Alesa Mackool’s Post

Leadership in Action: Explore Reach For Me as Michael Boylan, founder/CEO and visionary, articulates the strategic and personal motivations behind establishing Reach For Me. This video provides an in-depth perspective on Michael's professional journey and the innovative solutions crafted to support families of special needs children. Watch as Michael discusses the challenges faced and the triumphs achieved in building a network that not only supports but also empowers caregivers and their families. Learn about the steps we're taking to improve lives through dedicated advocacy and community engagement. 🔗 Visit ReachFOrMe.com and learn how your skills and support can contribute to our cause. Discover the full scope of our mission and how we're making a tangible impact in the special needs community. hashtag#ReachForMe hashtag#LeadershipInsights hashtag#InnovativeCaregiving hashtag#ProfessionalEmpowerment

At Amplify Voices, our commitment doesn't end at the conclusion of our program. We're proud to support and amplify the voices of our alumni who tirelessly advocate for the causes close to their hearts. Keelin Washington, a dedicated Survivor Advocate, Amplify Voices Speaker graduate of "Triumph Over Trafficking", uses her voice and platform to shine a light on the dark realities of human trafficking, advocating for stronger protective measures, support systems for survivors, and increased public awareness to prevent exploitation. It is commonly mentioned that events like the Super Bowl can see a spike in human trafficking activity. While there is no specific data to support these claims, these large events have the potential to increase the opportunity for human trafficking due to the influx of people. “The hard truth about it is anytime there is a large group of men and money, the buying and selling of people goes through the roof.” - Keelin Washington. Keelin’s efforts to educate and inform the public about this global crisis demonstrate the power of using one’s voice for change. Let's support Keelin and all our Amplify graduates who continue to make a difference. 💜 (Huge thanks to Tatiana Coleman for her time and talent in creating this video!) #Amplifyvoices #AdvocacyInAction #advocacyincubator #HumanTraffickingAwareness #BeTheChange

Whether you like it or not, 2024 is a presidential election year! Faith-based nonprofits and their employees, directors, officers, and volunteers often care deeply about political affairs. And for good reason. The political candidates we elect and the laws our governments enact seriously impact religious liberty, the work of faith-based nonprofits, and many issues central to preserving our civic life. But there is a well-known tension: faith-based nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status are limited in their ability to advocate for political issues and candidates. Napa Legal's latest resource explains the basics on lobbying, issue advocacy, and campaign activity for 501(c)(3) organizations and includes a sample policy to protect your organization. Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/eF_5A3Wb

Feeling like your nonprofit’s good work is under the microscope this election season? Check out our latest pod to learn more about how to prepare for the possibility of politically motivated attacks.

🤲 Much like the movement we represent, Plunkett cannot do it all alone. 💪 In fact, there is demonstrable benefit when we are working with others - such as BCT, Future Economy Alliance and We're Right Here - to call for change, or seeking to influence the direction of future policy direction which impacts our sector. 💻 Read Chris Cowcher's blog about the ways we collaborate with others and the other ways we represent our members and champion the work they do. 👉 https://lnkd.in/eydC_Rpk #policychange #advocacy #charityadvocacy #collaboration  Chris Johnes

If you are involved with a nonprofit, either as an employee or volunteer, it is important to understand the things you can - and cannot - do with regard to politics, especially during election season. Check out this video from my highly talented and knowledgeable Steptoe & Johnson PLLC colleague, Katherine David. https://lnkd.in/e6jmatNN

Usually we talk about how nonprofits and foundations engage in advocacy. Our next two blogs are different. We focus on how foundations and nonprofits can increase voter participation in the United States. This will make people uneasy because it smacks of politics. We think it essential. Advocacy only has impact when leaders are fairly elected to listen and act. https://lnkd.in/eiZFYjPu

David Ogilvy, the Father of Advertising, once advised: 'Tell your prospective client your weaknesses before they notice them. This will make you more credible when you boast about your strong points.' The nonprofit sector is losing public trust, in part because we focus solely on sharing our success stories while avoiding discussions of our failures. Yet, people see those failures every day—driving past homeless encampments, they witness the gaps in our system. To rebuild trust, we must be transparent, sharing not just our victories but also our challenges and setbacks. It's human nature to hide our mistakes, much like no one proudly announces their failures at a class reunion. But authenticity, openness, and honesty are what resonate with people—and that's what's missing in the homeless sector. By communicating the whole truth, we can start to rebuild the trust that has been lost.

"True Healing Happens When Justice Changes." 🛑 Pause for a moment: What if justice wasn’t just about punishment but about healing people and restoring communities? Through restorative justice, we help not only those impacted by the system but also survivors of violent crime. Our mission is to create spaces where people can heal, have meaningful conversations, and work together to rebuild and create communities of healing. Restorative justice is about more than addressing harm—it’s about accountability, repairing relationships, and creating understanding. It’s a powerful way to heal both individuals and communities, offering everyone a chance to move forward together. Thought Starter: Could empathy and open conversations lead to safer, stronger communities? HDA is dedicated to strategies that truly make a difference. By building partnerships and improving our programs, we’re pushing toward a more compassionate and effective justice system for everyone, including survivors. Let’s start a conversation! How do you think restorative justice can reshape our society for the better? #RestorativeJustice #CommunityHealing #JusticeThatHeals #SurvivorSupport #SocialImpact #NonprofitWork

These are the stories of those impacted by youth violence and the extreme sentencing of youth who have found transformative healing through restorative justice. Survivors. Families. Communities. Condemned children. In our new story bank, 'Restorative Stories,' we'll regularly feature members of our community who have embraced restorative justice and transformative healing as models for resolving conflict, repairing harm, and finding healing. https://lnkd.in/e7QidxCg