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My dog Banjo was sick recently. It came on gradually, so the signs were subtle and, individually, seemingly not a big deal. But something just didn’t seem right. Erring on the side of caution, I called the vet (thank goodness they are open on Sunday!). Upon hearing all of Banjo’s symptoms, they suggested I immediately take him to an emergency vet hospital. As it turned out, my sweet pup had an intestinal blockage and was whisked into surgery within two hours. He then spent four days in the animal hospital before I could bring him home and needed another few weeks to get back to his former spunky self.
Being part of Armstrong McGuire offers me the opportunity to meet so many people and immerse myself in new (to me!) and varying nonprofits. I love learning about the different challenges and opportunities organizations face, and the things that many of us are going through together in this sector. There is a common theme I am hearing from our clients for the type of person they are seeking for leadership roles: collaborator, relationship builder. I hear those words echoed in job seekers as well.
It wasn’t until last year, during a staff meeting outside in our parking lot as we tried to find some sense of togetherness during the COVID pandemic, did I realize the toll that years of racial equity work was taking on my mental and physical health. I was exhausted. But it wasn’t the exhaustion induced by the pandemic alone. For the first time, I was physically feeling the toll of racial equity on my health, and it frightened me. I heard a speaker at a philanthropy conference describe that for BILPOC (Black, Indigenous, Latinx and People of Color) staff working in the space of racial equity, the work can be experienced as the equivalent of walking around with a low-grade fever.
Many organizations across the country are wondering when the Great Resignation Period will end. I left a 19-year career in the nonprofit sector in this era to join Armstrong McGuire and I’m happy to share that it was one of the best personal and professional decisions I have made. However, many others who have transitioned before and during this period want to go back to the organizations where they were previously employed. These folks are being called “boomerang employees” and I see this as a potential opportunity for the nonprofit sector.
Whether you’re ready to expand your organizational capacity and move forward with purpose, or just want to talk shop, we’d love to connect.
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