Levain Bakery’s Post

Why should you join the Safe Families Movement? Safe Families for Children has proven through evidence-based research that this movement of compassionate volunteers can help reduce the number of children entering the foster care system. For more information, here's our website: www.safe-families.org #JointheMovement #VolunteerWithUs #FamiliesNeedYou

Earn $7000 While Making a Difference in Your Community! Discover a life-changing program where students serve their community and receive a $7000 stipend. Watch to learn how they can also earn a $3000 education award by completing 450 hours of volunteer work. Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity! #CommunityService #VolunteerWork #MakeADifference #StudentProgram #StipendOpportunity #EducationAward #CommunityEngagement #ServiceToOthers #YouthEmpowerment #ChangeMakers

#Community In the hustle of our daily routines, it’s easy to overlook the silent pulse that keeps us grounded - our community. In a world that moves at breakneck speed, the true anchor is our community. It's where passion unites us, where we find support during setbacks, and where every success is amplified by shared joy. Community is not just about being together, it's about growing together. This design, a creation of my own, symbolizes the connectivity and collective strength we share. It's a reminder that together, we can weather any storm and celebrate every triumph. Community isn't just a place, it's our foundation and future. Let's cherish it, nurture it, and never take it for granted. Let’s invest in it, foster it, and watch as it transforms lives, including our own. #CommunityBond #StrengthInUnity #MyDesign #HeartOfCommunity Hereford Sixth Form College De Montfort University The Christian Broadcasting Network

This is what it is all about! Simply breaking bread together with strangers that become friends and community can be a revolutionary act. Here's to all of you amazing community builders out there, making it happen. It doesn't have to be complicated, expensive, or "perfect" - just real human connection. #designforconnection #socialhealth #communitybuilding

Des Moines' nonprofit community will always have my heart. Especially young professionals who are navigating early career opportunities. YNPN Des Moines (a group I helped start more than 10 years ago!) invited me back to lead one of their coffee discussions. I will admit that I was pretty nervous to speak on the topic of "balancing traditional professionalism vs. authenticity in the modern nonprofit workplace" because it's always felt like a struggle for me. The great thing about collective, open conversations is that I didn't have to hold all of the answers. And, by sharing my own challenges, I could help others realize they weren't alone. I've done a lot of reflecting in the years since I stepped away from working inside institutions, to understand how I can better channel the tension of bringing a different perspective to the table. Tension can create dynamic change, but how you hold that tension matters. The analogy I like to use is the difference between holding a bow & arrow with the potential to wound, and holding a guitar with the goal of getting everyone singing along. My leadership style is to 'challenge the process' and I can be pretty direct in my criticism. Taking a line of appreciative inquiry (outlined in the book I shared with the group—"Conversations Worth Having") can be a helpful approach to orient around shared vision and goals.

First, I love this video because the still is a glorious picture of the dreamiest colleague ever: Jess Nizar. Second, I love this because it's a #FlashbackFriday fabulous reflection on REDF's Community Retreat this past summer in Los Angeles. A blissed out few days where we convened 150 entrepreneurs from around the country to lean on and learn from each other and let magic flow. Great wisdom dropped by the amazing: - Michael Hollingsworth of Nu-Way Staffing - David Sall of Conservation Corps of Long Beach - Robin Kumabe of Touch A Heart - Matthew Cuff of Just Q'in BBQ - Meg Erskine of The Refugee Collective - Tracey Williams of urban university and - Father Greg Boyle. S. J. of Homeboy Industries Through their voice, I feel in deep community with folks that Tracey calls "our people", I feel humbled to have REDF be seen as part funder, part educator, and really community builder by Meg, I feel energized to follow Matthew wherever he goes with his "hair on fire" with new ideas, I feel washed over in deep connection with the human spirit when Father Boyle reminds us that the people we have the honor to serve are exactly right just as they are, and that as "they heal, and they let love live through them, then they will recognize the talents that they have". It is the honor of my career to be in partnership with this country's most tenacious social entrepreneurs. Like Robin says, we are part of a movement and together, we can bring this ecosystem to the next level. Let's go. #InclusiveEconomy #Employment #SocialEnterprise

𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐧𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐔𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐧 𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐞 I mentored and chaired my second Dock-Branch-Neighbourhood Community Panel this morning.  We pressed the accelerator three weeks ago, and changed up through a couple of gears this morning! We are looking to triple the size of the panel and diversify the membership ready to take on the challenge of co-designing a Community Framework. Currently there are numerous masterplans, initiatives, projects, and consultation events that it leaves you dizzy. The Panel was born into this powerful wave of regenerative activity to ensure the community voice is heard, but so far it has been playing catch up. Over the next couple of months, they will be reviewing all the plans that will affect the current and future communities in Birkenhead and pulling out the key strands that will shape the quality of life and opportunities for the people that live, work, and visit here in the coming decades. In the New Year we will start to engage this wider community in a series of co-design workshops to build upon these strands to create a community-led process. Several challenges were addressed in today’s meeting:  • The idea of the Dock Branch Neighbourhood has come from the top. The community think that they live in Birkenhead, a famous “village” on the Mersey.   • Nobody has heard of the Dock Branch Community Panel - some ask “what company is that” because there are so many consultants here! We are Community Champions and need to start championing. • Young people need to be central to everything that we do – and for them to become the ‘we’ in this place. • This is also a ‘trauma landscape’ – we must ensure that all design is trauma informed, equitable and a supportive public realm emerges quick

Looking for resources and opportunities? Here are 4 Minnesota-based programs and grants (links in comments) ⬇ 🌱 BETA's accelerator is accepting applications for its fall cohort geared towards scalable tech-enabled products and services. 🌱 Nexus Community Partners' ROOT Sabbatical Fellowship is now accepting applications for BIPOC movement leaders. Apply by 8/26. 🌱 If you are a CEO of a second-stage business looking to grow into larger markets, consider applying by 9/15 for CEO Next through Elevate Hennepin! 🌱 Northland Foundation's Maada'ookiing Grants award up to $5,000 to Native American-led community building. Apply by 9/15. Have an opportunity that you want to share with the impact community? Add a link in the comments!

Why It Matters

"There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about." – Margaret J. Wheatley Today's #gratitude post comes to appreciate interesting and powerful communities I've discovered and enjoyed, that have truly discovered what they stand for. Not what the founding team stands for, but one that shares a common care with each participating member. It's not an exaggeration to say that I've explored dozens of "communities" so far, both local and overseas. But true communities like Cammunity are pretty rare to come by; where the community mission resonates strongly with participating members every month. Where each member feels very welcomed; almost like it's another home. #safespace Where there's a mix of extroverts and introverts, its fine if someone doesn't talk a lot. But yet there's a lot of great sharing and discussions. Where feedback is taken very seriously (yet improvements are executed in a fun way...like a campfire!) Where the momentum and bonds between members are growing strong over months. It's very welcomed; and truly very appreciated. Sometimes, it really feels like the right community is "air-dropped" onto me when I'm looking for it. And even "wrong communities" are there to show me the possible improvements and things to be appreciated! Also, is it me or has there been more and more attempts to build communities lately? #media #marketing