Non-Profit Archives - Read. Think. Act.

The Cause Finder App – Your Need to Know

(May 23, 2018) Catherine Read sits down with Jill Hood and Emily Cowan, co-creators of a new technology application called Cause Finder. Their app is designed to help organizations connect, communicate and mobilize their grass-roots base. Following the Women’s March in January of 2017, Jill and Emily observed grass-roots engagement rise to heights that they had never observed in their lifetime. They also saw that there was no safe and effective platform for organizations to find and mobilize their bases, and connect with other groups who might have similar objectives. With Jill’s background in cyber-security and Emily’s expertise in organizational development, they combined their skills to develop a new and exciting product.

When designing this program, Hood and Cowan wanted to avoid the pitfalls that they saw in the free online systems such as Facebook, Google Hangouts and Slack, none of which were designed for the purpose of organizing. These free platforms support themselves in one of two ways – they sell advertising or they sell their user’s data. In recent months there has been quite a bit of information in the news about Facebook and privacy concerns. Both Jill and Emily firmly believed that there had to be a better way, and set out on a course to make that a reality.

Cause Finder is designed to avoid the pitfalls of the no-fee programs by being an affordable subscription based model, where organizations pay for the access and users can signup free of charge. Organizations will be able to easily connect with their base to effectively mobilize, while also connecting with other organizations who share similar objectives in order to make a bigger impact. The beta version of Cause Finder is currently deployed with a variety of non-profit organizations in a pilot environment, and the owners are continuously making improvements based on customer feedback.

In the second segment of the show, Jill takes Catherine through some screen shots of the Cause Finder program, to demonstrate the user-friendly nature of the application. Users of the program can find a way to connect with organizations based on a cause that they are interested in, while also finding relevant ways to take action and get involved. Additional functionality allows activists from different organizations to come together and rally behind a single event. For example, there are many different groups that are fighting for Gun Violence Prevention, who may want to rally around an event such as a new piece of proposed legislation. Cause Finder will allow these groups to easily identify who might be interested in showing up for a rally or testifying on behalf of a bill. On top of enhanced functionality, organizations can be assured that their member’s data is safe and protected.

Long term goals for Hood and Cowan include potentially rolling the application out to Federal and State agencies. For now, they are focusing on a successful launch of the new application this summer. Stay tuned and learn more at www.cause-finder.com.

by Catherine Read

Computer CORE with Lynn O’Connell – Your Need to Know

(Oct 25, 2017) Catherine Read talks with Lynn O’Connell, Executive Director of Computer CORE, a non-profit providing work force development through computer training, and Evelyn Woodard, a Computer CORE graduate who is now an instructor. This volunteer driven organization was founded in 1999 to provide computer literacy training to low income individuals and they served about 48 students per class. In 2007, the Board of Directors of Computer CORE made the decision to focus on a broader workforce development curriculum and expanded their resources to serve more students.

Currently, Computer CORE has seven training sites as well as the ability to provide on-site training for other organizations. They serve about 260 students annually, and part of this program is providing these students with refurbished laptops. They are a Microsoft Certified Refurbisher and they welcome donations of computer equipment, laptops, flash drives and binders. Providing students with a computer to use at home that is loaded with the software they are learning in class, is critical to their long term success. It is also a necessity for job today’s job search.

Lynn O’Connell explains that this is a volunteer driven organization with volunteer instructors who bring with them a skills based expertise. While most instructors say on for an average of 3 years, Lynn says there are instructors who have been with the program longer than the 10 years she has been Executive Director. She also explains that there is a great diversity in the educational levels of these adult students as well as a diversity in the languages spoken. Many students come in with an advanced degree but lack computer skills and a familiarity with the job search process in this country. Computer CORE classes offer a variety of skills based training including assistance in developing a good resume and practice in role playing job interviews.

Evelyn Woodard was referred to Computer CORE by her brother who was a volunteer instructor. The majority of students find their way to this program largely through word-of-mouth referrals like this one. While she was initially intimidated in the early days of learning the new computer technology, she stayed with it and completed the course. She actually changed jobs during her initial course and explained to her new boss she had a commitment to be on time to the class two nights a week. Her boss not only encouraged her in completing the course, but when she did, she was given a raise. Evelyn has now returned to Computer CORE as a volunteer instructor and she believes in the value of what this program has to offer.

Computer CORE collaborates with other non-profits in the Northern Virginia area to provide on-site instruction to the people they are serving. One of the organizations they work with is Friends of Guest House, which helps formerly incarcerated women return to their communities. Computer skills are an important part of workforce development and training.

For more information about Computer CORE, visit them at http://ComputerCORE.org

by Catherine Read

Friends of Guest House – Inside Scoop

(Dec. 5, 2016) Guest House in Alexandria, VA, was founded in 1974 to assist formerly incarcerated women with their transition back into the community. Executive Director Kari Galloway joins host Catherine Read in explaining the services provided to the residents of Guest House and their remarkable success in supporting over 3,000 women in the last 42 years. Joining them in the first segment is former resident Terry Garrett who now speaks to local groups on behalf of this non-profit. In raising awareness of this program, they hope to eventually expand their services to better serve the increasing numbers of women being incarcerated and released here in Northern Virginia.

Jessica Rodgers, the Residential Case Manager for Guest House, and a current resident of two months, Monica, join Catherine in the second segment to talk about the benefits of the three month residential program. There are numerous ways in which these women are supported in the first 90 days after their release, including how they support each other. There are three core programs: the one-year Residential-to-Aftercare continuum and the non-residential Outreach Program. Less than 10% of the women who come through Guest House return to jail or prison. Without such support, nearly 70% of previously incarcerated women will return to jail or prison.

Mariel Branagan, Volunteer Program Coordinator, and Noelle Moore, a volunteer with Guest House, discuss about how important it is for these women to be supported in ways both great and small. Many volunteers share their time, talent and skills in helping these women reconnect to their communities and to their families. Many are mothers, and helping them to reconnect with their children has benefitted more than 4,000 children of previously incarcerated women over the years. Those interested in volunteering can reach Mariel at [email protected]

In Northern Virginia, Guest House is the only group providing reentry support that is both comprehensive (housing, jobs, healthcare and family/community connection) and tailored to women’s unique needs. They continue to seek additional support from agencies, organizations and donors to help expand the services they can provide. Individuals can also support these women through a Target Registry set up to help supply them with basic necessities like toiletries.

Most of all these women need JOBS. Finding companies willing to give them employment opportunities is especially key to their successful reentry into our community and Guest House welcomes all suggestions in this regard.

by Catherine Read

Britepaths (formerly Our Daily Bread – Fairfax)

(Aug. 8, 2016) Catherine Read welcomes Lisa Whetzel, Executive Director of Britepaths, to discuss the organization’s re-branding. On July 21st, the non-profit known as Our Daily Bread, Inc. – Fairfax for 32 years, announced the organization’s new name. The discussion around rebranding has taken place over the course of the last five years as it became obvious that the name was no longer an adequate descriptor for the many services and programs offered by the organization.

Thirty-two years ago, a group of faith communities came together to provide food to low income residents of Fairfax, VA, who struggled with food insecurity. For many years, providing food was the core mission of Our Daily Bread (ODB). When Lisa Whetzel joined ODB in 2005 as a volunteer, she started a financial literacy program. The goal of this program was to help families with basic budgeting and to teach them better financial skills.

As Lisa stepped into the role of Executive Director and Marcelle Miles was hired to oversee the Financial Literacy Program, it became increasingly more important as a core service with outreach now taking place through numerous other non-profits in the Northern Virginia area. Christina Garris who oversaw the food program was tasked with launching Project Bridge and identifying candidates who would benefit from one-on-one mentoring tailored to their specific challenges.

In the final segment of the show, Development Manager Jennifer Rose goes over other programs that have evolved or been added over the years: The Back to School program that provides backpacks and school supplies to area children; The Holiday program that serves Fairfax County families whose children receive free lunches to provide them with Thanksgiving and Christmas meals and gifts; The Food for Thought program that sends food home on the weekends to school children who qualify for food assistance; and the Naomi Project which mentors at-risk mothers through their pregnancies and the first months of parenthood.

Given the growth and expansion of services over the past three decades, it made sense to change the name of the organization and rebrand with something that is more inclusive of the many unique “paths” that clients take in order to reach a place of stability and self sufficiency.

More information on programs, services and upcoming events can be found at http://Britepaths.org

by Catherine Read

Cameron’s Coffee & Chocolates

(January 2014) Cameron’s Coffee & Chocolates opened on October 1, 2013 in Fairfax, VA. This is the first business enterprise of the non-profit Every 1 Can Work founded by Jim and Ellen Graham of McLean, VA. The goal of Every 1 Can Work is to create jobs for intellectually disabled young people like their daughter Cameron.

They discovered after Cameron and several of her friends completed the Culinary Arts Program through Fairfax County’s Davis Center that there were no jobs for them at traditional businesses. So Jim & Ellen researched what business models were likely matches for the skills and interests of their daughter and came up with a coffee shop where chocolates are handcrafted on site. The community has embraced this non-profit coffee shop and the menu continues to grow. The Cameron’s Coffee & Chocolates Facebook Page updates a loyal following of fans on the success of this small non-profit business. It turns out a great many people like doing good while enjoying the best coffee and chocolates in town!