Nonprofit leaders across southeast Michigan will contribute their thoughts via journal entries on how this unique confluence of events (COVID, vaccinations, climate change, racial justice, etc.) is affecting their organizations and the nonprofit sector.
The stories and journals will narrate through nonprofit leaders and capture the impact and vitality that these organizations bring to their communities as well as their journey during these unprecedented times.
This series is made possible with the generous support of our partners, the Michigan Nonprofit Association and Co.act Detroit.
"If we can get our young women to understand their value and place in the world at elementary and adolescent ages," says Karen Palka, founder & executive director of A Beautiful Me in Port Huron, "they are more likely to take on roles in their adult lives that enhance their communities in some shape, form or fashion.
“When something interrupts your program, you still have to go forward, whether you go around it, above it, through it – whatever you need to do,” Kris Marshall, Winning Futures.
The need for healing continues to grow. The pandemic has negatively affected the communities we serve more than a lot of other communities. The need to combat trauma has been amplified. Yet, the young people here are giving me hope. We're big on "making a way, finding a way." We've been doing this since we started healing together, and we'll continue to.
Since the pandemic, so many people have experienced loss, grief, and trauma and the use of art therapy can bring comfort and healing. I believe our organization provides a very accessible way for our community as a whole to work toward mental health and overall well-being.
This is the hardest job I’ve ever had, and I’ve had some big jobs in my life. But being able to walk with these women, and to help them through their dark days is so rewarding. They've got to go through it all to get to the other side, but when they come out, and they know they’ve been kept safe through the process, all of a sudden, you start to see a different look in their eyes.
This type of outlet has always been necessary, but I see it now more than ever with our community coming out of strict lockdown. Our youth have had nothing to do outside of video games, and indoor activities, which has hurt their social skills and social circles. These are both paramount for school-age children.
I think it’s critical the arts be available for people to engage with and use as a tool to understand, to converse about, and to interpret what's happening in the world.
I’m a tax lawyer by trade, and when I began practicing law years ago, I thought it was what I wanted. Then I got involved in community development and realized what it is to truly love your work.
How has the storm of challenges in the past 18 months altered the nonprofit world, for better or worse, causing leaders to question and reimagine their systems of funding, models of work, governance and values?
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