Leslie Nienhaus’ Post

Happy holidays! Help Girls on the Run Bay Area reach their end-of-year fundraising goal! The countless testimonials from participants exemplify the real and tangible benefits of Girls on the Run to young girls in our community. As a coach, I have so many to share. Running isn't just about physical activity; it's a tool for building confidence, self-motivation, and resilience. Please consider donating to Girls on the Run, where I am a board member! https://lnkd.in/gvKppdiG   With Gratitude, Erica and the past, present, and future Girls on the Run

#GivingTuesday is underway and we are off to an amazing start! We are floored by the level of giving, and by the warmth of the good wishes that come with them. We are so grateful that the Kids’ Chance mission resonates so deeply. Even if you never experienced a workplace injury or death in your family, it is easy to imagine how overwhelming it must be – the grief of losing a loved one, compounded by so much financial uncertainty. Suddenly, dreams of a future – education, careers – are like so many pages ripped from a book, chapters that may never see the light of day. Until Kids’ Chance steps in. Your Giving Tuesday gift to Kids’ Chance is an opportunity to repair some of the financial damage caused by a workplace tragedy. Today is your chance to give every Kids’ Chance student a chance. Let’s fund a scholarship today! Join us with your gift: https://lnkd.in/gdy-DyYU #KidsChance #scholarships #workerscompensation

Emotional intelligence is the group of skills needed to create connection and predict success. In our next Nonprofit Council Meeting, Mindy Morris will give you foundational knowledge for self-awareness that will extend to all your personal and professional relationships. Let us know you're coming: https://lnkd.in/geWMWJxG

A spark can light a fire. In 2011, I watched the documentary "Miss Representation" that exposed ways in which mainstream media's representations of girls and women contribute to the underrepresentation of women in positions of power and influence. That spark lit a fire in me to take action supporting ongoing education and social action to counteract mainstream media's messaging to girls and women. That is why I dedicate my time and resources to the researched-based curriculum and activities of Girls on the Run. Will you help me reach my goal raising $1,000 by the close of 2023 to support local girls get shoes and athletic gear for our program? Access to our program is a very high priority of ours - no girl is every turned away due to financial means. Donate here: https://lnkd.in/gbYe26nr. If you are curious about what happened as a result of the Miss Representation film, you'll be pleased to know that public demand led the launch of a program and future films shared about similar social issues of concerns such as "The Mask You Live In" looking into boys and the depiction of masculinity; "The Great American Lie" the most comprehensive intersectional assessment of the causes of economic immobility— racism, corporate exploitation, and gendered societal values; "Fair Play" which investigates gender divisions in the home when it comes to domestic labor and caretaking. Link to the Rep Report is linked in comments.

The "Are the Children Well?" report emphasizes growth opportunities within our community to ensure children and families thrive. A critical aspect of achieving this goal is ensuring adults have stable employment and financial security. To address this, our Community Action Plan includes a focused strategy on Workforce Development and Financial Stability. Here’s how you can contribute: - Support the United Way's Financial Stability fund by donating. Your contribution helps nonprofits offer adult education programs. - Back local libraries and community centers that provide job skills and financial literacy courses. - Advocate for expanded employee benefits and resources at your workplace. - Champion workforce training initiatives in high schools.

“Being surrounded by a community that sees and tells the truth, that establishes a standard for keeping promises and that applauds long-term generative thinking is a resilient way forward. Connection helps us find traction, and forward motion toward better. We get to choose which community narrative we want to absorb. And we get to choose whether we want to share those ideas with those we lead and connect with. We pick a neighborhood to live in, and we can pick a culture to be part of. No whining, no shortcuts, no hustles. The long-run matters. Honor the rules that protect people who aren’t in your shoes, because you might be them one day. If that’s the circle you’d like to be part of, join one, start one, talk about it, and don’t stop. Corrosion is inevitable, but so is possibility.” — Seth Godin Once again, the words of Seth Godin 🌔 are so aligned and affirming of the ten-year community and educational experiment we call Springhouse. The first principle we practice is taking care of vulnerability, starting with our own but not stopping there. For those of you who have been touched by the work of Springhouse I invite you to consider giving to our one and only fundraising campaign this month. We seek to raise 125K and are on our way with nearly 150 unique donors in ten days! You can give here: https://lnkd.in/eSYes-dw Photo: All of our seniors go through a rite of passage where they do a 24-hour wilderness solo. Here they are after returning from that time. Being in the wild alone, supported by adults who engage in that spiritual practice too and who they deeply trust, makes for a powerful experience in strengthening the relationship these young people have with themselves, each other, and the planet. Being in a long-term community, where we are with each other day in and day out, makes it all the more powerful and transformative.

Do you love being a part of the Penny Forward community? Spread the word and let other's experience all that we have to offer! https://buff.ly/4bdyZS7 Image Description: Penny Forward logo with "Spread The Word!" in large bold letters. Text reads "Penny Forward is a 501c3 nonprofit organization founded and led by blind people. Through education, mentoring, and mutual support, we help each other learn to confidently navigate the complicated landscape of personal finance."

As you think strategically about your nonprofit and identify activity going forward, an essential consideration is to clearly define the problem you are trying to solve. On the surface, that sounds easy and many mission statements include language that compellingly describes issues and/or problems. However, by rigorously analyzing what you are trying to do and asking a series of "why"questions, you will better understand what is fundamental to success and how best to focus.

Need to revitalize a longstanding online community? Check out my brand new FREE course to help you move through the process of pumping new energy into your community!

"At Market Lane, we’re proud supporters of Children's Ground, a bold not-for-profit organisation that is advocating and making change for a brighter future with, and for, First Nations children, families and communities. There are several ways that we walk with Children's Ground. We’ll summarise these here to hopefully inform and inspire individuals and businesses wanting to develop a meaningful connection and partnership with Children’s Ground and/or other likeminded First Nations organisations, but perhaps unsure where to start." https://lnkd.in/gP7tHMS6