Sherri Carpineto’s Post

🌟 Invoking Conversations on Privilege 🌟 At The Rock Cheltenham, we believe in nurturing not just the talents, but also the empathy and awareness of our young members. Last week, during our evening groups, we delved into a crucial discussion on privilege. We orchestrated an eye-opening activity where our youths stood in a line, taking steps forward or backwards based on statements reflecting positive or negative privileges they have experienced. It was a powerful visual representation of the varying advantages and disadvantages individuals face from the outset. Once the young people could see where everyone was stood they noticed that some people were standing in front and some behind. Showing that everyone had a different start in life depending on their privilege. The activity aimed not only to raise awareness but also to instil a deeper understanding of the disparities in privilege that exist within our society. By seeing firsthand how privilege can shape one's starting point in life, our participants gained valuable insights into the complexities of social dynamics. Through initiatives like this, we strive to foster empathy, critical thinking, and a sense of social responsibility in our young members. Together, we can create a more inclusive and equitable future for all. #YouthEmpowerment #SocialAwareness #InclusionMatters #TheRockCheltenham #CommunityEngagement

🏳️🌈 Excited to share: just completed a LinkedIn Learning course on Allyship. Understanding the aspects of allyship isn't just about tolerance or acceptance, it's about active advocacy and creating spaces where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued.  LinkedIn Learning Couse Link Below: https://lnkd.in/gw3p_iJu 

Community Service Projects: Participate in community service projects as a family, emphasizing the importance of serving others. The Article: #BeAccountable ▸ https://lttr.ai/AMji0 #accountable #LocalVolunteerOpportunity #CareerExplorationActivities #ShareStoriesHighlighting #WiseSonHears #FosterOpenCommunication #BibleStudyDiscussions #EncouragesSpeakingTruthfully

When you think of “community” – what comes to mind? Or perhaps a better question…WHO would you consider to be a part of your community? Be sure not to limit yourself to proximity connections. Would you like inspiration to explore that topic further? This week’s article focuses on finding your #community and why it’s essential to your future growth, whatever season of life you are walking through. Jump in here: https://bit.ly/45EFHxR #FindYourCommunity #CommunityMatters #SandBoxxCommunity #accountability #motivation #support

Have you dropped by Kāpiti Council to have your say? - there’s a community engagement hub set up in the foyer so you can communicate what matters to you! Lately, I’ve been feeling a little more assured by some of the values coming through from local leadership. As humans, we’re built for connection. So when we park the egos, deeply listen to one another, and build a shared vision of what life ahead looks like, cool things start to emerge! We won’t get it right all the time, and we’ll have different opinions for sure…..but isn’t it great to be doing it together and learning from one another along the way? I mean who wants to be the person with all the answers anyway? How boring and isolated would that be! Thanks for setting up this engagement hub #KāpitiCoastDistrictCouncil. Finding more inclusive ways for community to come forward and share their ideas, wisdom, and learnings is top notch in my books! If we don’t talk, no one can listen! Have your say 💚 #youth #mentalhealth #manawhenua #codesign #protectourenvironment #authenticpartnerships #communityspaces #communityleddevelopment 💜 TALK. Communications 💜

So what’s your definition of community “engagement”?! When I ask groups this question, I get many different answers and most of them are doing it wrong. Here are some things that are a must for authentic community engagement: ✅ Involving the community from Day 1. Pre day 1 preferably! If you don’t know what the community wants and needs, you’re already starting off wrong. . ✅ Recognizing community members as experts. Leave your ego at the door. Everybody at the table should have equal voice. Members of the community you serve should have shared leadership with you. . ✅ Being aware of your own individual biases towards that community or individuals who have similar circumstances. Yep. You have to work on YOU before you can help them. So, please don’t say you “engaged” the community if you developed an entire program and then showed it to them afterward or there was no leadership or input from the community throughout the entire process. OH and pay the community members what they deserve! (That’s a post for another day… 🙂) #communityengagement #research #diversityequityinclusion

I am happy to see #mentalhealth on many #newyearsresolution lists (for some 30% of Americans it's in the top 10). You may have heard me say this before, but helping someone is one of the most therapeutic actions you can take, especially if you're assured impact. And nobody's better positioned than alumni associations to deliver that impact at scale because alumni have a strong desire to help those following in their footsteps. So let's aim higher in 2024 and finally make it truly simple for *every* alum to volunteer: (1) NO APP to sign up for or learn (2) IMPACTFUL, relevant opportunities (3) EASY enough for even the busiest alum (4) GUILTFREE & without social pressure (nobody needs that) #highereducation #belonging #community #engagement #artificialintelligence

I believe in growth through learning and evolving, acknowledging mistakes and finding the strength to persevere. We all have different paths, and sometimes what's best for one may not be for another. I opted to stand up and will always voice my commitment to fostering a positive work environment, choosing advocacy over silent departure. It's not about dwelling on past challenges, pointing at each other, trying to mock but about fostering a community where everyone can thrive. So here's to more discussions, growth, and positive change with tons of hashtags 😉 #PositiveWorkCulture #GrowthMindset #StandUpSpeakOut

How we support volunteers in their roles can really differ, depending on the type of work they're doing and the responsibilities they have. In this episode of Volunteer Leaders in Action, I talk with Julie Ugoretz, a social worker living in Brooklyn and working in NYC at SAGE, where they manage a Friendly Visitor Program for LGBTQ+ elders.   I heard Julie speak at a webinar over the summer, and was so impressed with the robust and intentional training, support and supervision they offer to volunteers - I knew I wanted talk more with Julie about their approach.   In this rich conversation we learn how Julie approaches setting volunteers up for success, and how her background in social work helps her do that. Julie and her team do this by:   ➡ making sure that volunteers are "not alone in the work" even though they see elders 1:1 in their homes.    ➡ preparing volunteers well with a robust full-day training. Training involves important historical and contextual considerations, as well as a slew of critical skills like empathy building, listening skills, role plays, and hearing from a current volunteer.   ➡ providing support early on in volunteer matches. Julie and her team connect with the client and the volunteer by phone after the first visit.  We also learn about a variety of ways that support and supervision are offered to volunteers – from peer supervision meetings, which are a core of the program, to opportunities for 1:1 check-ins when volunteers need additional support from staff, and encouraging peer support between volunteers. The fact that there's a lot of longevity with the volunteers in the program, and that many of them continue to attend peer supervision meetings, even after the first year with the program (when meetings are mandatory) is a great sign of the value of these supervision opportunities.   💡 A couple factors that work well during team check-ins:  ❓ Use broad-open-ended questions to check-in.  What's going on?     What's going well   Is there anything that concerns you with your match?   🔎 Provide opportunities for skill-building on specific topics.  👥 Encourage volunteers to use each other as resources – Julie shared that volunteers have "gone through it" in a way that they haven't as a staff supervisor.   🎉 Build in fun, connection and celebration. The team gathers for holiday and pride parties, and special events like drag bingo – all of which offer opportunities for volunteers and clients to make informal, friendly connections.   Julie also shares some valuable guidance about how she captures volunteer hours – a notoriously tricky task for volunteer managers.    https://lnkd.in/dZwMujB4