From The Suggestion Box with Nicole Smith

In this episode, we discuss why HR professionals should take a closer look at leaders of volunteers for open roles, especially given their strengths in people management, culture building, training, and mission alignment. We unpack the shared skills, strategies, and leadership strengths that make volunteer engagement professionals uniquely effective across sectors. We also explore why nonprofit an...

Today, we informally talk about informal volunteering. If you are not someone who is steeped in the nonprofit or volunteer engagement world, how do you organize to do something good in your community? Travis Doobay, Chef, wanted to do just that. Learn the challenges he faced, why he changed his mind about bureaucracy in nonprofits, why support and resources for anyone who is trying organize volunt...

If someone told you, “You are a fish out of water and are living a fragmented life,” how would you respond? Are you sure you are a good leader? How do you know? This session will help you figure that out. We are talking about growth: Growth hurts, don’t be afraid to be pruned or broken. Honest self-assessment is vital for effective leadership. Contact: Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/traydead...

Title: Is Everyone Welcome?   Description: Faiza Venzant, CVA and Mark Hager return to share updates and insights regarding their recent research study funded by AmeriCorps surrounding inclusivity. They encourage us to imagine what an environment would feel like if no one was left out and provide tools to help you bring that dream to a reality. They share advice about why you shouldn’t let fear of...

An invigorating conversation, Dr. Helen Timbrel, Rob Jackson and Chris Wade share various perspectives on the idea that “volunteer engagement professionals are just HR for volunteers”. We tackle topics such as why you rarely hear of the position of VP of Volunteer Engagement, career trajectories for Volunteer Engagement Professionals, and the age-old question, if we don’t ask HR to manage 200 peop...

In this episode, I sit down with Jessica Pang-Parks to dive into the challenges nonprofits face with the scarcity mindset and some uncomfortable truths about the sector. We explore how the fear of competition often holds organizations back and why embracing collaboration and partnership is the key to driving impact. Jessica shares her insights on how we can shift our mindset from scarcity to abund...

Podcast Episode Description:    Anshul , Blood Bank of Delmarva Volunteer, joins  Angela Williamson , CVA and I to share how his views on volunteerism have drastically changed after volunteering. He discusses how he didn’t truly understand the value of volunteers and was skeptical that they could be reliable or dedicated, and had doubts that a team of volunteers could actually make an impact.  He...

Title: Let Go of Perfection: How to Be an Accessibility Asset Description: In this episode, Alec Lawson and I are talking about all things accessibility and acknowledging the fact that if you aren’t talking about accessibility you aren’t doing DEAI at all. Alec discusses how working with people with disabilities has enhanced his programs, what audio description is, and why cost isn’t a viable excu...

Severina Ware, CVA shares her incredible background that led her into the field of Volunteer Engagement. She discusses imposter syndrome, how she overcame it and the importance of always showing up into any room as a student ready to learn something new (even about a topic you are already familiar with). She shares how she overcame the “you are new here so you don’t know how things work” when her...

Faiza Venzant, CVA, and Mark Hager share fascinating insights regarding their recent research study funded by AmeriCorps surrounding Assessing Diversity and Equity in Volunteer Inclusion We chat about whether DEAI is really still even relevant, DEAI initiatives disappearing from certain industries, the lack of adequate DEAI training opportunities and the “adversity of diversity”. We discuss the co...

Publication date: 9/15 Description: Jerome shares the content and logistics of the new project he is a part of and why this book isn’t just for volunteer engagement managers, but nonprofit CEOs, those who work in academia, those who work in for-profit CSR, or even the HR director. He speaks candidly about being a person of color in the profession of Social Impact and Volunteer Engagement, the valu...

Description: Breauna Dorelus drops some knowledge in ways you may not have heard before. We address what to do when accused of white saviorism, what to do if you are made to feel unwelcome as a white volunteer, why pity will never take you to the next level of impact, and why context is king. Sit down and buckle up buttercup, you are in for a ride. Connect with Breauna Linkedin: https://www.linked...

2022 AL!VE Impact Award Winners Angela Williamson, CVA, and Susan Sanow CVA share about their Impact Award Winning Experience. Resources from the episode: Engage Journal - https://engagejournal.org   Transforming Disruption to Impact: Rethinking Volunteer Engagement for a Rapidly Changing World Brag Better -   More About Angela Angela Williamson, CVA, appreciates the many people who have shared in...

Description: The only thing constant in life is change. Adriane and Eric share how to not only navigate that change but practically predict it so you can prepare and respond to it; not react to it. They talk about current trends in our sector…and outside of it…. because they all matter. It’s amazing what you can see when you look at something differently. I encourage you to give it a try. You are...

Title: Welcoming Neurodivergent Volunteers: Easier Than You May Think Description: Sarah discusses the magic of Chat GBT, helps us to understand the difference between Neurodiverse and Neurodivergent and how, through universal design, your program can not only be welcome to Neurodivergent volunteers, but ALL volunteers. We talk about why there is no growth in your safety zone, safe spaces vs brave...

Description: Traci and Kayla stop by to talk about the Supportive Environment for Effectiveness (S.E.E. ) model.  They also chat about the importance of professional development, building infrastructure within volunteer engagement, what they love (and hate) about collaboration, presenting at Points of Light, being ambassadors for REDIRECT and how to choose worthy group project partners. Connect wi...

When someone asks you to interview you on your podcast, what do you say? No! Well, I didn’t and so here we are. Angela Williamson, CVA, and Carrie Hart, CVA interview me for my own podcast. It was weird. They asked hard questions and I edited those answers out, but what was left was really good too! I mean it was over an hour and who wants to hear all of that? Carrie said there were multiple truth...

Description: Erin shares her thoughts (in a very HILARIOUS way) on the difference between management and leadership, screening in vs screening out, the fact that YOU MATTER, why you should speak up (especially when you don’t think you should) and being a contributor to the textbook that is shaping so many CVA’s. Oh! She talks about her New E-Book New Voices and Perspectives and what inspired her t...

Description: Monica talks about taking risks, the rewards it can lead to and the importance of speaking truth to power. She shares her thoughts about why it is just as important to follow as lead and encourages listeners to “lead from their chair.”   A little more about Monica:  Monica Jasso is the Director of Engagement for Girl Scouts of the Desert Southwest encompassing West Texas and Southern...

Description: Traci and Nicole discuss different ways to monetize your volunteer program. Shares her challenges and hilarious stories regarding corporate volunteering events that brought in over one million dollars for her organization and Nicole shares about being awarded a grant for her volunteer program. A little more about Traci: Traci Blue is a Community Relations Management professional with...

I sit down with three incredible ladies who talk about their experience winning the AL!VE impact awards and they share why you should nominate someone......including yourself. Sit back, listen and laugh with Brenda, Morgan, Andrea, and I. Be inspired.  Morgan's Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mgreengriffin/   Andrea's Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-hill-mpa-cnp-cva-...

I had a chance to sit with past AL!VE Impact Award winners regarding their experience and what it meant to them. See below to learn more about each winner!    Susan began working for the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education in 1996. She manages an over 1200 volunteer base for the Foundation’s statewide programs. She is a graduate of the ASU Lodestar Non-Profit Administration progr...

I had a chance to sit with past AL!VE Impact Award winners regarding their experience and what it meant to them. See below to learn more about each winner!    Susan began working for the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education in 1996. She manages an over 1200 volunteer base for the Foundation’s statewide programs. She is a graduate of the ASU Lodestar Non-Profit Administration progr...

Tim Suda shares his experiences of leading 1000+ volunteers across multiple markets and the organization's focus is to meet volunteers where. He shares how to overcome the uncomfortable feeling with empowering volunteers to run EVERYTHING or at least more than we currently do, and the phenomenal impact it has had on his organization. He discusses how trust plays a major role in the success of...

Tim Suda shares his experiences of leading 1000+ volunteers across multiple markets and the organization's focus is to meet volunteers where. He shares how to overcome the uncomfortable feeling with empowering volunteers to run EVERYTHING or at least more than we currently do, and the phenomenal impact it has had on his organization. He discusses how trust plays a major role in the success of...