Photo via Jose Vilson
Jose Vilson’s journey as an educator began during his senior year in college when, after leading a workshop on Cesar Chavez, he decided to forgo his intended career as a computer scientist and enter the field of teaching. According to a McKinsey study, 14 percent of teachers leave after one year, and nearly half leave the profession before their fifth year, citing difficult working conditions. Now, having taught in the Washington Heights section of Manhattan for eight years, Jose is proving to be an exception to the rule, and is tackling issues on education everywhere from CNN, to GOOD, the Huffington Post, and TEDx.
How does Jose make a job with such high turnover work for him? His drive is rooted in his commitment to education equality and long-term success for African-American and Latino youth. Staying focused on this greater goal has kept him in the field, and brought him recognition as a thought-leader, following his media presence and engaging blog.
“I come from the Lower East Side, the last frontier of the ghetto. In the 90s, it was a dark time: There was drug selling and murder. Growing up, we called it Beirut; you had people shooting from behind the walls through the projects. But the best part of being who I am and where I come from is that it affords me the opportunity to be patient and be more forward thinking.
“For example, people use the old leadership model where you have to be in front in order to take control, and students will sit back and take in what you teach. I don’t believe that. People mistake the leadership I bring as not taking charge, but I am trying to get students to be leaders on their own. For example, you will hear noise in my class. You will hear more of [the students] than of me. I also ask students to leave me alone and ask their classmates about solutions before they ask me. I don’t do it to be a jerk, but they need to be self-motivated and work on [their] own.
“[The students] make me want to be better. Walking the road I did, I beat the odds and want them to do the same.
“We need people who are passionate and driven to make education valuable to students.If you want to teach, do a lot of personal reflection. The person who you think you are may not be the person you are in the classroom. I would also advise you to really read. Find best practices. Find a group of friends who you really trust. Having that dialogue that makes the experience a whole lot better when you are learning how to teach.”
This story is part of Heart at Work, a monthly series produced by Idealist.org and Echoing Green, in which we tilt the spotlight towards everyday people doing extraordinary work that makes the world a better place.
What keeps you going when the road gets rough? Answer on Echoing Green’s Work on Purpose platform.
If you want a job like Jose’s, here are opportunities for you to explore on Idealist.org.
Each year on Martin Luther King Jr Day, people across the country volunteer in their communities to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy of service. But what do you do after the day is over?
There are tons of fellowships and programs to help you get more involved in your community while pursuing a social-impact career, but how do you find these opportunities? What challenges might you face in your journey? To get a better sense of what it looks like to cultivate a public-service career, we asked Ryan Wilcox, an AmeriCorps Alum and Mentoring Specialist for Whetstone Boys Ranch, to share his experiences.
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By Ryan Wilcox
Photo via Ryan Wilcox
My desire to serve others has always been driven by my faith. In high school, I went on several mission trips with my church, including to Rio, Bravo, Mexico—where I was part of a work team that built a cinder block house for a family. These mission trips were my first experience with true poverty. Later, in college, I served as camp counselor at a camp for teenagers with epilepsy. I credit these initial experiences with shaping my passion for missions and service I hold today.
After graduation, I was looking for a job in the non-profit industry. Like many recent graduates, I struggled to find a job right away. After an extended search, I investigated public service programs, and AmeriCorps stood out to me. AmeriCorps offered much of what I was looking for: a 9-month to 12-month commitment; an opportunity to leverage my Advertising/Public Relations degree; and potential placement in my community. I chose to serve as an AmeriCorps VISTA, a program that requires a 12-month commitment, and focuses on fighting poverty by building the capacity of the host non-profits.
Gaining life-long skills
During my 12 months as a VISTA, I served with Cornerstone Assistance Network, a non-profit that works with people below the poverty line, in danger of becoming homeless. As a VISTA, my primary focus was communications and outreach: I helped establish and manage Cornerstone’s social media presence, and was a key member of Cornerstone’s website development team. In addition, I worked to manage and recruit volunteers, attending recruitment fairs at local colleges. These responsibilities helped me develop skills in managing people, building relationships and establishing goals. As a mentor, I use these skills to encourage the boys at Whetstone to grow.
I also learned, inevitably, how to live on a tight budget. I received a small stipend, at the time about $800/month. My VISTA position did not offer housing, but it was close enough to my home that I was able to live with my parents during my service year. I deferred my student loans and elected to receive the Eli Segal Education Award at the end of my term, instead of a cash payment. As a recent graduate, I had student loans, so I appreciated the help!
Coping with challenges
While I learned a great deal in AmeriCorps, some challenges did arise, primarily with transitioning out of the program. I wasn’t prepared for the end of my term, and did a poor job of planning my exit. I didn’t begin job searching seriously until it was too late. As a result, the end of my service arrived, and I didn’t have any prospects for full-time employment.
After leaving AmeriCorps, I took a series of part-time and contract based jobs. The experience was a lesson in perseverance, and a chance to seek guidance on my career direction. I accepted a part-time position with an after-school program. This job gave me the skills I needed to be effective in my current role. It also showed me that I have a heart for mentorship.
Tips for you
Dr. King once said, “Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve.” I wouldn’t trade my service year for anything. I gained pride in serving my country and community. It also changed my perceptions on poverty, a big social problem facing the United States.
Are you ready to serve? Here are a few things to keep in mind, if you want to pursue AmeriCorps, or any public-service program.
Good luck!
We know that many members of our community are looking for ways to take their careers to the next level. To help, we’re co-sponsoring a free teleseminar with leadership experts Rosetta Thurman and Trista Harris and the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network to share tips and resources on how to take your career to the next level.
Can’t make it? Check out other free teleseminars in the Nonprofit Rockstar Series
6 Ways to Rock Your Nonprofit Career in 2013
Date: Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Time: 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm EST
Where: via teleconference, dial-in information will be provided upon registration
This teleseminar is co-sponsored by Idealist and the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network
Are you looking for ideas to advance your nonprofit career this year? If so, mark your calendar for the kickoff of The 2013 Nonprofit Rockstar Teleseminar Series! Join Rosetta Thurman and Trista Harris, co-authors of How to Become a Nonprofit Rockstar: 50 Ways to Accelerate Your Career to learn six practical strategies to accelerate your nonprofit career based on concepts from their popular book.
In this information-packed presentation, you will discover:
You will be guided through a professional development planning worksheet that will help you define action steps to take in your nonprofit career over the next year. When you register, you will also receive a free chapter of Rosetta and Trista’s book that will help you gain valuable momentum toward a successful 2013!
Click here to register for free
Space is limited to 100 attendees, so be sure reserve your seat right away. This teleseminar will be recorded, so if you can’t make it this time, you will still receive the replay afterwards!
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About the 2013 Nonprofit Rockstar Teleseminar Series
Monthly Conversations about Nonprofit Leadership and Careers
This free, monthly teleseminar series will cover a variety of topics in nonprofit career and leadership development. Each session features experts who will be sharing their knowledge, ideas and experience to help you accelerate your career and enhance your leadership skills. For more information and a full schedule, visit nonprofitrockstar.com.
About Rosetta Thurman
Rosetta Thurman is the President of Thurman Consulting, an education company that provides personal and professional development opportunities to empower a new generation of leaders to change the world. Rosetta is a nationally-recognized speaker and facilitator who has helped hundreds of nonprofit and association professionals improve the way they work, lead and live their lives. Her popular keynote speeches and workshops inspire audiences around the country to build meaningful careers, enhance their leadership skills and live with greater purpose. For more information, visit rosettathurman.com.
About Trista Harris
Trista Harris is nationally known as a passionate advocate for new leaders in the philanthropic and nonprofit sectors. She is a leading voice for Generations X and Y and seeks to create professional development opportunities throughout the sector. She writes about generational change in the foundation field in her blog, New Voices of Philanthropy and is an international speaker on working across generations to create social change. In her professional life, Trista is the Executive Director of the Headwaters Foundation for Justice. A native Minnesotan, Trista received her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Howard University and her Master’s in Public Policy degree, with a focus on philanthropy and nonprofit effectiveness, from the Humphrey Institute at the University of Minnesota. For more information, visit tristaharris.org.
About Idealist
Idealist was launched in 1995, on a shoestring budget but with an ambitious goal: to be the starting place for anyone, anywhere who wants to make the world a better place. Today, Idealist is the most popular online resource for the nonprofit sector, with jobs, internships, and volunteer opportunities provided by over 70,000 organizations around the world and 100,000 unique visitors every day. For more information, visit idealist.org.
About the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network
The Young Nonprofit Professionals Network (YNPN) promotes an efficient, viable, and inclusive nonprofit sector that supports the growth, learning, and development of young professionals. We engage and support future nonprofit and community leaders through professional development, networking and social opportunities designed for young people involved in the nonprofit community. For more information, visit ynpn.org.
An ongoing experiment: can our community’s collective brainpower help an idea become reality?
Meet Lisa
For Lisa Melendez, “local” means much more than where she buys her groceries or sees a movie. It’s a way of life, a way of connecting with others, a way of giving back.
“I’m a community activist at heart, and a person who can find and identify opportunities where a lot of people don’t,” she says. “I love bringing people together. I love making conversations happen. I love convening.”
Lisa was born and raised in East Harlem, NY and has a wide range of experience working on community initiatives. She’s done everything from lobbying local government to change welfare laws to coordinating an international HIV/AIDS panel to matching prospective board members with nonprofits to working in administration at a hospital.
A mother of two, Lisa is now living in upstate NY as a stay-at-home mom. When she’s not taking her kids to extracurricular activities or attending school events, she spends her spare time developing a new organization geared towards matching early childcare providers with local families.
She’s ready to jump back into the workforce, this time with a different focus. Tech companies seeking to improve the quality of life are appealing to her, but she lacks the skillset required for most positions. Still, she’s hopeful and has been applying nonetheless.
“I’m not afraid of first times. Just because I’ve never done this before doesn’t mean I am not capable or shouldn’t do it,” she says.
The idea
Given her experience looking for jobs, and the experience of many in the U.S., Lisa would like to connect prospective job seekers looking to switch industries with the right resources to give them the best chance of success.
Starting with her home state, New York, her target audience is middle-aged, male and female displaced workers.
“We have no real choice here but to begin embracing the notion that your career can begin in one place and end up in another,” Lisa says. “I see it everywhere. People are reinventing themselves all the time.”
She envisions three components:
“In a time where so many of us feel as if we are submitting our resumes into the great abyss, we are having to become innovative in how we present ourselves to potential employers,” she says. “Many are asking the question, “How can I get employers to see I can do this job?”
Obstacles
Career paths can be long and winding, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. (Photo via allison.hare on Flickr’s Creative Commons.)
This is the first time Lisa has shared her idea. Here are the challenges she currently faces:
How you can help
Leave a comment below or send her a message through Idealist and if the project progresses, we’ll keep you posted!
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Are you a practical dreamer with an idea that’s just starting to take shape? If you’d like to be part of this series, or know someone who would be a good fit, email celeste [at] idealist [dot] org.
Photo credit: CollegeDegrees360, Creative Commons/Flickr
Yes, it’s cliche, but January is the perfect time for resolutions, goal-setting, and making plans to better yourself throughout the year. Here are some events, webinars, and other activities of note to help you with your professional development this month.
Job-Hunting Help. If you’re on the hunt for a new job, and one-third of employees are, look for online resources to help you make the most of social media and learn more about potential future careers.
Local Events. If you live in one of these cities below, check out the interesting workshops and panels taking place during January.
Free Online Events and Resources. No matter where you are located, you can easily attend several free webinars in January related to nonprofit management and operations.
Conferences. Do you have the time and money to attend a conference that’s not in your zip code? Plan ahead with a couple conferences set for early February.
Fellowship and Mentorship Programs. If you’re looking for something a little more in-depth and long term, there are several fellowships and internships in public service, government, and more that have January deadlines.
Management Training. Even if you are a bit farther along in your career or more set at your organization, there are still ways you can grow and learn.
And don’t forget to volunteer. Volunteering during your free time is definitely be one ongoing way you can boost your career, especially when the career is in nonprofits. Martin Luther King, Jr. day is Monday, January 21, and there are many volunteer opportunities available on Idealist and elsewhere for that three-day weekend.
Today is Human Trafficking Awareness Day. With nearly 27 million people trafficked each year, people and organizations around the world are coming together to draw attention to this pressing issue. To help you explore ways to get involved, we’ve put together a list of job opportunities and events around the world.
If you want more information and opportunities on human trafficking, set up an email alert based on a search for the term “human trafficking”. Idealist will deliver dozens of jobs, volunteer opportunities, events, and internships directly to your inbox.
Photo credit: thomaswanhoff, Creative Commons/Flickr
Opportunities in Cambodia
Opportunities in the United States
Special events
What are YOU doing for Human Trafficking Awareness Day?
When was the last time you took a vacation? While it can be hard to step away from your desk, a little time away can do wonders for you professionally and personally. Read on to learn how to get away.
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When I worked at a New York City museum I was surprised to learn that some employees who had been working there for years had amassed months worth of unused vacation days. These same colleagues felt burned out, jaded and disengaged from their jobs. At another organization where I worked, there was a policy of mandating that all employees use their vacation days within the fiscal year after some workers went years without taking a vacation.
Photo Credit: Kenzoka, Creative Commons/Flickr
This reluctance to going away is understandable: many nonprofit employees are invested in their work and might feel too overwhelmed to take a vacation. However, spending some time away from work can have distinct benefits that actually make you more productive and effective.
Why you should take a vacation
Let’s start with the physical and emotional: several studies, reported on by the New York Times and the Harvard Business Review, find that taking vacation lowers stress levels, the risk of heart attack, promotes good sleep, and encourages family bonding and overall well being.
It never hurts to come back to work happier and healthier. Additionally, in my own experience, one of the greatest career boosting elements of taking a vacation is the clarity you develop around your work:
So how do you set yourself up for vacation success?
Plan before you go
Before stepping away, prioritize essential business, delegate tasks that still need doing, and communicate where your colleagues can find any information that they might need while you are away. Trust your colleagues to handle situations that come up, knowing that you would want them to put the same trust in you.
Start small
If you are traveling, chose a trip that has a low stress level. For example, unless you are an adventure seeker, traveling to the wilds of Alaska in winter might not be for you. If you are traveling with family make sure you have time to bond and do things together, but also make time for yourself.
Limit connections
If you just can’t cut the chord on your smart phone, set a limited time each day to check in, say 15 minutes to skim your emails and check your voicemail and respond to whatever is pressing, and then leave the rest.
If you take the risk to let go, you’ll find that your break, whether its several days or several weeks, will enable you to come back to work energized and refreshed, with greater perspective, new ideas, and perhaps an improved attitude that your coworkers may appreciate as well.
What are your strategies for preparing to “get away from it all” and what are some benefits that time away has brought to your work?
Eleanor C. Whitney is a writer, arts administrator and musician living in Brooklyn, New York. She currently is a Program Officer at the New York Foundation for the Arts and is the author of the forthcoming book Grow: How to Take Your Do It Yourself Project and Passion to the Next Level and Quit Your Job, which will be released in the spring of 2013 on Cantankerous Titles
In October, Curtis Chang at the Stanford Social Innovation Review shared a few management tips for nonprofit leaders based on lessons taught in MBA programs. While he notes the challenges in pursuing an MBA – including cost and time – we know that many people are considering graduate school to help them develop these skills and we are excited to see that MBA programs are expanding their offerings to include a greater focus on social impact. To explore this topic more, we’ve invited Net Impact — a nonprofit that helps business school students and professionals leverage their talent for social change — to share more about the growth of these programs and how we might use them to increase our impact.
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By Kyle Skahill
Net Impact, Business as UNusual
If you’ve never really thought an MBA could help you amplify your impact, consider this: more and more business schools are restructuring their programs and incorporating sustainability and social impact issues into their curriculum. In fact, the number of programs featured in Business as UNusual, our guide to impact MBA programs, has grown 170% since we first started publishing it in 2006. That means the tools, opportunities, and connections you gain from today’s impact MBA programs offer newfound potential to create the change you want to see.
Here are a few other ways an MBA might help you advance your career and ability to make a difference:
1) Expand your impact opportunities
Innovative cross-sector collaborations are opening new avenues for change, so a working understanding of other sectors may be an eye-opener. Business models are changing rapidly, from the rise of B-corporations to unconventional start-ups to cross-sector partnerships – so options abound post-graduation for nontraditional integration of business skills into your career for good.
Who knows, you might even discover opportunities you never considered. Kirsten Tobey was a teacher focusing on experiential education when she realized her interests were increasingly drawn to the bigger-picture issues around food accessibility. So she enrolled in business school, attended a cross-disciplinary product design class, and graduated with the idea for Revolution Foods, which has now served more than 50 million healthy meals to school children nationwide.
This year’s Business as UNusual suggests Kirsten isn’t alone: while entering MBA students came largely from traditional corporations and nonprofits, students’ aspirations post-MBA shifted markedly to include start-ups, social enterprise, and other mission-driven companies (see graphic). It’s clear that the MBA experience opened students’ eyes to a wider set of paths toward making change.
2) Build your impact-making skills
Nonprofits demand leadership, innovative thinking, and responsive problem solving skills if they expect to make progress on the world’s most serious issues. And they need hard skills like project management, finance, and strategy to galvanize that progress. MBA programs incorporating social and environmental issues give students the chance to develop those skills, while applying them to the issues they care about most.
As one Business as UNusual student respondent wrote about his program, “a deep dive into sustainability through all sectors of the curricula, as well as leadership development, prepares one to implement social and environmental policy in business, one’s community, and our planet’s future.”
But in addition to your own skill building, an understanding of the models and language fundamental to the business sector will be an asset in conversations with partners, sponsors, and stakeholders. Dan Winterson, program director at the Gordon & Betty Moore Foundation, describes his work on initiatives like the foundation’s Forever Costa Rica effort involving multiple funders and NGOs. “We talk about applying Wall Street principles to conservation because it’s a big project to finance,” he explains. “It’s a big ‘deal,’ essentially, where there are number of conditions that need to be in place before the deal can close. That’s an example where a business background and financial skills are crucial. And I think you see more and more of that in the environmental conservation field.”
3) Build a network for lifelong impact
The fact remains that a large part of business school’s clout rests on the students and alumni you meet and the doors that this cadre of professionals can open for you. And if you’re an aspiring impact-maker, you’ll find more like-minded students in your MBA cohort than ever before. In this year’s guide, 77% of business students reported that their peers are also prioritizing impact careers in their post-graduation job search. These contacts often translate into future volunteers, partners, employees, and donors instrumental to your organization’s continued viability.
On the first day of that cross-disciplinary product design class, Kirsten Tobey had already started thinking about how to get students eating healthier. So when a classmate – who would become her future business partner – held up a less-than-nutritious lunch she’d just purchased and wondered if there was a better alternative, it was kismet. “We looked at each other across the room,” says Kirsten, “and that was the beginning of a great friendship and partnership.”
With so many MBA programs addressing social and sustainability issues (Business as UNusual 2012 features more than one hundred) to choose from, it’s safe to say that business school is no longer the exclusive domain of the corporate world. The b-school now offers social sector professionals a way to build valuable networks, hone critical skills, and discover new opportunities for impact – and that is a change for the best.
Kyle Skahill is the Community Program Fellow at Net Impact, a leading nonprofit empowering a new generation of leaders to work for a sustainable future. Business as UNusual, the organization’s annual guide to impact MBA programs, can be downloaded free at: netimpact.org/bizschoolguide
On Friday, we shared a list of opportunities and organizations to explore in human rights, in honor of Human Rights Day. However, breaking into this field can be a bit challenging, so we invited Akhila Kolisetty, a law student and blogger who has worked at various human rights organizations, to share a bit about her journey and experiences.
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by Akhila Kolisetty
Photo credit: ind{yeah}, Creative Commons/Flickr
I first developed a passion for international development and human rights as an undergraduate at Northwestern, where I studied economics and political science. My time studying development economics in London and working with an international access to justice NGO in Geneva hugely influenced my worldview, convincing me to work at the intersection of access to legal services and women’s rights in the global South. After graduation, I chose to work at a civil rights law firm and also to fundraise for a start-up NGO in Afghanistan that sought to open legal aid clinics promoting rule of law and women’s rights throughout the country.
Having spoken with women and girls in Washington D.C., Afghanistan, and Bangladesh, I’ve noticed the interrelated nature of poverty and violence against women and the impact a passionate legal advocate can have on the lives of the poor. And yet, legal services work remains underfunded in the international development realm. This interest has eventually led me to law school, where I’m hoping to develop the skills to be a better human rights advocate not only through fundraising and running an NGO, but through direct representation of the poor – especially women, girls, and refugees.
Getting into international human rights can be a challenge; it is a difficult field to enter and can be especially competitive, particularly in today’s economy. In addition, there are many things to consider: how willing are you to travel abroad, live away from your family and friends, acclimate to a completely new and unfamiliar environment, and sometimes live in rough environments? The more flexible you are, and the more passionate you are about living abroad and learning from poor communities, the better chance you’ll have to breaking into this field. Here are a few tips to help you get started.
Unpaid internships are essentially a requirement to get into the development and human rights field. Check out a start-up social enterprise’s website and email them offering to contribute something: a social media presence, website development, event planning or grant writing. These things can go a long way for a small NGO! In fact, small organizations can actually be more receptive to your help, and more willing to give you a significant role than large NGOs. At the same time, internships with well-established NGOs can be vital in giving you credibility and valuable experience. Try everything you can to gain experience, skills, references, and a strong sense of what work setting you thrive in.
If you’re just starting out in international human rights work, educate yourself! Even if you’re not majoring in international relations, development studies, human rights, or a related subject, you can still learn by reading relevant books (check out works by Bill Easterly, Paul Collier, Dambisa Moyo, and Amartya Sen – among many others) and useful development and human rights blogs (such as A View From the Cave, Chris Blattman, and How Matters). More than anything, I think it’s valuable to think critically about your involvement in international human rights, and about how you can realistically contribute and best make an impact as an outsider in this work.
Studying and interning abroad can give you critical “field” or in-country experience that can help you get your first international human rights job. Studying or working abroad can give you a much better sense of the issues facing the country or region you live in, and can also impart valuable language skills. Knowing another language and having the ability to speak thoughtfully about the politics and economics of a region can be a real asset. Spending time abroad will also give you key contacts; maintaining these contacts can help you find a job down the road, or perhaps even apply for programs such as the Fulbright, which allow you to devise your own research project.
Most NGOs appreciate skills such as grant writing, fundraising, research and writing, communications, program implementation, and monitoring and evaluation. If you can develop concrete skills in writing grants, hosting fundraising events, researching and writing human rights reports, or marketing organizations effectively through web design and social media, you will be able to contribute concretely to the needs of most non-profit organizations. Learning valuable skills in school – such as strong writing, research, and economic analysis – can also be very useful.
Personal branding can be useful in the development and human rights field. Starting a blog and contributing your thoughts on human rights and social justice work can be a useful exercise in honing your knowledge, increasing your awareness and understanding of key issues facing your field, and also getting your voice heard. Combining blogging with social media such as Twitter can be extremely useful in making connections that can eventually lead to a job, considering the importance of networking.
Focusing on a specific subject matter area – such as women’s rights, environmental justice, refugee rights, economic development, or post-conflict reconstruction – can be helpful, although it is not necessary. Having an area of focus, however, can allow you to develop particular expertise and knowledge in one area. At the same time, flexibility can go a long way. If you’re willing to take on a lower salary or relocate to a new country or city, for instance, you’ll have a lot more opportunities available to you.
I chose to go to law school because of my particular passion for the intersection of law, human rights, and development and my desire to learn direct client representation. A Master’s in International Affairs, an MPP, or even a Ph.D. from a top school can also be helpful in breaking into the field. However, many graduate degrees are extremely expensive, and you should consider carefully whether the degree will be worth the cost.
Ultimately, a career in international human rights can be incredible; it is deeply inspiring and energizing to see grassroots movements, the positive impact of aid and development, and small victories that add up to broader social change and justice. At the same time, it can be truly frustrating and challenging, with constant international travel, time away from family and friends, and the seemingly slow pace of change you want to see happen. Following these tips will help you break into the field – but it’s up to you to decide whether this is the right path for you, and the right way to make an impact!
Akhila Kolisetty
Author Bio: Akhila Kolisetty is a first year student at Harvard Law School and a graduate of Northwestern University. She has worked with human rights and legal non-profits in Washington D.C., Chicago, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, and is passionate about issues of gender-based violence, access to justice, and rule of law.
Come together to create a better world (Photo credit: cobalt123, Creative Commons/Flickr)
December 10th is Human Rights Day, commemorating the UN General Assembly’s 1948 adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, one of its first major achievements. This year, the theme is how to ensure that all people make their voices heard in public life and be included in political decision-making.
Want to get involved? Get started by taking a look at our introduction to human rights work. Then check out Human Rights Watch, an organization investigating human rights abuses and bringing international attention to injustices worldwide, challenging those in power to end abusive practices and respect international human rights law. They’re currently seeking interns to work on diversity initiatives, a London film festival, and their Middle East and North Africa research. They’re also seeking full-time help in their Health and Human Rights division and in their research on Mexico.
To get involved in the United States, take a look at the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants. They’re looking for a Senior Program Officer in Arlington. Or check out the American Civil Liberties Union, which has been fighting for individual rights since 1920 and needs people to fill forty positions ranging from attorneys to executive directors to project managers in New York, DC, San Francisco, and St. Louis. If you’re interested in LGBT rights advocacy, visit the Human Rights Campaign. They need someone to develop their online properties and social media presence, so if you’re got some web development chops, check out the position they have open right now.
And if you’re looking to keep your job search on theme for this year’s Human Right’s Day, take a look at the Texas Organizing Project. They make sure that the voices of low-income Texans are heard in the political process. Get on board as their new Director of Voter Engagement.
If you’d rather volunteer, take a look at these great opportunities to make a difference. And if you’re still curious about human rights work, shoot a message to one of these folks to chat about their experiences.
There are lots of ways to fight for human rights around the world and around the corner. No matter what your skill set or interests, there’s a human rights opportunity out there for you. Are you looking for a position defending human rights? Or are you already deep in the trenches? Tell us about it!
Photo credit: scottkellum, Creative Commons/Flickr
With only one month left of 2012 (!), now is the perfect time to reflect on your career growth this year. To capture your accomplishments, why not spend some time creating a career portfolio?
A portfolio is a professional scrapbook of sorts where you can neatly store any and all artifacts of your past work and volunteer experience. While traditionally people use binders, you could also create an online portfolio with documents to download, or links to work you’ve done online.
Your full portfolio could include artifacts you’ve saved, like copies of work and writing samples, thank-you notes that speak to your impact, survey results, white papers you’ve written, meeting agendas and training outlines you’ve created, action plans you’ve implemented, photos and screenshots of your work in action, volunteer position descriptions you’ve drafted, policies you’ve written and more.
You can divide your portfolio into sections that work for you, for example:
To a job interview, bring a mini-portfolio with items only relevant to the position. You can use a small presentation folder — sliding your work samples into plastic sleeves. Or you can use a file folder.
Referring to your portfolio contents can be challenging during an interview. If you can, practice ahead of time — but otherwise focus on the conversation more than your portfolio.
At the end of the interview, you should plan to leave behind copies of your most relevant work samples. For example if you apply for a fund development position, you may leave behind a narrative you wrote for a grant proposal (with any proprietary information blacked out). For a communications position you could leave behind screenshots of a professional blog you edit, a postcard you designed, and an example of an e-newsletter you created.
Have you created a career portfolio?
This is article is republished from our career center.
Photo credit: pratanti, Creative Commons/Flickr
When it comes to leadership development, organizations often envision employees as talent in a pipeline that needs to be developed in order to move up. But is this the best approach? Rusty Stahl, Idealist board member, doesn’t think so:
First, pipelines generally transport oil, not people. I will admit it: a pipeline takes an asset from its starting place (at least the place where people drill the oil up from the ground) to the ultimate destination we define for it, where it is transformed into new forms of energy and burned into oblivion. Career pathways similarly deploy talent assets from their youth to be transformed into productive workers that turn their values, intelligence, creativity, sweat and relationships into the life energy of social causes. And, ultimately, at the least, the physical manifestation of that energy is used up.
But nonprofit workers are not oozing liquid that simply goes with the flow. There is much more agency, choice and give-and-take amongst people as we move along our career paths; sometimes we pursue employers, other times they recruit us. We proactively build up experience, and sometimes opportunities appear unexpectedly as a result of preparation — and luck. Most careers do not move from point A to point Z in a straight line with scientific precision like the pipeline.
Instead, he argues that nonprofit careers develop like links in a chain: “Mentors and teachers pass ideas, knowledge, and practices from hand to hand. This ensures that knowledge from the past remains alive in the present and morphs into the future as each generation innovates, adapts and adds new meaning and method to an evolving cannon.”
Read more on Rusty’s blog and chime in: how should we approach career and leadership development in the nonprofit sector?
‘Tis the season for giving! Have you thought about how being generous at work can help your career? In this post, we explore three things you can do for others that help you grow and strengthen your network.
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Thanksgiving is quickly approaching and while you may be in the midst of figuring out the best side dish to make with your turkey or Tofurkey, now is the perfect time to discuss the positive effect a spirit of generosity can have when applied to your career.
Photo credit: Funchye, Creative Commons/Flickr)
Common wisdom in the career-advice field recommends that when you start a new job you should volunteer for tasks that others might be hesitant to take on and go the extra mile to show your capacity for commitment, hard work and acting as a team player. While this is certainly sound advice, generosity goes beyond simply volunteering for tasks at opportune moments.
When you act with generosity you are consistently open with your skills, ideas and knowledge. When you are generous you don’t just give of yourself, but acknowledge the contributions and needs of others. The result is a network of people who are also willing to help you.
Here are a few ideas of how you can bring a spirit of generosity to your career:
In my current position I co-run the Fiscal Sponsorship at the New York Foundation for the Arts. Artists are required to submit a budget for their project when they apply to our program. My colleagues and I noticed that artists often made the same budget mistakes and some neglected to submit budgets at all. In response we organized a free project budget basics workshop that we presented to a packed house and offered online as a free podcast. As a result, artists can build their skills free of charge and we receive stronger, complete applications.
In his book The Thank You Economy Gary Vaynerchuk explains that businesses and professionals need to adapt to the openness, feedback and communication the Internet offers by becoming more communicative and caring with their stakeholders. Keep this in mind as you communicate daily with your clients and colleagues. When they reach out to you with a question or need, even if you can’t offer exactly what they are asking for, give them the information they need to take the next step, whether that’s directing them to someone who can help them or a suggesting a resource where they can find what they are looking for. Send them a link, a person’s contact information, or an article. They will remember and thank you for it.
When I worked a large museum in New York City, I took time to understand the schedules and job-related concerns of colleagues in other departments. Because I established a reputation of respecting my colleagues’ processes and listening to their needs I found that people would go the extra mile for me. For example, I knew that the editorial department worked on a strict schedule that was determined by the availability of the graphic design department and print shop. If I requested last minute changes to publication text from the editors it meant they would have to reach out to the designers and I would potentially slow down the whole publication and printing schedule. When I acknowledged that what I was asking for required extra effort on their part, explained why my request was important to the museum overall, and acknowledged their help, I found they were happy to help me.
Generosity is a kind of currency that you build slowly. When you are generous you establish your reputation as a key facilitator, team member and leader. That recognition can lead to new and deeper connections and opportunities and will translate into a feeling of good will towards you. Good will is the strongest quality you can offer.
Eleanor C. Whitney is a writer, arts administrator and musician living in Brooklyn, New York. She currently is a Program Officer at the New York Foundation for the Arts and is the author of the forthcoming book Grow: How to Take Your Do It Yourself Project and Passion to the Next Level and Quit Your Job, which will be released in the spring of 2013 on Cantankerous Titles
Yesterday, Daylight Savings ended in the United States. While many of us could certainly use that extra hour for some much needed sleep, there are a few ways to use that time to take your career to the next level.
Photo Credit: ToniVC, Creative Commons/Flickr
Schedule an informational interview: Informational interviews are a great way to explore the ins-and-outs of a career, organization, or industry that you are interested in. Spend some time researching people to chat with and reach out to them. Remember: an informational interview is not a job interview; it is a conversation with someone whose career mirrors the work you’d like to do.
Subscribe to an industry publication: With the world of work changing, it’s hard to stay on top of trends while remaining competitive. This is why industry publications – magazines, newsletters, blogs, etc – can be helpful as you navigate your career. In addition to learning about key information in your field, you’ll hear about great opportunities and can expand your network by connecting with like-minded people. Start by looking at associations related to your work and see if they have publications you can subscribe to or look through our sector resources. Also, check out alltop.com to see some of the top blogs online in a variety of categories.
Let go of an activity that’s draining you: We all have them: activities or projects that we dread participating in. Maybe you no longer have time; maybe the project is going in a direction that puts you off; or maybe you’ve simply lost interest. Letting go of activities that hold you back instead of moving you forward frees up your time. You can use that time to focus on other things that do fulfill you.
How else can you make the most of that extra hour?
We’ve written before on what to do before and during a conference to meet people and expand your network. But what do you after a conference to keep the conversation going? Today, we share a few tips on how to take those initial meetings and greetings to the next level.
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This time of year is always a whirlwind of conferences, panels, plenary sessions and meetings. As you’ve dashed from event to event, surely you have met new people, made conversations, pitched your ideas, and collected business cards. So what’s next? How do you make the most of these new connections after you’ve taken the time to get out there to meet, greet, and connect?
Below are four steps to follow up with people you have met so that you can continue and deepen the initial connection you have made and turn conference connections into successful network building.
Photo credit: Kramer Family Library, Creative Commons/Flickr
Step 1: Organize your contacts
It’s important to remember where you met someone and what you spoke about. If you’re like me, after a busy conference you are left with a stack of business cards and an inability to connect names to faces. After you meet someone, take a moment to write down on their card where you met them and a few notes to remind yourself what you talked about.
For example, after I went to South by South West last year I simply wrote, “SxSW” on all the cards I collected. I also noted the panel, meet and greet, or concert where I had met them and wrote down and if I had promised to follow up on a conversation item with them.
Step 2: Establish an initial connection
To ensure the cards you have received don’t collect dust after the event, use social media to connect with the people you have met. Add them on LinkedIn and follow them on Twitter. Include a personal note such as, “Nice to meet you at the conference, I look forward to staying in touch,” when sending a follow request.
I tend to reserve Facebook for my personal family and friend contacts, but if you feel it’s appropriate, you may also reach out to them on that platform and be sure to “Like” their organization or project’s page. If they have a blog add it to your reader and comment on an entry or two you find compelling.
If you talked with someone about an article or resource that you promised to share, be sure to send it to them!
Step 3: Move the conversation offline
If you made a strong connection with someone and you want to learn more about what they do, invite them for coffee or lunch to continue your conversation.
Before sending an invitation, decide on your purpose for connecting with this person. Are you looking to get insight into how to advance in your current field? Do you want to learn about a new career path? Are you looking for someone to collaborate with who has a different skill set than yours?
You goal for connecting with your new contact will shape your conversation and the structure of your relationship, as least at first.
Send a friendly, concise email letting the person know it was nice to meet them, reminding them who you were, and asking if you might be able to talk further because you found their ideas, work or expertise compelling.
Step 4: Meet up again
Before meeting with your new contact, prepare yourself to make most out of your short time together. You want to make a good impression and be able to find out the information that you need. To prepare:
Michael Royce, the Executive Director at the New York Foundation for the Arts, suggests you treat everyone nicely when you network because you never know who they are connected to. To his advice I would add that networking and follow up are successful when you are both nice and strategic. When you reach out to a new connection, you also offer them your ideas, skills, and thoughts. Approach your follow up conversations with an open mind and a willingness to be generous and collaborative. The energy and time you take to genuinely connect will make you the kind of person people will extend themselves to help and that people want to meet.
What steps do you take to build your network after a conference?
Eleanor C. Whitney is a writer, arts administrator and musician living in Brooklyn, New York. She currently is a Program Officer at the New York Foundation for the Arts and is the author of the forthcoming book Grow: How to Take Your Do It Yourself Project and Passion to the Next Level and Quit Your Job, which will be released in the spring of 2013 on Cantankerous Titles
Are you afraid to speak up? (Photo Credit: Mustafa Khayat, Creative Commons/Flickr)
Recently, Mazarine over at Wild Woman Fundraising shared a list of mistakes she’s made in her career that she hopes others can learn from. While her post focuses on her work as a fundraiser, a major theme is speaking up about her needs when it comes to her work and her relationships with her colleagues. Here are a few a that stood out:
- Not insisting on monthly “check-ins” with my bosses, when they didn’t want to meet with me. I should have created my own monthly report and sent it to them and to the board.
- Not creating an “achievement plan” with my bosses, to show how I could move up in the organization, and what my metrics would be in the first year and in the second year working for them.
- Not having the “how do you like to communicate” conversation with my boss, which led to frustration because I didn’t want text messages and he didn’t want to answer his phone, read his email, or look at me when I came to see him.
- Confiding in board members about my issues with my boss, as they did not care and did nothing to help solve the issues, even after my boss was found stealing several times.
- Working so hard that I got sick with bronchitis and pneumonia.
- Not making sure that taking care of myself & my time with family and friends was my first priority.
- Not asking questions more of my peers and mentors in fundraising and in other fields.
- Thinking that I could really do it all in a fundraising shop, with 3 people’s jobs, when I ended up doing 10 things badly, when I could have done one or two things well.
How many of us have made mistakes like this in our career? Not asking for what we need, not setting boundaries, and not having clear expectations can easily make work unbearable, yet it seems difficult to speak up.
Do you struggle with asking for what you need at work? Have you made these mistakes?
Photo Credit: World Food Day US and Cananda, Flickr
Every night, 1 in 8 people goes to sleep hungry. To address this statistic, on Tuesday, October 16th, people around the world came together and participated in World Food Day, an annual event that since 1981 has encouraged people to take action to end hunger. While World Food Day has passed, if you’re interested in being part of this movement and changing that statistic for the better, there are plenty of jobs and internships on Idealist that focus on fighting hunger.
Finally, if none of the above postings appeal to you, don’t lose hope. You can always apply to be a beekeeper in Cameroon.
One of the most frustrating parts of the job search is trying to make your resume stand out. A good way to draw attention to your resume is to tailor it to the job you’re applying for. But how do you do this?
We recommend a small test: when your resume is drafted for a specific job opening, hand it to a friend and ask them, “Can you tell what job I’m applying for?”
What would your friend say about your resume? (Photo credit: anikarenina, Creative Commons/Flickr)
Upon glancing at your resume for a minute or less, your friend should be able to tell you what the new job entails. This is because the job description should be reflected throughout your resume in the following ways:
Have you tried this? How else do you make sure your resume reflects the job you’re applying for?
Do you have the time for professional development? (Photo Credit: ToniVC, Creative Commons/Flickr)
Last week, we shared low-cost professional development opportunities to help you take your career to the next level, without having to break the bank. However, there are other “costs” to consider when pursuing professional development, including time and attention. Caroline Ceniza-Levine recently explored theses hidden costs of professional development over at Forbes:
- Time
The best results from joining a professional association come from regular attendance at events and stepping up to committee work and leadership roles. The dues you pay are a fraction of the investment, compared to the time you’ll spend. Even a one-time conference is a longer-term time investment than most people think because the best results come from following up and expanding on relationships started at the conference. Before you select your next professional development activity, consider the time you will spend overall, not just in the activity itself. Do you have the time to follow through?
We couldn’t agree more with her points! We’re wondering: beyond finance, what do you think about before pursuing a professional development opportunity?
We love hearing stories about changemakers who find great opportunities on our website. We recently came across this piece from Aja Rigenbach, a student at Northwestern University on how she found and landed her first internship through Idealist:
I have been working as a “Program Assistant” (just a fancy word for “intern”) at an organization called WorldChicago. In general, WorldChicago hopes to promote citizen diplomacy by welcoming international visitors to the city and arranging professional meetings for them with leaders and community member in Chicago. Many of the visitors come through a specific program called the International Visitors Leadership Program which focuses in on a particular theme for discussions during their visits…
So how did I find this position? Honestly, it was kind of by chance. A friend from home told me about a website called idealist.org that posts jobs and internships for the more philanthropic/non-profit/NGO sector (I would actually recommend it to anyone interested in that work who has not found good job listings anywhere else). I was scrolling through it one day during spring quarter and noticed a summer intern position open at WorldChicago. After emailing the contact person, I quickly heard back that the position was full unless I would be available for late summer into September – what luck, thanks quarter system! So I was able to set up an interview at their office downtown and began my journey as an up-and-coming professional.
Read more about her journey — and questions she asked on her interview that wowed her interviewer — here on the Northwestern UCS Career Development Blog.
Last week, we shared some new ideas on how to approach your career. Today, guest blogger Eleanor Whitney provides some tips and resources on how to put your desire for professional development into action.
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by Eleanor Whitney
“Back to school” season started a few weeks ago, but the students among us are already buckling down to their books as the real work of the semester kicks in and midterm exams loom. Perhaps you feel a little left out of the learning frenzy because you are not a matriculated student.
However, just because you are not pursuing a degree or doesn’t mean you have to forgo learning or sharpening your professional skills. It’s especially helpful to know about lower cost classes if you are contending with student debt and unable to shell out more money for education. You too can learn more without breaking the bank!
Not a student? There’s still plenty of learning for you to do! (Photo Credit: CollegeDegrees360, Creative Commons/Flickr)
Here are a few basic strategies to finding further professional opportunities with an affordable price tag:
Join a professional organization
Any profession you can think of, from fundraisers, teachers, graphic designers, marketers, professors, and photographers, all have professional organizations they can join that offer networking opportunities, local and national events that promote professional development, and websites full of resources. For example, The Young Nonprofit Professionals Network supports emerging nonprofit leaders and has chapters all over the country. AIGA, the professional association for design, offers local chapters, job listings and student groups.
Go to a conference
Not all conferences are expensive affairs held at a fancy hotel. Many regional and local networks offer full or half-day conferences focused around a particular topic or theme that is relevant to your field. For example, when I was a Museum Educator I belonged to the New York City Museum Educators Roundtable (NYCMER), which held monthly workshops and an annual conference. This fall the University of Wisconsin—Parkside is offering a Nonprofit Leadership Conference and every summer the Allied Media Conference is held in the Midwest and tackles issues surrounding independent and nonprofit media production.
Think local
Your local public library, community college, Chamber of Commerce, Business Improvement District, Y, or arts council may offer professional development classes and networking opportunities you never knew existed. I’m always looking to see what the New York and Brooklyn Public Libraries have on offer. It’s exciting to see what free resources are out there!
Volunteer
Volunteering is a great way to share skills you already have, apply them to a new field, or try your hand at something new while giving back to the community. A great place to start looking for volunteer opportunities is, of course, Idealist. Other organizations like Catchafire and Taproot connect professionals with nonprofits who need a specific skillset – like design, accounting, marketing, etc – to help complete a project.
Hop online
The Internet has opened up how knowledge can be shared. Here are just a few options of organizations that offer low-cost professional development classes that are driven by social networking and crowd sourcing:
Skillshare.com is a “community marketplace for classes” that offers practical courses taught by working professionals. You can search classes by location or sign-up for online classes that include an in-person workshop component. You can also offer to lead sections yourself. Recent classes cover topics such as digital strategy workshops, sustainable business development, to building happiness at work. Local classes also give you an opportunity for meeting creative, professional and curious people from a variety of fields.
For those looking for a do-it-yourself approach to professional development, Tradeschool.coop is run by the creative barter organization OurGoods.org. Trade School celebrates “practical wisdom, mutual respect, and the social nature of exchange” and operates on a barter basis. If you have a skill to offer, and skills you want to learn, you can organize your own Tradeschool and get started!
Pursuing professional development can refresh your perspective, enable you to bring new ideas to your current position, and inspire you to explore a new professional direction.
What types of low-cost professional development have you found particularly interesting or effective?
Eleanor C. Whitney is a writer, arts administrator and musician living in Brooklyn, New York. She currently is a Program Officer at the New York Foundation for the Arts and is the author of the forthcoming book Grow: How to Take Your Do It Yourself Project and Passion to the Next Level and Quit Your Job, which will be released in the spring of 2013 on Cantankerous Titles.
Fall symbolizes wisdom and abundance; are you taking a similar approach to your career? (Photo credit: blmiers2, Creative Commons/Flickr)
On Saturday September 22nd, Autumn officially began here in the United States (so long, Summer!). Autumn symbolizes wisdom and fulfillment, making now a perfect time to explore how you can make the most of your career journey.
To help you get started, we’re sharing some interesting articles on new ways of thinking about your work. Next week, we’ll share some resources and opportunities to help you put your ideas into action.
Michele Martin, Career resolutions as a key to career thriving
Career resolutions are really the habits we create for ourselves that we do on a regular basis. How do we spend that first hour of work? What rituals have we created for ourselves daily, weekly, monthly?
Goals give us a sense of destination, while resolutions are the habits that can take us there. And even when our goals feel unclear, we can still keep our resolutions as a strategy for continuing to develop even if we feel stuck or lost.
Brazen Careerist, How to succeed as a multi-passion careerist
The problem with being multi-passionate isn’t the long list of interests, the bouncing between ideas or even wanting to “do it all.” The problem is when you don’t finish something. If you make a commitment to yourself and back down, you’re going to feel crappy about it.
Instead of trying to narrow your passions, just make sure you finish what you say you will. By completing whatever passion projects you start out on, you’ll get an extreme high that will continue to motivate you in pursuing your other interests.
Mark and Angel Hack Life, 11 ways successful people start their mornings
Put first things first. Successful people recognize that not all hours are created equal, and they strategically account for this when planning their day. For most of us, our minds operate at peak performance in the morning hours when we’re well rested. So obviously it would be foolish to use this time for a trivial task like reading emails. These peak performance hours should be 100% dedicated to working on the tasks that bring you closer to your goals.
Rosetta Thurman, New leadership for a new nonprofit sector, a manifesto
“What kinds of nonprofit leaders do we need now in order to effect social change? Real social change?
My sense is that there are four kinds of nonprofit leaders we need now:
True Believers
Ruthless Innovators
Ambassadors of Diversity
Courageous AdvocatesIf you’ve been following my work or reading my blog for a while, you’ve probably guessed the punchline already. I believe that we already have these kinds of leaders in our midst, but that we just need to do more to support and engage them more fully in the work.”
Blog of Impossible Things, Get disciplined, not motivated
Everywhere you go, you see people trying to get motivated to do something, to make a change. They’ll go read something, watch something or attend a conference and come away “motivated.” But that only leaves them “motivated”, it doesn’t move them to action.
“I’m motivated to do this”. “I’m motivated to do that”. Stop being motivated and just do it already! You don’t need more motivation – you need discipline.
See discipline is a whole different animal.
What have you read recently that has helped you think about your work?
Photo credit: live w mcs, Creative Commons/Flickr
Happy International Day of Peace, everyone! In 1981, the United Nations General Assembly declared the third Tuesday of each September the International Day of Peace. This day is dedicated to “strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples” and is observed by temporary ceasefire in combat zones by many states, political groups, military groups, and individuals. During these times of ceasefire, humanitarian aid is granted access into these zones.
The focus of this year’s observance is “Sustainable Peace for a Sustainable Future.” Conflicts often arise around control of natural resources, and sustainable peace often relies on sustainable development and good management of natural resources. In this week’s Opportunity Spotlight, we’ll take a look at ways to get involved in peace and sustainable development.
Across the world, organizations and individuals are looking at world peace not as a dream, but as an achievable goal. They’re organizing volunteers, funding and compiling research, influencing policymakers, and training stakeholders. World peace is a tall order, and there’s lots of work to be done.
How are you observing today’s International Day of Peace?
When it comes to finding a social-impact career, many of us spend time trying to answer big questions: What’s my passion? What kind of work do I want to do? What cause am I interested in?
But are these the kind of questions we should be asking?
Cal Newport (Photo Credit: Cal Newport)
To explore this a bit further, we interviewed Cal Newport, a Washington, DC-based writer and assistant professor of computer science at Georgetown University. He is the author of Study Hacks, a blog that dishes up thoughtful commentary on the themes of success and leading a meaningful life. In this interview he addresses the importance of expertise, the difference between mission-driven and passion, and how to make the best use of your time to increase your impact.
Idealist: Is there a difference between pursuing a mission driven career (i.e. committed to a cause or impact) and pursuing a passion? If so, how would you make that distinction?
Cal Newport: There is an important difference between pursuing a mission-driven career and pursuing a passion. The former doesn’t require you to figure out in advance what kind of mission will drive you. It is, instead, a commitment toward pushing your work toward something purposeful and important. The latter, by contrast, requires that you have figured out something in advance that you really want to do — which is rarely effective, especially for young people who don’t yet have much exposure to the world.
Idealist: A common thread in your writing is the importance of simplifying and focusing work to achieve excellence and impact. Do you think people and organizations tackling big social issues like poverty, for example, can apply the same methods?
Cal Newport: Absolutely. The best ideas tend to come from people with the most specialized expertise in the problem. This argues that if you want to make an impact, don’t start with the big idea, but instead start with the big commitment to immerse yourself in a problem you think needs solving. Don’t force the idea. Force yourself instead to develop your skills.
Idealist: You’ve written about psuedo-striving/busyness and how this actually stops people from being productive and successful. Why do you think people get caught up in this and how can people break through it, especially if we are trying to address issues that seem insurmountable?
Cal Newport: Pseudo-striving is that state you get in when you fill your whole day doing *stuff*, usually on the computer, that isn’t really pushing yourself to get better at your core skills. As a writer, for example, I could easily spend a full day monkeying around on twitter, and launching web projects, and tweaking WordPress. What really matters, however, is the longer term work of carefully researching and crafting prose — trying to make each project better than the last.
Cal’s latest book, “So Good They Can’t Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love,” is arriving on bookshelves on September 18th. Learn more and order your copy.
In this series, we like to explore different aspects of the social-impact sector. Today, we’re highlighting organizations and opportunities on our site that focus on women’s health.
We’re talking more about women’s health (Photo Credit: a.drian, Creative Commons/Flickr)
Planned Parenthood of New York City provides health services for over 50,000 New Yorkers every year, including gynecological care, contraception, pregnancy testing, abortion, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, and HIV testing and counseling. They’ve also been leaders in reproductive health education and advocacy, supporting legislation and policies that ensure universal access to reproductive health care. They’re currently hiring for nine positions from human resources to case management to assisting in direct care.
If your interests lie in policy and politics, check out the Women’s Campaign Fund. They support women running for all levels of political office to advance “political participation and leadership of women who support reproductive health choices for all.” WCF is currently seeking a Vice President of Development in Washington, DC. You’ll set goals, organize events, cultivate foundation and corporate support, and manage the development staff.
The Society for Women’s Health Research is a national nonprofit organization based in DC that seeks to advance women’s health through research, education, and advocacy. They lobby for funding for research into women’s health issues, create educational materials, hold educational events, and establish groups and campaigns that advance the study of women’s health. They’re currently looking for interns, so if you’re looking for experience in the field, be sure to check them out.
There’s are many different aspects of women’s health – from access to health services to inclusion in the political sphere to funding for research – and there are lots of ways to get involved. Be sure to visit our site to find the perfect opportunity for you!
How do you contribute to the causes that are important to you?
