Author Archives: Guest Blogger
37 People Struggling to Get by in New Jersey
April 10, 2018When it comes to telling stories of economic hardship, what can journalists learn from social workers? From oral historians? From artists? From community advocates? It turns out, a lot. At a recent workshop at Rutgers University convened by coLAB Arts and Free … Continue reading
Detroiter feels kinship with Newark on 50th anniversary of rebellion
August 3, 2017This year marks a somber anniversary for many urban communities around the United States. It’s the 50th anniversary of 1967 rebellions that occurred in cities across the nation, including Newark, Oakland, and Minneapolis-Saint Paul. As a native Detroiter, I’ve heard … Continue reading
Board Leadership: Want a Stronger, More Diverse Board? Start Here
July 26, 2017Diversity on boards has long been a hot topic. While it has always been a best practice to have a board of directors that is reflective of your constituency, too few have lived up to that best practice. In the … Continue reading
Arts Ed Now: Lessons in Dance to Help Choreograph Your Future
July 10, 2017As a dance educator and choreographer, my mission is to use the art of dance as a powerful tool that is beyond entertainment — conveying stories and meaningful messages about ourselves and the world around us. That mission was on full … Continue reading
Pro Bono Partnership Pundit: Board Performance and Inertia
June 20, 2017I tend to be uncomfortable with change. I know I am not alone. People’s resistance to change has spawned many different uses for the word “inertia” that have nothing to do with physics. There are cognitive inertia, business inertia, organizational … Continue reading
Arts Ed Now: March is NJ Teen Arts Festival Time!
March 13, 2017This March begins the kickoff of the Teen Arts Festival circuit in New Jersey. Individual counties across New Jersey host local Teen Arts Festivals showcasing the literary, performing and visual talents of the resident teen artists. At these county festivals, … Continue reading
History Matters
March 8, 2017You may not have noticed, but history is having a moment. Often overlooked as a bit of a wallflower next to its showier sisters—arts, literature, and science — history does periodically take center stage and remind us of its inevitable, … Continue reading
Board Leadership: Living in — and planning for — interesting times
February 28, 2017Staying on Track in an Unpredictable World We’re just a few weeks into 2017, and it already seems hackneyed to talk about how unpredictable the world has become. It’s not surprising that many nonprofits are already experiencing stress from the … Continue reading
Don’t Weaken the Existing Ban on Electioneering by 501(c)(3) Organizations
February 16, 2017Proposed ‘Johnson Amendment’ repeal would harm nonprofit organizations Since 1954, tax law has contained a provision prohibiting 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations from directly or indirectly attempting to influence the election or defeat of any candidate for public office. This ban, also known … Continue reading
Free Press: Race, the Media, and Politics in the Trump Era
February 1, 2017One of the most important roles news outlets have is their power to convene. They can bring together community members and those in positions of power, and provide a space for thoughtful conversation while asking necessary, but uncomfortable, questions. … Continue reading
Board Leadership: How to use a competitive advantage exercise to better understand your organization’s strengths
January 24, 2017How to use a “competitive advantage” exercise to better understand your organization’s strengths New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the nation – so it’s no surprise that it’s also densely populated with nonprofits. The National Center for … Continue reading
Local News Lab: Reimagining How We Get Community News in New Jersey
January 11, 2017Imagine you were given an assignment. Here it is: Two weeks before Christmas, gather the major legacy and new media players in your state for a brainstorming meeting that will take up the better part of their day. Just to … Continue reading
Board Leadership: David Grant Imagines If Hillary and Donald Had a Rubric
November 2, 2016The stunning levels of negativity, distrust, and cynicism evident in the political sphere this fall stand in stark contrast to the spirit I encountered recently in three days of workshops with staff and board members of New Jersey nonprofits, courtesy … Continue reading
