-world advice from the 2011 NJBHOF Laureates.  Student’s received a crash course in overcoming challenges, skills to success, the importance of education, and how confidence plays a role professionally, educationally and personally.   Albeit an outstanding group of students that donate their time to better their communities, today’s event will no doubt help shape their futures.

Last week I took on the role of a JA volunteer at Capital One/ Junior Achievement Finance Park and walked students through a day in the life as an adult (and literally we walked through this virtual city as students chose their cars, homes, clothes, etc. based on their real life scenario and personal budget).

I have a renewed sense of energy seeing first hand how Junior Achievement’s programs are engaging youth in programs that will help shape their futures (and ours, as they are tomorrow’s leaders).  At a time when so many schools have faced budget cuts, JA is being called upon to help satisfy the newly implemented 9.2 standard requiring students receive 2.5 credits of financial literacy prior to graduating.  Our programs are free to the schools and our programs are in high demand.

My job is to develop relationships and raise funds so that we can provide more youth with JA’s financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship programs.  But it goes way beyond that.  So, for the next two weeks I will bust my butt to put together another jaw-dropping online and silent auction because I know that the funds raised will give students a head start on figuring out the stuff that really matters!

The Latino Professional JA Community Initiative

Event Announcement and Registration – The Latino Professional JA Community Initiative

You are invited to the premier platform for bringing together the Latino community to educate and inspire youth to dream big and reach their fullest potential!

The Latino Leadership Forum: Cocktail Reception and Panel Discussion, Thursday, March 3rd, Newark, NJ

Network with your peers and engage in a discussion addressing the challenges of implementing empowering programs for NJ youth in today’s economy with your employee resource group and / or organization

The Latino Professional JA Community Day Initiative:  Community volunteer day impacting 1,000 students in Newark, NJ; Friday, March 11, 2011

A community outreach program delivering financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship programs to Latino youth during one school day.

New Jersey Chapter

In partnership with

ALPFA NJ, HISPA, NSHMBA NJ, Prudential’s Hispanic Heritage Network

Register to attend the forum and/or volunteer!

A video by Newark Mosaic of the 2010 Latino Professional JA Day:

The Newark Mosaic

 

Call to Action – Narrowing the Achievement Gap – Inspiring Latino Youth to Dream Big and Reach Their Fullest Potential

The Latino Professional JA Community Day has impacted over 1,100 Newark, NJ elementary school students in just two days (these one day events took place once in March 09 and again in March 2010).  Imagine the possibilities if more volunteers were involved in this or similar programs?  Well, Junior Achievement along with our event partners believe strongly that with the right information and guidance, similar programs can be introduced throughout the state and nationally… every child deserves a role model – someone they can relate to that can inspire them to dream big and reach their fullest potential.   The Latino Professional JA Forum will include a panel discussion of best practices, programs and opportunities for organizations, employee resource groups and individuals who want to make a difference and inspire and engage Latino youth.

There is a drop-out crisis in America.  According to America’s Promise Alliance – Young people who drop out of school are twice as likely as graduates to be unemployed; three times as likely to live in poverty; eight times more likely to wind up in prison; and twice as likely to become the parent of a child who drops out of school.

The Latino Professional JA Committee will be meeting on October 26th to finalize the logistics for the JA Day program and select the panelists for the newly introduced forum.  Representatives from organizations such as ALPFA NJ, NSHMBA NJ, HBA NJ, and HISPA and a diverse range of companies are already partnering with Junior Achievement on this initiative, reinforcing the need and desire for such a program.

To that end, I encourage you to share with me your interest in participating as a volunteer role model in the classroom, attending or sponsoring the forum, and/or sharing your story as a panelist. A further description of the event can be found below and an announcement with the date will be made in early November.

For a closer look at the impact of this program, Leo Aristimuno created this documentary for Newark Mossaic – a beautiful portrayal of an equally beautiful program.

NARROWING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP – INSPIRING LATINO YOUTH TO DREAM BIG AND REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL

THE PURPOSE

To bring together the Latino community to educate, inform and inspire youth to dream big and reach their full potential

THE NEED

• Nationwide Dropout Rates:  18.3% of Latino youths have not received a high school diploma or equivalent, compared with only 8% of all youths

• NJ Dropout Rate: The Hispanic dropout rate in NJ is 3.7% compared with 2.0% of all youths

• Obtaining a GED: Only 9% of Hispanic dropouts obtain their GED

THE LATINO PROFESSIONAL JA COMMUNITY DAY (March 2011):

A Community Outreach Program Delivering Financial Literacy, Work Readiness, and Entrepreneurship Programs to Latino Youth During a School Day

• Empower students to achieve educational and professional success

• Deliver best practices from communities that have impacted Latino youth

• Increase and bring awareness to the demand for Latino volunteer role models

• Identify various ways role models can engage, empower and inspire youth

• Enhance volunteer presentation and time management skills

BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION

Initiated in March 2009, the Annual Latino Professional JA Community Day has impacted 1,137 students through JA’s programs* delivered by 105 volunteer role models who represent a diverse range of companies and organizations.

*These programs were taught over the course of one school day by teams of two volunteers at First Avenue School in Newark, which has a 90% Hispanic population.

TESTIMONIALS

“The opportunity this program brings our students is unlike any other.  Teaching of careers and business management is something that our school values.” First Avenue School Educator

“From this experience I gained a greater passion to volunteer. Insight into teaching. satisfaction in helping others. Particularly a community I wish to inspire”. – 2010 Volunteer

“I am excited to continue this project. Understanding that providing these materials gets students to understand the type of future that will be ahead of them”. – 2010 Volunteer

THE LATINO PROFESSIONAL JA LEADERSHIP FORUM (Feb 2011):

Envisioned as the ultimate platform for bringing together the Latino community in support of New Jersey’s youth.  A cocktail reception followed by a panel discussion addressing:

• The need and impact of mentoring

• Best practices and implementing programs that provide youth with success skills

• Volunteer and mentorship opportunities

Proceeds from this event will support The Latino Professional JA Community Day.

Who Should Attend:

• Individuals interested in or currently involved with programs mentoring and empowering Latino youth

• Employee Resource Groups with existing initiatives and/or interested in establishing mentoring programs for Latino youth

• Organizations with existing initiatives and/or interested in establishing mentoring programs for Latino youth

If you are interested in learning more about this program, becoming a sponsor or panelist and volunteering please contact:

Amy Boroff

Development Director

Junior Achievement of NJ

aboroff@ja.org

A Board Driven Declaration!

To call this a blog post would be offensive to the bloggers that have committed and continue maintaining an actual blog.   I’d say this “post” is more of a declaration.

I can say with regret that I typically don’t follow through with personal commitments (specifically those that impact my well-being).  On the flip side, in my professional life if I make a commitment I will always meet or exceed my goal.   Therein lies the reason behind this “post”.

I have been searching for a good work / life balance, hoping to walk in someones shoes to see how they excel professionally while being a good mom, wife, daughter and friend.  I envision walking the pristine halls of someone house (no mail in site, certainly not in a pile on the kitchen table, no laundry waiting to be folded) and admiring their recent pedicure and adorable kids eating a home cooked meal.  Just a few of the many commitments I seem to have side-stepped while exceeding my expectations as a non-profit professional beyond what I envisioned.

In high school I was a really good soccer player.  I played for the NY state team,  on a travel team .. I even turned down a few opportunities to play in college.  And once I left for UMass, the furthest thing from my mind was exercise.  15 years later and it shows.  

We are adding a new event to the Junior Achievement of NJ calendar, introduced and encouraged by two of our Board Companies.  As a non-profit professional, I don’t really have the opportunity to walk in the shoes of our supporters and join an event as a participant.  Along with the opportunity to gain some insight into the perspective from our supporters and raise funds for an organization I am truly passionate about, I have committed to the two Board Companies (Accenture and Verizon) that I will be running in the 5k that they have so graciously initiated.

At this point in my life and my career, my work/ life balance isn’t exactly admirable …however, I do know my limitations.  Quite seriously if I don’t make this commitment, it will affect me in both my professional and personal life.  We all know the saying, when we are not happy with ourselves…

And so there it is…. I’m tipping the scales a little in both directions as I declare to run and complete the 5k Harvest Hustle on October 2nd, 2010.   Thank you Accenture and Verizon for supporting JANJ with an event that will not only impact the youth of NJ, but me personally!

For those of you who are local, I hope you will join me in the JANJ 5k (walk or run) Fundraiser! 

Your support is greatly appreciated (via motivation or donation)! 

Proceeds from the event will help support JANJ’s  financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship programs for NJ students.  More information on JANJ and how you can get involved can be found here.

Social Media From a Non-Profit Perspective and Why It’s Like Being a Five Year Old in a Candy Store

Social media from a non-profit perspective (at least mine) is like being a five year old in a candy store with one minute to fill your goody bag. Before diving in a good 5 seconds is spent taking in the moment and realizing how many choices you have, followed by 40 seconds of filling your bag with every candy possible, 5 seconds worrying that you missed something and the last 10 seconds spent confirming everything you missed and wondering how to throw it in your bag anyway.

Familiarization changes everything and once you’ve been to one candy store you kind of know what to expect (except when it comes to Jelly Belly’s because we all know there are way more then the 50 official flavors). The world of social media is not only having to decide what candy you want, but what color Starburst, red or black licorice, Malt Balls or M&M’s (you get the point).  The possibilities are endless!

I need a list, which is humorous because anytime I’ve attempted to bring one to the supermarket I’ve left it in the car or on the kitchen table. I need to know all of the options, what audience I’m reaching and what tools are needed to maximize my efforts. I am the “social media expert” for the organization I work for and well, I’m writing this blog because I am confused and overwhelmed (after reading a dozen or so “social media guides for non-profits”).

Just when I think I do have a grasp, I realize that I haven’t checked my organization’s Facebook page or group in over a month, I still haven’t figured out the Causes feature and I don’t have a clue what Digg is (I’m serious). I am sure there is a Dummies guide to Social Media, but new and updated applications are introduced daily and by the time I actually do purchase the book – it will be outdated (I say this with the utmost respect for the Dummies series).

Socialpedia – I actually checked on this and it’s already purchased, but not being used (someone reading this should attempt to purchase the site, how’s that for sharing an idea). A Wikipedia for social media – a reference of every site, the purpose they serve, the benefits and a breakdown of every possible tool you can use on the site. For instance, Twitter – a reference of every application available (something I can only find via a Google search which I know means I’m doing something wrong). Figuring out the different applications and their purpose is like having to pick all the red skittles out from the rest (in the big tube in a candy store), finally separating them all and then dropping them on the floor. You know it’s overwhelming and tedious and you know it’s going to take a long time. Just when you get it, Twitter Lists come out and you now you have something new to figure out.

In my world, in the world of fundraising and development – the potential of social media is endless. I have introduced my organization to countless volunteers, foundations, corporate partners and similar non-profits that could lead to future collaborations. Junior Achievement of New Jersey (@jaofnj – hey, I’ve learned something) is part of a worldwide organization and through social media I am able to connect with colleagues around the world to share best practices, read articles and blogs on programs being offered and have access to endless resources related to JA’s purpose (financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship programs for today’s youth). I’m able to acknowledge, thank and praise JANJ’s supporters immediately – a development officers dream. I have “met” fascinating people, conversed with great minds and been introduced to incredible organizations while building my network and resume. And although I have accomplished a lot, I know there is so much more potential and so many more ways I could be connecting with people!

I am literally a five year old standing in front of 99 different types of chocolates trying to figure out where to start.