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Stories Elevate the Data

Stories Elevate the Data

Jorge Alvarado with one of his daughters. Jorge will be a speaker at the Celebration of the Power of Possible Gala.

December 7, 2020

Tonight, The Fedcap Group celebrates its annual Celebration of the Power of Possible Gala. The theme this year is Stories That Ignite the Heart!

I find myself thinking a lot about stories and their impact.

In a piece by Mark Minelli entitled Science Behind Storytelling he states, “While our ancestors sat around the campfire listening to the tribal storyteller, we now sit in cinemas, theatres or in front of TVs, computers and mobile phones to share the stories of our lives. In fact, the universal nature of storytelling in part explains our shared, evolved human psyche.” It’s one of the reasons many of us are such voracious readers.

We seek out stories that stimulate our intellect and engage our emotions. Across every culture, organization, family and group of friends, stories are what connect us. According to Minelli, “Over the centuries we have used narrative story structure as the most elegant way to communicate our messages, passions, vision and who we are.”

While data and analysis are the lifeblood of The Fedcap Group, the stories—of our staff, board and clients—are our heart. It’s our own story that brought us to the organization and creates interest in our work. While we rely on numbers as evidence of the value of our work and to guide us in our decision making, without a corresponding story about human impact, the data doesn’t resonate. It’s the story that makes the data matter.

So, as we virtually gather tonight, reflecting on our 85+ years as an organization and the impact that we’ve had on the lives of millions, we’ll hear both old and new stories. We’ll be moved and inspired. We’ll remember why we do what we do every single day.

And I believe we will all be the better for it.

I invite you to join us tonight for our 2020 Celebration of the Power of Possible Gala. If you have not already registered, you can do so right here.

The preshow will begin at 5:30pm ET followed by the virtual event, promptly at 6pm ET.

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Organizational Resilience: Cultivating the Ability to Spring Back

Organizational Resilience: Cultivating the Ability to Spring Back

November 30, 2020

Most of us are familiar with the definition of resilience as “the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.” Not as many are familiar with the definition of resilience as “the ability of a substance or object to spring back into shape; elasticity.”

I have spent quite a bit of time thinking about organizational resilience, specifically: how to cultivate a resilient spirit as part of culture and how to create resilience among our staff, especially in the era of COVID. The idea that our resilience is reflected by our ability to spring back into shape rings true for me.

In a recent article, McKinsey & Company discussed the need for leaders to act rather than react. The article mirrored my thoughts. “Even as the COVID-19 crisis continues to create a world of uncertainty, the goal must be to rebuild for the longer term. Companies that are strong and resilient will be better placed to survive and prosper. Those are qualities that can’t be taken for granted; they need to be cultivated.”

So how does one cultivate an organizational culture of resilience—the ability to spring back from whatever we face? It is clear to me that the entire organization needs to be thoroughly grounded in purpose. Staff need to know exactly what the organization stands for. They need to see the ways the mission is being carried out every single day. They need to know the organization’s vision—and they need to understand the link between day-to-day activities and this vision.

Here are four of the top things that we have been doing to cultivate resilience at The Fedcap Group:

1. Establish BOLD Goals that Inspire: In December 2019, The Fedcap Group established five bold goals to fundamentally improve the long-term economic well-being of the following groups: Children ages 0-8, the previously incarcerated, the chronically unemployed, youth transitioning from foster care, and people with intellectual/developmental disabilities.

2. Focus on Measuring Impact: We are measuring the difference we are making in people’s lives through research. We are dedicated to knowing all we can about the short- and long-term difference we are making.

3. Structure for Efficiency and Accuracy: A nimble, elastic organization can rapidly pivot because the structure allows for it—in fact anticipates the need to rapidly pivot. We are continually refining our structure.

4. Ensure the Workforce is Future Oriented / Knowledgeable About Market Trends and is Prepared to Act: Train existing staff and hire and orient new staff to be students of our profession, to know our market and to understand trends that impact service delivery. We are intentionally investing significant resources in professional development and onboarding.

It is very difficult to bounce back from the unexpected and the unprecedented. Our instinct is to simply react. The time for reaction is over. It is time to act.

As always, I welcome your thoughts.

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Thanks-Giving is a Good Idea Every Day

Thanks-Giving is a Good Idea Every Day

November 23, 2020

In just a few short days, it will be Thanksgiving. For many, it will look and feel quite different than past years. With the pandemic just outside our doors, many of us won’t be traveling. To keep our loved ones safe, the holiday will be simpler, smaller.

And while it might seem counterintuitive, I thought, given the times, it might be valuable to consider some interesting perspectives on the importance of gratitude in times of adversity.

There is a growing body of research that suggests that the practice of gratitude results in more positive emotions, less stress, reduced sick days, a greater sense of confidence, and higher satisfaction—even in times of great adversity.

According to Robert Emmons, author of “The Little Book of Gratitude: Creating a Life of Happiness and Well-being by Giving Thanks,” and a leading researcher on the subject, “Not only will a grateful attitude help in times of crisis—it is essential. In fact, it is precisely under unfavorable conditions when we have the most to gain by a grateful perspective on life. In the face of demoralization, gratitude has the power to energize. In the face of brokenness, gratitude has the power to heal. In the face of despair, gratitude has the power to bring hope.” In other words, gratitude can help us cope with hard times.

Gratitude takes people outside themselves and to a place that is part of a larger, more intricate network of sustaining relationships.

There is a quote by Kristin Armstrong I find especially noteworthy. “I write about the power of trying because I want to be okay with failing. I write about generosity because I battle selfishness. I write about joy because I’ve known sorrow. I write about faith because I almost lost mine, and I know what it is to be broken and in need of redemption. I write about gratitude because I am thankful – for all of it.”

And this impacts the overall attitude of our workforce. Researchers from the London School of Economics, in analysis of 51 companies, found that while financial incentives may or may not work when it comes to motivating employees, there is overwhelming evidence that gratitude and appreciation are highly effective motivators for staff. They found that 80% of employees are willing to work harder for an appreciative boss.

“We tend to think of organizations as transactional places where you’re supposed to be ‘professional,’” says Ryan Fehr, an assistant professor of management at the University of Washington, Seattle, who recently published a paper summarizing the landscape of gratitude in business. “We may think that it’s unprofessional to bring things like gratitude or compassion into the workplace, yet evidence suggests that gratitude and appreciation contribute to the kind of workplace environments people want to be part of.

Happy day of gratitude and giving of thanks!

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Community Work Services’ Double Impact Program Trains Young Adults, Provides Meals to Those in Need

Community Work Services’ Double Impact Program Trains Young Adults, Provides Meals to Those in Need

Community Work Services’ Double Impact Initiative was developed in conjunction with Breaktime, a youth-led nonprofit and social enterprise. Double Impact has a twofold purpose – to help homeless young adults acquire job skills and economic stability, and to create meals for first responders and food-insecure participants in the Boston-area.

The need is acute. Amid a nationwide surge in food insecurity, one in seven residents and one in five children in Massachusetts will experience food insecurity, the second highest rate in the nation among children.

WCBV5’s Erika Tarantal reported on CWS’ efforts. View the video here.

Learn more about CWS and the Double Impact Initiative, including interviews with more participants, on the CWS website.

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Easterseals Project Discovery in Port Jervis Hosted Pre-Thanksgiving Donations

Easterseals Project Discovery in Port Jervis Hosted Pre-Thanksgiving Donations

Donated items Distributed on Monday, November 23.

Barbara Kuczyra, Frankie Roman, Bridget Grech, and (not pictured) Dawn Ulmer volunteer a lot of time and energy to Easterseals’ Project Discovery’s outreach and monthly distributions of donated clothing, food, and household items. Photo by Sharon Siegel for The Gazette
 
Easterseals Project Discovery in Port Jervis, New York, organizes regular distributions of food, clothing, and household items. The team was recognized earlier in 2020 by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo for their remarkable work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recently,the Port Jervis Gazette visited Project Discovery – click here to see their story about Project Discovery’s Pre-Thanksgiving distribution of donated food, clothing, and household goods to take place on Monday, November 23.

 

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