Here’s a quick, undeveloped thought.
As I’ve thought about where I’d like to sit in an organization next year, I’ve thought a lot about what I’d like my mandate to be: fighting for the issue I believe in (field building in an “industry” or issue area), fighting directly for the people I believe in (service-oriented work); fighting for the organization I believe in (capacit building); or fighting for the sector I believe in (field building in the nonprofit sector). Obviously, these don’t hold true for all organizations, like intermediaries or strict advocacy orgs, but I think it pertains to a good enough amount to give it some thought.
Some positions in organizations directly link a couple of these mandates, while others seems to focus intently on one. After much reflection, I’ve decided I don’t want to choose, and I also think leaders should encourage folks throughout their organizations not to choose. In fact, I think leaders should enocurage it and put resources into arming workers throughout their organizations with the skills and knowledge to successfully contribute to all four.
I would also appreciate if institutions, like schools, would take a more integrated approach to social change, then I wouldn’t have such a darned hard time figuring out what graduate degree(s) to pursue.
Thoughts? Hopefully more on this later when I flesh out my own thoughts.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: capacity building, field building, nonprofit sector roles, service
