Leadership Learning Series

Held April 8, 2021

Revolutionary Love Valarie Kaur

“Revolutions do not happen only in grand moments in public view but also in small pockets of people coming together to inhabit a new way of being.” –Valarie Kaur

On April 8, 2021 we held a powerful and inspiring discussion with renowned author, TED presenter, civil rights activist, filmmaker, lawyer and Sikh American voice, Valarie Kaur. Valarie shared from new book, See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love which she describes as “a radical and joyful practice to heal ourselves and transform the world around us.”

Attendees learned about the Revolutionary Love Project, a movement and practice to help transform American culture and politics that centers on love for others, our opponents, and ourselves. The Revolutionary Love Project offers calls to action, tools, inspiration, and support to fight for social justice through the ethic of love.

As Michelle Alexander, author of The New Jim Crow, wrote, “See No Stranger is rooted in radical honesty, vulnerability, and fierce commitment to building a world in which we all belong. Her powerful memoir offers a moral compass for our time.”

This session was moderated by INP’s President and CEO, Yolanda Coentro.

Held March 3, 2021

Belonging and Beyond: A Dialogue on Bringing Our Whole Selves to Work Featuring Mohamad Chakaki

We held a dialogue on the journey of bringing your whole self to work. What does it look like to “show up” unapologetically as yourself in the workplace? What must you juggle, release, or create to feel a deep sense of belonging? When might you choose not to belong? Following a dynamic dialogue among the speakers, attendees had an interactive, expanded reflection. Featuring Mohamad Chakaki, Senior Fellow at Center for Whole Communities, with special guests Hauwa Abubakar, Senior Capacity Building Coordinator, Office of the NYC Mayor and Kapi’olani A. Laronal, Coach & Consultant. The session was moderated by INP Faculty Director, Aviva Luz Argote.

Held February 25, 2021

Scenario Building and Contingency Planning Featuring Hilda Polanco

While nonprofits cannot predict the future, they can begin to anticipate how they would adjust to shifts in their original strategic and operating plans and budgets so they are equipped to make timely and complex decisions in the months ahead. Developing scenarios and back up plans can give leaders, their staff, and boards the confidence to press on and continue to deliver on mission.

The Founder and Managing Partner of BDO FMA, Hilda Polanco, illustrated the concepts of scenario planning and introduced tools to help nonprofit leaders develop detailed financial scenarios. BDO FMA is a nationally recognized capacity builder that philanthropic and nonprofit leaders nationwide turn to for guidance in nonprofit financial management issues. This session included special guest, Dominique Jones, Executive Director of the Harlem Boys & Girls Club, and was moderated by INP’s Chief Strategy Officer and EVP, Patrick Kirby.

Held February 3, 2021

Bridging or Breaking: Building a World Where We All Belong Featuring john a. powell

“It is an absolute human certainty that no one can know his own beauty or perceive a sense of his own worth until it has been reflected back to him in the mirror of another loving, caring human being.”

As the pace of change in our world intensifies, the need to belong and be in community is increasingly paramount. There are many paths we can take to respond to this moment: some encourage greater cooperation, collaboration, and solidarity, while others incite fear, polarization, and competition. This important and timely conversation with Dr. john a. powell, an internationally recognized expert in the areas of civil rights, civil liberties, structural racism, housing, poverty, and democracy explored the concept of belonging and how to move beyond othering to advance our collective progress.

Listen to understand what is required, from an individual to an institutional level, to strengthen practices and principles that offer a path forward toward a world where all belong. This session was be moderated by INP’s Chief of Staff and Executive Vice President, Erica Hamilton.

Held January 27, 2021

How To Be An Antiracist Featuring Dr. Ibram X. Kendi

“The only way to undo racism is to consistently identify and describe it—and then dismantle it.”

Dr. Ibram X. Kendi’s concept of antiracism reenergizes and reshapes the conversation about racial justice in America-but even more fundamentally, points us toward liberating new ways of thinking about ourselves and each other. Instead of working with the policies and system we have in place, Dr. Kendi asks us to think about what an antiracist society might look like, and how we can play an active role in building it*.
*from www.ibramxkendi.com 

For more information on Ibram X. Kendi, please visit www.prhspeakers.com

Held January 14, 2021

Lean Impact: How Innovation and Agility Can Accelerate Your Social Mission Featuring Ann Mei Chang

Do you want to tackle one or more problems facing people and the planet, but aren’t sure how to make a meaningful dent? Transformative change will not be achieved through business as usual. By building on best practices for innovation that have emerged from Silicon Valley, we can deliver greater bang for the buck by running lightweight experiments, driving fast feedback loops, and accelerating learning. The result will better address real needs, improve cost-effectiveness, and unleash the possibility of true scale. Through inspiring stories drawn from her interviews with over 200 organizations across sectors and geographies, Ann Mei shared both the theory and the practice behind successful social innovation. This session was moderated by INP’s Chief Strategy Officer and EVP, Pat Kirby.

Held December 17, 2020

Progress Powered By People: Investing in BIPOC Leaders and Their Organizations Featuring Vu Le

As our sector confronts the impacts of COVID-19, systemic racism, and economic devastation, the risk of burnout for social sector leaders is increasing exponentially. This is especially true for BIPOC leaders.

We held an important discussion with accomplished social justice leader, author, and creator of the popular blog, Nonprofit AF, Vu Le, about how we can collectively support BIPOC leaders to remain in the sector and ensure their organizations continue to thrive.

Vu spoke with candor, urgency, and humor, drawing from personal experience as a former Executive Director leading an organization working to build the capacity and leadership of organizations led by communities of color.

This session was moderated by INP President and CEO, Yolanda Coentro, and featured special guests Lisa Fortenberry, Executive Director of Camp Harbor View; Jesús Gerena, CEO of Family Independence Initiative (and INP alum); and Tanya Ramos, CEO of Pencils of Promise.

Held December 3, 2020

Creating Calm in Chaos: An Introduction To Mindful Social Impact Leadership Featuring Adam Sutton

On December 3, 2020, we held an engaging and energizing mind-body, virtual gathering created exclusively for social impact leaders to help you stay centered, clear, and connected, to yourself and those you lead.

This intro to mindfulness practice included breathwork, meditation, and other simple techniques for you and your team. It was also a chance to just come together with one another to give and get some support during this intense and challenging time. Featuring inspirational speaker, executive leadership coach, and longtime mindfulness practitioner and teacher, Adam Sutton, and facilitated by INP Faculty Director, Aviva Luz Argote.

Held November 10, 2020

The Art of Leading For Good: A Conversation With Michael J. Sandel Featuring Michael J. Sandel

World-renowned philosophy professor Michael Sandel has written, spoken, and taught extensively on the subjects of opportunity and justice. He joined us to discuss the election outcomes and discuss his latest book The Tyranny of Merit: What’s Become of the Common Good?  With immense gratitude to our generous supporters Sue and Bernard Pucker, this event was free to the public.

Held October 29, 2020

A Path To Organizational Recovery Featuring Angela Blanchard

The pandemic is challenging nonprofit leaders and their teams to design and implement plans to recover from its devastating impact. Success at this task will require the best wisdom and advice. Lessons learned from the response to disasters is the foundation for COVID-19 recovery and for sustaining a vibrant nonprofit sector.

Angela Blanchard joined us to share her wisdom and deep experience as a distinguished domestic and global leader in community development and in times of crisis.

Held September 29, 2020

Beyond Collaboration: Strategic Alliances, Mergers & Other Reimagined Organizational Structures Featuring Scott Cotenoff and Mya Varno

COVID-19 has forced so many leaders to re-evaluate capacity. From furloughs to layoffs, many organizations are finding themselves in positions that require additional operational and financial capacity. Some leaders are now turning to developing a shared services strategy through outsourcing needs and program/service collaboration.

This webinar was presented by La Piana Consulting, a leading national consulting firm with over two decades of experience working with nonprofits and foundations on strategic planning, mergers and alliances, and organizational development.

Held September 24, 2020

Our Election, Our Role: How an Organization’s Proximity to Community Can Catalyze Civic Engagement Featuring Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg

As we face a pandemic and grapple with a racial reckoning in our country, the 2020 presidential election is possibly the most important election in our lifetimes. Many are looking for ways to leverage their influence and power to ensure access to voting is widespread and unhindered.

Research shows that nonprofits can play an important role in getting out the vote and ensuring that communities, especially those who are historically marginalized, can fully engage in the democratic process.

In this session, participants heard about the research and learned from leaders in the field who are effectively empowering community members to leverage place, power and proximity to promote civic engagement.

Held September 9, 2020

Flexible Working: The New Landscape to Sustain Connection And Progress Featuring State Street Corporation

The way we work has changed. Whether you call it “telecommuting,” “working from home,” “job sharing,” “compressed schedule,” or something else, now more than ever flexibility has become a critical business strategy – not only to increase employee engagement and retention, but also as a key component of business continuity, resiliency, and real estate optimization. The pandemic forced all of us to grow our “flexibility” muscles.

This session was presented by leaders from State Street Corporation with practitioner voices from HopeWell Inc. and uAspire.

Held June 3, 2020

How to Build Your Generosity Network in a Time of Uncertainty Featuring Jennifer McCrea

We partnered with Jennifer McCrea, Senior Research Fellow at the Hauser Institute for Civil Society at Harvard University and nationally recognized speaker and writer on the topic of fundraising.

In this session, participants learned how to: 1) reframe the practice of fundraising away from a difficult, often tiresome practice, to an energizing process of partnership-building to foster dynamic results; 2) source and engage new philanthropic partners; 3) make an effective ask; 4) reflect on the “art” of gatherings, including virtual gatherings; and 5) reflect on obstacles that are blocking the flow of resources to your work.