November/December 2009
Member Spotlight: Brad Scriber
Editorial researcher, National Geographic magazine
By Eva Maciejewski
Hi Brad, what do you do as an editorial researcher for National Geographic magazine?
I research and double-check the facts that the writers are reporting to make sure things are accurate. That way our readers can just enjoy the story.
The National Geographic Society has several magazines. Do you do research for National Geographic magazine only or for other magazines as well?
The National Geographic Society is one of the largest scientific and educational nonprofit organizations in the world. It publishes eight magazines, is involved with television and film, and provides grants for original research and exploration. I work for National Geographic magazine, the longest running of the magazines. However I also write articles for National Geographic magazine's blog intermittently.
For instance this spring, I wrote about the tongue-in-cheek place-names on the globe ticker on the set of the Daily Show with Jon Stewart. The show’s director agreed to put up six city names featured in the May issue of National Geographic magazine on the ticker for one week in April. It was fun to see "our" city names above Jon Stewart’s head for a week!
What do you like most about your job?
Since National Geographic is a general interest magazine, every four to six weeks I research an entirely new subject matter. I really enjoy the variety of the topics I have to research. For instance I worked on an article recently about light pollution and how good design can prevent it and save energy – basically by putting lampshades on streetlights. It was something I’d never thought about and never researched before and it was very interesting. I’ve covered topics ranging from marine biodiversity in Indonesia to the proposed border fence between the U.S. and Mexico - and many topics in between.
Did you focus on a nonprofit area of study in school? And have you had other nonprofit work experiences before the magazine?
I have an undergraduate degree in literature and a master's in geography, so no, I never got a nonprofit degree. But I knew I wanted to work in a nonprofit organization after grad school. I wanted to be part of a bigger mission and knew that nonprofit work would allow me to do that. Once I got my master's, I started working at a national development nonprofit called the National Community Reinvestment Coalition. Then I worked for the Consumer Federation of America - which is also a nonprofit. After that I started my current job at the magazine.
Are you involved in Washington D.C.’s nonprofit community outside of work?
Yes, I serve on the board of Street Sense, a local nonprofit that publishes a biweekly newspaper that covers topics related to poverty and homelessness in Washington D.C. In addition to raising awareness about poverty and homelessness, the organization creates economic opportunities for the Street Sense newspaper vendors. Many of them have been able to begin new jobs and to find housing thanks to selling Street Sense. As a board member, I help connect the Street Sense staff with the resources they need, and I advise them on how to best meet their mission goals. Check out Street Sense.org to learn more. Before joining the board of Street Sense, I was on the YNPNdc board for three and a half years.
Can you tell me more about your work on the board of YNPNdc?
I met the steering committee of YNPNdc a few years ago when I was looking for a group that could teach me new nonprofit skills and help me benchmark my work. I became enthusiastic about YNPNdc and I helped the steering committee turn it into a full-fledged organization. By the summer of 2004 we had evolved into a working board of directors and in the summer of 2005 I became the board chair. I stayed on for a second term from 2006 to 2007.
Are you still involved with YNPNdc now?
I go to a few events a year. And recently I helped organize the 2009 YNPN Annual Conference, which brought together at least 200 people. It was exciting because I had always wanted YNPNdc to host an annual YNPN conference. It was great to be associated with an event that had so much success and brought so many YNPN chapter leaders together.
You seem to be able to find a balance between your job at National Geographic magazine and your involvement in D.C.’s nonprofit community outside of work. How do you do it?
I encourage everyone to get involved in a nonprofit group outside of their day job. Find a group that suits your interests. It’s rewarding on several levels. First you meet people who share interests similar to your own. You also gain new skills, and it allows you to flesh out your interests in the nonprofit field. Nonprofits all around D.C. need board members with different types of skill sets to help them meet their mission goals. Since I work for such a large nonprofit, I'm glad to be able to contribute to the work of a much smaller organization as well. My advice is to find a nonprofit board that’s a good fit for your talents and passions. That's how you can make the most impact with the time you volunteer. You’ll find that it’s really worth the time and energy commitment because of how mutually beneficial it will be, and because of how much you will learn.
May/June 2009Member Spotlight: Kristen Stier
Justice Research and Statistics Association (JRSA)By Eva Maciejewski
What does the Justice Research and Statistics Association do?
We are a national nonprofit organization of Statistical Analysis Centers (SACs), which are state agencies that collect, analyze and disseminate justice data. We are bipartisan. We act as a liaison between the SACs and the Justice Department. We look at the research, data collection and data analysis conducted by the SACs. We write evaluations and reports and help the SACs collect and analyze their data even more efficiently. Our members are not just SAC directors. Many of our members are criminal justice scholars and criminal justice practitioners throughout the government.
How big is JRSA?
We have an office of 20 people. We have SACs in all the U.S. states and territories, and they all have their own employees.
What do you do at JRSA?
I am an administrative assistant. I manage parts of our database. I also assist our members when they have information requests.
Have you had other jobs in the nonprofit industry before this one?
No, this is my first job out of college. I have been working at JRSA for a year, ever since I moved to Washington D.C. I moved to D.C. a year ago after college with the goal of working on public policy for a nonprofit organization here in D.C. I actually attended a YNPNdc networking event on my second day in D.C. which I really enjoyed. It made me realize there were lots of interesting nonprofit professionals to meet, and lots of interesting nonprofit places to work, and it encouraged me to keep networking until I found a job at a nonprofit organization that I was really interested in.
Do you plan to keep working in this industry in the long term?
I am going to graduate school in the Fall of 09 to start a masters in public policy at George Washington University. I do want a nonprofit job when I graduate from GWU. I am going to concentrate on women’s rights within my public policy major at GWU. When I graduate, I will most likely look for a nonprofit job where I can work on women’s rights and on public policies that relate to women. I may also look for a nonprofit job where I can work on public policies that regulate the ways in which data is collected and assembled. My experience at JRSA, where we analyze the ways in which SACs collect and assemble their data, has made me increasingly interested in the policies that control data collection and data assembly.
D.C. has worked out for you so far. Do you have any advice for young nonprofit professionals in D.C.?
Yes, the most important thing is to know what you want. Having a clear idea of the kind of job and even the kind of degree program that you are looking for will make it easier for you to find the job and/or the degree program that you want. On the other hand, you cannot be too specific about what you want to do because then you miss out on all the intangible effects around you, and all the people, events, and experiences in D.C. that could significantly shape and influence you and your career path. When I came here a year ago, I knew I wanted a nonprofit job where I’d be dealing with public policy issues, but I didn’t know I’d be so interested in the policies that regulate data collection and analysis. I feel fortunate that I networked and considered several different nonprofit jobs, and then took the job at JRSA. My experience at JRSA has helped me refine my interest in public policy and it has also helped me determine that I do want to continue working for a nonprofit organization once I finish my masters degree.
March/April 2009
Member Spotlight: Ana Kay Yaghoubian
Course Logistics Assistant
The Association of Public Health LaboratoriesBy Eva Maciejewski
What is the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL)?
We are a national nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting public health laboratories in support of national and global objectives. We do this in several ways. For one, we act as a link between the public health labs and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We also help the public health labs communicate amongst each other so that they can learn from each other. Additionally, we provide public health laboratorians with continuing education resources and we give them recommendations about best practices in public health so that they can excel in their field.
What is your position at APHL?
I am a course logistics assistant. This means that I work in our Department of Continuing Education and Training to ensure that laboratorians have access to the information we post online about our continuing education training courses. We offer a number of courses for which laboratorians receive credit: teleconferences, webinars, hands-on lab workshops, seminars, and on-demand programs.
Can you give me a couple of examples?
Yes, for instance we offer bioterrorism training to public health laboratorians in order to prepare laboratories for an attack where biological weapons are used. Laboratorians need to be prepared. We also offer annual training on the latest strains of influenza. Those are just two examples of our many continuing education training courses.
We’ve talked about APHL’s training and continuing education programs, but what are some of the other APHL programs?
We do a number of things outside of training and continuing education. We have a global program to build public health infrastructure in countries that do not have very developed public health infrastructures. We help countries in Africa and Asia. We also go to conferences on Capitol Hill and off the Hill to give people information about infectious diseases, newborn screening and other important public health topics. We do this to raise awareness about diseases and to inform people about the importance of prevention. We also work to remind people of the importance of public health and the special role of public health laboratories--- even when there isn’t a public health crisis.
Now a little more about you--- Have you had other jobs in this industry? And have you ever taken nonprofit-related courses in school?
Yes, I have had three nonprofit internships and one nonprofit job before my current job. I also studied nonprofit management in school.
First I was an intern at the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League in the summer of 2002. Then I interned at Wider Opportunities for Women. Third, I interned at the Office of Sponsored Projects, one of the administrative offices of the Smithsonian. My first nonprofit job was with the American Forum. I worked on the National Women’s Editorial Forum. Then I started working at APHL about a year ago.
I have a masters degree in public administration from the School of Public Affairs at American University. I chose to focus on nonprofit management because I had already had nonprofit internships and knew that I was interested in a nonprofit career.
Are you a member of any nonprofit professional associations outside of your job?
Yes, outside of my job, I am a co-outreach director for the DC Metro chapter of the Younger Women’s Task Force (YWTF-DC), and I am also the fundraising director for the national board of YWTF (which is based in DC). We are a project of the National Council of Women’s Organizations which is a nonprofit. I have been involved with YWTF since the summer of 2007.
What does YWTF do?
We are a nationwide grassroots movement dedicated to helping younger women with the issues that matter most to them. YWTF was started in 2004. Some concrete examples of what we do are offering self-defense classes through the YWCA, participating in the AIDS walk in DC and fundraising for other organizations.
How do you manage your volunteer work for YWTF in addition to your full-time job at APHL?
Well, it is a lot of work, but it is worth it! I feel that the other members of YWTF-DC are my community. I joined YWTF in 2007 because I felt that I needed a place that could provide me with a sense of community. I think that YWTF responds to the need that many young women have after college when this kind of community is hard to find. It provides a safe space in which young progressive women can share their passion for feminist issues and activism.
Is there anyone readers can contact if they are interested in learning more about YWTF or joining?
Yes, you can get a hold of Samantha Sewell, our DC Chapter Director at info.ywtfdc@gmail.com if you have questions or to be added to our mailing list. For national board information you can contact Kelly Murphy, our communication director, at klmurphy4@gmail.com. You can also visit us on the Web at www.ywtf.org, and there is a link to the DC Metro chapter there.
You are very engaged in the nonprofit industry, so I am curious what you like the most about this industry?
I think that nonprofit work---as a job and on a volunteer basis--- is only going to become more important in the future as it becomes more and more necessary for nonprofits to provide services and to advocate for people. I also like the sense of purpose that comes from working in a nonprofit and the feeling that I am doing something good to help others, something bigger than myself. I am reminded of a quote by Maya Angelou: “Good done anywhere is good done everywhere.” At APHL I am constantly reminded that public health labs are one of the entities that shape the health of our nation, and it’s a rewarding thought. At YWTF, I know that if one person is helped through a self-defense class we set up, that’s one person whose life may be saved one day thanks to YWTF being proactive within our community.
Do you have any parting words?
I encourage other young people to stick with nonprofit work because it is ultimately very rewarding. I think it’s worth it to take the time and find your footing in the nonprofit world, because what you can accomplish is amazing.
January/February 2009
Member Spotlight: Colleen Boselli
State Policy Analyst
The National Association of Community Health CentersBy Eva Maciejewski
What is your name and where do you work?
My name is Colleen Boselli. I am a State Policy Analyst at the National Association of Community Health Centers.
How long have you been working at NACHC?
I started at NACHC as a Public Policy Intern in January 2008. I came on full-time in July 2008.
Have you had other nonprofit jobs before this one? And if so where?
Yes – I have had one nonprofit job before this one. I was the Communications Intern at Research!America in the Fall of 2007.
What is NACHC’s mission?
NACHC is the only national nonprofit organization that represents federally-qualified community health centers (FQHCs). FQHCs provide primary care to 18 million Americans mainly located in medically underserved areas. NACHC advocates on behalf of these community health centers and on behalf of the patients that they serve.
What is your role as a State Policy Analyst at NACHC?
As a State Policy Analyst at NACHC I provide policy assistance and support to the associations that represent community health centers in each state. These associations are formally called primary care associations and they are all NACHC members. This summer I administered surveys on Medicaid policies and on state funding for the community health centers. The surveys were then shared with the primary care associations in each state and helped NACHC and the primary care associations better serve the community health centers in each state.
What do you like most about your job?
I enjoy working on behalf of community health centers because they are so important. They do more than provide health care; they provide a health care home for the communities and patients that they serve. I also enjoy working at the state level because states are finding innovative ways to implement health care reform efforts.
Ideally, would you like to keep working in the nonprofit industry in the long term?
I enjoy helping people and advocating on behalf of people in need, so the nonprofit industry is a good fit for me and I see myself working in this industry in the long term.
Are you involved in the nonprofit community outside of your job?
Yes – I am a member of nonprofit professional societies including YNPNdc and the Society of Health Policy Young Professionals. I also recently volunteered for the St. Bernard Project in New Orleans along with some of my colleagues at NACHC. We helped rebuild homes that had been destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. I also enjoy volunteering here in Washington D.C. Most recently I participated in the AIDS Walk.
Do you have any words of advice or parting words for your peers in the nonprofit industry?
I encourage other young nonprofit professionals to find what inspires them the most about their nonprofit job and to use that inspiration to fuel their nonprofit career. The first time that I visited a community health center, I was inspired when I saw how many patients regularly visit them and also when I saw the staff that work so hard to help them. That serves as a reminder to me every day about why I do what I do.
November/December 2008
Member Spotlight: Charles Guedenet
Pact, Inc.
What is your name and where do you work?
My name is Charles Guedenet and I am a Program Intern at Pact, Inc., an international not-for-profit development organization.
How long have you been interning at Pact?
I started interning at Pact over the summer, helping out with their Civil Society and Advocacy (CSA) project in Haiti. I left in September but returned about a month later and have been working there ever since.
Have you held any non-profit jobs prior to this one?
Yes, I've held several non-profit jobs in Africa and also here in Washington, D.C. As a Peace Corps volunteer in Chad, I had the opportunity to work with youth and women's organizations, helping them to acquire funding, develop work plans, and write reports. Although strictly speaking, I was working for the Peace Corps (a government agency), my work with these grassroots groups was on a voluntary basis. After Peace Corps, I went to Guinea to work for the Adventist Relief and Development Agency (ADRA) as a proposal writer. My most recent non-profit job was with the International Center here in DC where I worked as a Program Assistant for a little over a year.
Do you have a graduate degree? If so, what did you study?
I am a second year graduate student at The George Washington University Elliott School. I am in the International Development Studies (DS) program, which is interdisciplinary and includes the study of economics, research methods, management, and policy analysis. My concentration is civil society and development.
What is your ultimate dream job? Is it a non-profit job?
My ultimate dream job is to be the Chief of Party for a large community-based project in Africa that empowers the poor and has long-term impact. Yes, this would be for a non-profit development organization.
Where do you search for information on jobs, internship, and educational opportunities related to the nonprofit industry?
I get weekly emails from the returned Peace Corps network and from the GWU career center. Idealist.org and Craigslist.com have job and internship announcements as well. I also research non-profit organizations I think I would interested in working for and then, keep my eye on their websites for any internship or job announcements that come up.
What do you do on a daily basis as a program intern at Pact?
I have been asked to do many different tasks since I started here at Pact--it really varies from day-to-day. Coordinating orientations for new field staff, assisting with editing and formatting program reports, processing small grants, and updating knowledge databases, are just a few examples. Generally speaking, I provide administrative and technical assistance to several Program Officers who are, in turn, responsible for backstopping country field offices.
What is the aspect of a typical work day at Pact that you like the most?
I enjoy participating in the various staff and partner meetings that take place nearly everyday. These meetings nearly always broaden my understanding of the challenges that must be met in international development and in large international non-profit organizations. The challenges of working in an environment such as Haiti, for example, or the challenges of maintaining clear and open communications in an organization with over sixty HQ staff and many times that in the field! I am continually impressed and inspired by the professionalism and passion of colleagues.
Any parting thoughts or words of advice for other young nonprofit professionals such as yourself?
I am thankful for my various experiences with different non-profits--small and big, grassroots-based and Washington, DC-based--and would recommend that all young nonprofit professionals try the same. The non-profit field is expansive and you often don't know what kind of non-profit organization you would best fit in until you try working or interning there. Plus, you get a broader understanding of how non-profits work in general when you've had the chance to work at different levels of the non-profit field--from the community-level all the way to the donor or policy level.
September/October 2008
Member Spotlight: Jessica Tierney
Site Coordinator
Mental Health Association of Montgomery County-Linkages to Learning Program
By Eva Maciejewski
What does the Mental Health Association of Montgomery County do?
Mental Health Association of Montgomery County (MHA) is a private nonprofit organization with a mission to promote mental wellness and support those with mental illness by sponsoring and implementing advocacy, education, and community service programs. MHA is an affiliate of Mental Health America (formerly National Mental Health Association) and of Mental Health Association of Maryland. Mental Health America has state, regional, and county affiliates like this MHA throughout the country.
What is the Linkages to Learning Program?
Linkages to Learning at MHA is part of Kensington Wheaton Youth Services, one of MHA’s 11 direct service programs. It is a collaborative school-based partnership among the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, Montgomery County Public Schools, public and private agencies, families, and communities. It is run entirely out of public schools in 29 low-income communities in Montgomery County. The barebones structure of Linkages to Learning in each school is: a mental health therapist, a case manager, and a site coordinator. The program uses this structure to accomplish its mission of providing accessible services to at-risk children and their families to improve adjustment to and performance in school, at home, and in their community.
What is your role as a site coordinator?
I work for Highland Elementary School’s Linkages to Learning Program. As a Linkages to Learning site coordinator, my duties include organizing staff schedules, leading staff meetings, managing the office, and directing our Collaborative Action Plan. I also create and manage community outreach programs, prevention programs, and special events at Highland Elementary. Essentially, I work with the mental health therapist, the case manager, with teachers, principal, parents, and students to implement programs at the school. I also do some fundraising to make these programs happen.
What are some specific programs that you have worked on?
There are many that I could talk about! I got inspired from talking to parents who complained that their children were just hanging around in the streets after school in the spring. I organized the After-School Soccer Program with 80 students. We meet twice a week and also on weekends. The soccer program is my baby. There are other long standing programs I have worked on that are standard at all Linkages to Learning locations in MC. There is the After-School Homework Program where I match students one-on-one with volunteers to help them do their homework. There are seminars on topics such as Positive Disciplining. There is the Holiday Exchange Program where we match families with donors to make sure that the students get gifts and food. There is also the Back to School Drive in September where we give school supplies to students whose parents cannot afford to buy them. There are several more-I wish that I could list them all!
How long have you been working for the Linkages to Learning Program?
I have been working for the Linkages to Learning Program since November 2006.
How many jobs and internships, if any, have you held in this industry before this one?
Before this job, I had interned for four months at the Pan-American Health Organization, which is part of the World Health Organization.
Did you go to school for nonprofit work? If not, what made you decide to get in this industry?
I didn’t go to school for nonprofit work and I didn’t initially plan to get into the nonprofit industry after school. I got my masters in political science right after my B.A. I did it through a joint program by the University of Paris for Political Studies and UNC-Chapel Hill. I studied political science because I wanted to help write international policy for children. There are currently very few enforceable international standards for children’s rights. My current position is a great jumping off point for children’s rights work down the line.
What do you like most about your job?
The Holiday Exchange Program that I mentioned earlier is a great example of why I like my job. It’s heart-warming to see donors give above and beyond the students’ holiday gift wish lists. It is also very nice to see how grateful parents are when they pick up their children’s gifts at the school right before the holidays. Every day, my job reminds me of the generosity and outpouring of support by people in the community who want to help these students. It also reminds me of how much can truly be accomplished to help students with just a few resources. It’s a very positive thing. I also like the fact that the Linkages to Learning program succeeds on the ingenuity of people who are motivated to make a difference in the lives of young students. It’s energizing to work in such an environment.
How do you stay connected with nonprofit community news and events in the D.C. area?
Both MHA and its Kensington Wheaton Youth Services Program put out newsletters. I read those. I also read the MHA and the KWYS bulletins. Finally, I stay on top of what is happening in the DC nonprofit community through my friends who work in this industry.