Chinn+Moscone Creative Partners

'Tis the non-profit season for the onslaught of fundraising appeals. Before making a donation, consider doing due diligence by researching the organization's 990 (tax return). The FY23 990s are just starting to get posted on Guidestar and you'll want to make sure that you understand the organization's financial strength and/or risk...and if you feel they are sustainable enough to warrant your donation. Another excellent resource is Charity Navigator which ranks and scores organizations based on their financials and accountability. Charity Navigator will also issue a caution message for orgs who have low scores and who are delinquent in key areas. If you or your team needs help learning how to pore through a 990 to assess an organization, give us a call. We are happy to provide this service to you. #chinnmoscone #charitynavigator #guidestar

Workplace harm. We've all experienced it to various degrees and some are responsible for that harm. I have learned so much about the power of restorative justice practices from my friend, Judge Abby Abinanti, who serves as the Chief Judge for the Yurok Tribe (Klamath, CA). Judge Abby is the first Native American woman admitted to the State Bar of California. Under her leadership, the Yurok Tribal Court administers one of the most advance justice systems in Indian Country. The Court is steeped in the philosophy of restorative justice (as opposed to punitive) which honors the Yurok Tribe's village values. This traditional approach to dispute resolution aims to create space for the offender to take responsibility for their transgressions, while working directly with those who were harmed so that both sides decide the best course of action to correct the wrong. I've experienced those who refused to take responsibility in the workplace - thereby deepening the harm - and those who have shown grace in extending meaningful apologies to restore relationships. Judge Abby has helped me be the kind of leader to anchor my leadership tenets based on restorative practices. It is not easy and I'm always learning how to do better. Thank you, Judge Abby, for being an inspiration to me and to so many! #yuroktribe #restorativejustice #abbyabinanti #workplaceharm

Not all is doom and gloom. There are still benefactors who invest in organizations who do meaningful work in their greater communities. Congrats to Kelly Ruggirello who is one of the finest leaders in the biz!

What a THRILL to know that Yurok Tribal Judge Abby Abinanti is a fan of my recent book, "Year of the Dragon: A Colorable Graphic Memoir". Judge Abby, as she is known, is California's first Native American female lawyer. She dispenses justice based on Native values. When I visited with her, she showed me her courtroom in Klamath, CA. She does not adjudicate from up on high; she sits at ground level and focuses on eye-level restorative justice. It is a practice that I have since tried to advocate in the workforce -- to attempt to move towards those who harmed you with a sense of grace and restoration. It's hard work and it goes against my New Yawker "I'll show you" DNA, but it is a form of self-growth that I'm committed to undertake as inspired by Judge Abby. When she learned that I wrote "Dancing in Their Light" in 2022, she was among the first to promote it among the Yurok Tribe and among the general tribal community. Such a generous and supportive friend.....thank you, Judge Abby! #yuroktribe #restorativejustice #abbyabinanti