Clark Schaefer Hackett’s Post

One of my favorite activities is volunteering with the League of Women Voters. Twice a year I help moderate candidate forums: one for the primaries and one for the November election. Listening to candidates answer questions is always fascinating. Some are pointed, some are confusing, some can’t follow the time clock, some don’t need their full time, and I even had a candidate sing their opening statement. Usually by the end of the half hour I know who I am voting for. I also enjoy volunteering in programs that are totally separate from my regular job. Whether I am volunteering with Jewish organizations, Evergreen State College or the League of Women Voters..it’s fun to participate in completely different areas of analysis and thinking. #volunteering #vote #candidateengagement #LeagueofWomenVoters #worklifebalance

Why does making a difference matter? #WescoDayOfCaring is more of a celebration but something deeper rooted in our culture. Our Wesco team members share why giving back is important and what it means to them. https://wes.co/4baOHwG #WescoCares #Volunteerism #GivingBack #CommunityService

In this video, Dom Kelly, Co-Founder, President & CEO of New Disabled South and New Disabled South Rising, describes the many barriers of exclusion and inaccessibility that philanthropy places on disabled activists who need funding, and shares how philanthropy can deconstruct those barriers.

From the article: “Nonprofits Are Vulnerable - The legal and political landscape to defend and protect diversity and inclusion is fraught and uncertain. It’s clear that any organization fighting for equity and justice risks being targeted. Nonprofits are especially vulnerable.” #Nonprofits #Philanthropy #AffirmativeAction

The tasks for #philanthropy are clear. Philanthropy must immediately halt its recent great retrenchment on #racialjustice funding. And foundations should not remove language signaling a commitment to racial justice or specific communities of color from their websites, grant applications, and grant programming. A new Supreme Court session started this week, and #civilrights are on the chopping block. #foundations #funding #philanthropicsector #nonprofits #giving #BIPOC #foundationleaders

It's Christmas! Well almost. For many of us, we're gearing down in the lead-up to the big day. But for many of our volunteers, especially those involved in local churches, they'll be hitting peak business for the year. If you know or manage a volunteer, here are three ways you could encourage them in this busy time: 1. Send them a Christmas Card signed by the team/office/yourself 2. Take an interest in their Christmas causes. Where are they giving their time, and *why*? 3. Ask about their Christmas plans. Who are they seeing? How will they celebrate the season? Reward and recognition don't always need to be big. Each of these suggestions is small and simple, but that's OK. Because each one communicates that you're thinking of them, that you care about them, and you're interested in what matters to them. And with volunteer recognition, much like Christmas gifts, it's the thought that counts. 🎅 #volunteers #volunteering #christmas

🌟 Join me in fostering inclusivity! 🌟 At Society for the Blind, they are dedicated to creating an environment where everyone feels valued and respected. With guidance from the Michigan State University Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities, the Society for the Blind team has compiled some simple tips to help sighted individuals interact comfortably with those who are blind. 1. Treat me as you would anyone else. I'm just an ordinary person who happens to be blind. 2. Speak to me directly, not through someone else. And please, no need to raise your voice. 3. Let me decide if I need assistance with mobility. Don't grab my arm; let me take yours if needed. 4. Introduce yourself when entering a room and include me in conversations. I want to know who's around. 5. Be mindful of hazards like partially opened doors, and give me a heads up. 6. If you need to step away from our conversation, excuse yourself verbally. I appreciate the courtesy. 7. I'm capable of managing on my own, but I'll ask for help if needed. 8. Feel free to use words like "see" around me. I use them too. 9. Remember, blindness is just one aspect of who I am. I have many other interests. 10. When we interact, maintain normal conversation to avoid collisions in common areas. 11. If you're speaking to me, look my way. I'm aware of your eye contact. 12. See me as a person first, not just a blind individual. Let's promote understanding and inclusivity together. Remember, in all fifty states, the law mandates drivers to yield to white canes and guide dogs. Let's continue building a world where everyone can navigate with confidence and respect. #InclusionMatters #AccessibilityAwareness #togetherwegotthis For more information check out the Society for the Blind Website: https://lnkd.in/g9uYbDsk

There is a lot of talk about diversity and equity in volunteer engagement, but what does that translate to in practice? Assessing Diversity and Equity in Volunteer Inclusion (ADEVI) is a multi-faceted investigation of the diversity of volunteer administrators and the equity journey of organizations they work in. The project's guiding principle is that organizations that are attuned to inclusiveness will be able to engage a more diverse cross-section of their communities. 💡 Check out the findings from surveys and focus groups with leaders who hold the Certification in Volunteer Administration (CVA). Insights are shared in reports, an infographic, blogs, and podcasts. The initiative is a partnership between Arizona State University (ASU) and the Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration (CCVA). It is funded by AmeriCorps. Thanks to the scholar-practitioner team of Mark Hager and Faiza Venzant, CVA for shining a light and leading the way forward on this topic. #volunteerengagement #lovols #nonprofit https://cvacert.org/adevi/

I loathe the term "voluntolds" - the disparaging remark for people doing community service to fulfill a court order or school requirement. They re often treated as "lesser" #volunteers. They should NOT be. My latest blog: