DISMANTLING INEQUITIES IN VOLUNTEERISM

CONFERENCE: THE EMPATHY EFFECT

Transforming Volunteerism

DECEMBER 5-6, 2024

Breakout Session Descriptions

(subject to change)

Breaking the Cycle Of White Supremacy
Donte Curtis

This interactive workshop invites attendees to explore the ways that white supremacy culture is harming us and the work that we do. During our time together, we will reflect on how the dominant culture shows up in us (White Folks and People of Color) and will be given tools and strategies to break the cycle. We will explore what creating a culture of empathy looks like in action to serve the people we work with and the volunteers we manage. 

Overall, it has been estimated that 15-20% of the overall world population is neurodivergent. However, Neurodivergent people are also an invisible minority. You can’t look at a person and see Neurodivergence. For this reason, they are also a group that can be easy to overlook, which is making it increasingly important for members of this hidden minority to advocate for themselves and help solve issues in their own community. In 2022, that is what MNeurodivergent formed to do: To help reduce the rate of loneliness that many people in the neurodivergent population of Minnesota feel. We have done this by creating a non-profit run for neurodivergent people, by neurodivergent people. In this session, attendees will learn why it is important to have neurodivergent leadership in nonprofits, and what nonprofits can do to be more friendly to neurodivergent people. 

Cultivating Inclusivity: Transforming Volunteer Experiences Through Micro-Affirmations

Charlotte Jones

In a world where diverse voices are increasingly vital to community progress, understanding the nuances of microaggressions and the power of micro-affirmations is crucial for volunteer leaders. Equipped with tools and perspectives, this vital session enables leaders to cultivate environments where all volunteers feel valued, respected, and empowered to contribute meaningfully.

By mastering these concepts, volunteer leaders will not only enhance their own personal growth but will also elevate the experiences of the volunteers they guide. Fostering inclusive and supportive volunteer environments leads to stronger community impact. Engage in interactive discussions, analyze real-world scenarios, and participate in reflective exercises designed to deepen your understanding of microaggressions and micro-affirmations and plan how to integrate these concepts into your volunteer programs. 

How to be an Ally in Three Steps

Heather Stanley

Volunteerism is a proactive form of allyship. Using the three-step method of Learn, Adapt, and Teach, volunteers can become culturally competent with many groups of people, as well as increase allyship efforts within their volunteer organization.

Through discussion and breakouts, we will examine our identity, the connection between our identity and our life experiences, and the importance of understanding other's stories/experiences in that context. We will investigate how our perceptions play into this and what we can do about it. Participants will leave the session with an understanding that we cannot make assumptions about people (and consequently act on those assumptions) without understanding that everyone has a life story that shapes who they become, what they believe and why they are in the circumstances they are in.

Leveraging Emotional Intelligence to Foster a More Human Centered Leadership

Luis Moreno

Learn more about Emotional Intelligence and how it can be leveraged in the workplace to improve relationship building, communication, trust, and results by fostering leaders and teams that are more human, equitable and inclusive. Using interactive discussions we will learn how to apply Emotional Intelligence in everyday situations in the workplace to enhance your leadership and improve organizational results.

In this interactive session, you will explore how subtle yet impactful microaggressions can affect volunteer environments. You will gain tools to recognize and address these behaviors, helping you foster a more inclusive and welcoming space for all volunteers. Through personal reflection, group discussions, and practical scenarios, you will leave with actionable strategies to intervene as an ally, increase empathy, and ensure every volunteer feels valued. This session is essential for anyone seeking to enhance their leadership and create supportive, diverse volunteer communities.

Real Belonging vs Rainbow Washing: Engaging LGBTQIA+ Communities as Volunteers
Dana Litwin

Recognizing and Responding to Bias

Dr. Abdul Omari

Recognizing & Responding to Bias is a targeted workshop for participants to explore, understand, and acknowledge their biases. The goal is not to rid ourselves of biases but rather, to neutralize, pivot, and own (NPO) our biases to shift our responses in situations where biases exist.

In this workshop, participants will be exposed to common language and common forms of bias so that they can have ways to talk about the topics discussed. Ten common types of bias will be explored:

• Selective attention

• Diagnosis bias

• Pattern recognition

• Value attribution

• Confirmation bias

• Status quo bias

• Commitment confirmation (confidence bias)

• Stereotype threat

• Affiliation bias

• Group think

The default nonprofit board model is broken. Board members have limited insight into the daily operations and challenges faced by the nonprofit they support, complicating the traditional notion that boards should handle nearly all governance responsibilities. In reality, the legal requirements for boards are relatively light, and many governance practices and structures are self-imposed.

This session will examine challenges in current governance practices and explore a more holistic approach to governance—one in which power is shared and organizations are aligned and nimble. In a series of interactive exercises, attendees will engage in small-group work and large-group discussion to explore creative governance structures. Participants will walk away with tangible next steps to explore what’s possible within their organizations.

Revitalizing Volunteerism: Co-Creating Solutions for BIPOC Engagement in a Post-COVID World

Do you lead volunteers at an organization where people with lived experience (e.g. former service users, caregivers, alumni) are encouraged to “give back” through volunteering? Does this volunteer work involve telling their stories to raise awareness or money? Do you sometimes feel uncomfortable about how these volunteer storytellers are positioned to “tug at heartstrings”?

People with lived experience deserve to be engaged ethically as volunteer storytellers. Join this session to:

• Discuss strengths-based volunteer recruitment messaging that targets people with lived experience 

• Learn how to create ethics-focused story request processes for internal use

• Explore meaningful outreach and stewardship tactics for volunteers who share their lived experiences

The Empathy Exams Are Not Graded On A Curve: Maintaining Engagement and Compassion in Service

Jeremy Norton

Gain insight and perspective from Jeremy Norton! His two-plus decades responding to a vast range of crises and emergencies has given her a nuanced and broad perspective on human behavior, and the conditions and factors that shape people's lives and choices.

Takeaway a better understanding of the complexities of the service population, deeper appreciation of resiliency and coping, sharper empathy and imagination to transcend the various differences between volunteer and our service population.

Understanding and Navigating Islamophobia

Jaylani Hussein and Suleiman Adan 

Minnesota has become a critical battleground in the fight against Islamophobia, leading the nation with 35 mosque attacks in the last three years, including 9 in the past two months. This session will focus on understanding and combating Islamophobia, particularly as it affects marginalized communities such as women and immigrants.

Participants will delve into the history of Islamophobia and explore its real-life impacts on the Muslim American community. We will examine case studies supported by CAIR Minnesota, showcasing tangible and devastating effects of Islamophobia on local mosques and individuals. Through interactive discussions and reflection, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how Islamophobia is not just a distant concept but a pressing issue in our own backyard.

Participants will leave with a comprehensive understanding of Islamophobia's historical and current manifestations, practical strategies for combating it, and a call to action to volunteer and join efforts to fight Islamophobia in Minnesota. 

Uniting Generations: 5 Ways to Overcome Communication Barriers and Resolve Conflicts
Coleen Gose

What's in your bag? How unhealed wounds impact those you intend to help