Connext: Emerging Nonprofit Leaders

• February 2020: Connext Headshot Happy Hour at KC Pet Project
  • Young Professionals kickstarted the new year with a brand new headshot opportunity with a tour and networking happy hour at KC Pet Project’s recently opened new headquarters! Each attendee received a digital version of their headshot for professional or personal use.

• February 2020: Connext Lunch & Learn: Generations in the Workplace with Tracy Blasdel, Ph.D., assistant professor of marketing and business communication in the Helzberg School of Management at Rockhurst University.
  • During this discussion-based presentation, attendees from different generations gathered to dispel myths, challenge assumptions, and discuss strategies for thriving in a multi-generational workplace given that working with employees from different generations continues to be one of the most common challenges in the modern workplace.

**Beginning in May 2020, all Connext events switched to a virtual platform due to COVID-19.**

• May 2020: Connext Webinar - Get Unstuck: Three Tips to Beat Stress, Overwhelm and Burnout with Mona Raglow, Director of Membership & Programming at Central Exchange
  • In this interactive presentation, nonprofit team members discussed how juggling multiple hats while inspiring can cause feelings of being stuck and constantly behind. Then attendees were re-inspired for personal purpose with three practical tips that would help increase impact on a personal and professional level in the community.

• June 2020: Connext Webinar - How to F.U.N.D. Your Nonprofit Career with Katie Lord, Vice President of Nonprofit Development at Proof
  • In this workshop, career paths and development throughout the nonprofit sector was discussed, including positions as fundraisers, program managers, and funders and supporting fields. Young Professionals learned how to “F.U.N.D.” their career paths by examining Financial goals, Unique strengths, Network building and Development planning through "bootstrapping" their professional development and planning their own growth. Each attendee left with a Professional Development Plan for a career in philanthropy that was actionable and ready to execute.

• July 2020: Connext 101: Board Recruitment Virtual Happy Hour
  • Young Professionals learned more about the Connext Young Nonprofit Professionals Board and how to apply during an informational happy hour where board members share what they do, why they do it, and next steps to apply.

• August 2020:  Social Media and Employer Policy: How to be Yourself Without Getting Fired with Marisa Farris, Social Media Manager at GlynnDevins, Brian Noland, Trial Attorney, James & Noland; Of Counsel Wickham & Wood, LLC, and Larissa Uredi, CEO and Lead Content Strategist at No-Where Consultants
  • During this panel discussion, speakers discussed the power of Social Media answering questions such as:
    • Can you post what you want without causing employer retaliation? If so, how?
    • What can/should you do if your employer takes action because of something they saw on your social media?
    • How to understand the implications of your employer’s social media policy, and potentially advocate for changes in it?

• September 2020:  Connext Board Recruitment Events (Coffee Chat & Happy Hour)
  • Interested applicants for the Connext Board had the opportunity to join current Board Members for an intimate event designed to put them in the driver's seat. The board shared a quick run-down of what to expect during the application process and how to apply followed by small breakout sessions with members of the board where attendees were able to ask any questions they had about Connext and being a board member.

• October 2020:  Connext Webinar - Tips for Leading and Participating in Effective Virtual Meetings with Laura Ritterbush currently serves as Chief Mission Officer for Goodwill of Western Missouri and Eastern Kansas and Sharon Wingron, CPTD, CEO & President of DevelopPEOPLE
  • During this powerful presentation, attendees gained insights and advice on making meetings, especially virtual meetings, purposeful, effective and successful. A small panel shared their guidance and insights for participating in and hosting meetings – in person or virtual.

• November 2020:  Connext Webinar: Race and Leadership in the Nonprofit Sector with panel and moderator, Sean Thomas-Breitfeld, co-director of the Building Movement Project
  • After the release of the report, Race to Lead Revisited, Connext gathered a panel and discussed race and leadership in the nonprofit sector. The new report was based on over 5,000 responses collected in 2019 that build upon previous report findings and insights and showed three key findings which were discussed at-length during the virtual event:
    • 1. The original Race to Lead report is still relevant three years later.
    • 2. There is a white advantage in the nonprofit sector.
    • 3. DEI efforts are widespread and their effectiveness is uncertain.

• November 2020:  Diving Deeper: A Discussion about Race and Leadership in Kansas City Nonprofits with Connext Board Members
  • Connext Board Members gathered with fellow professionals in a casual, virtual setting to dive deeper into conversations about race and leadership in a follow-up discussion about the Race to Lead Revisited report released by the Building Movement Project and featured in the Nonprofit Connect webinar, Race and Leadership in the Nonprofit Sector.

• December 2020:  Connext Holiday Sweater Virtual Happy Hour
  • Attendees gathered in a low-key social setting to celebrate the holidays and the close of 2020 where individuals were encouraged to buy, borrow or DIY an ugly sweater. The happy hour consisted of games, cocktail/mocktail tutorial and virtual networking on the MVP of 2020 – Zoom.