The Public Space: Recent Episodes
Nonprofit Association of Oregon
Welcome to The Public Space, where thought leaders share strategic ideas and solutions that spark positive change in civil society. Each conversation will offer tangible steps that nonprofit organizations, funders, supporters, and partners can take to better our communities.
The Public Space is a podcast created by the Nonprofit Association of Oregon. NAO strives to connect, improve, and advance all nonprofits to help build a thriving and vital Oregon. Each month, NAO sits down with experts from across the nonprofit sector to talk about the changing ideas, opportunities and issues that affect communities around the state.
How can we support and strengthen our communities in the face of rising housing prices and gentrification? Adam Zimmerman is the CEO of Craft3, a CDFI that is working to invest in communities and help them build wealth and resilience. Craft3, along with NOAH and CHF, was recently granted $5 million through JP Morgan Chase’s Advancing Cities initiative. They’ll use the grant to help finance local ownership of real estate and reduce displacement.
In this episode:
- How they were selected to receive the grant (4:56)
- The impact this funding will have (8:42)
- Which neighborhoods they’ll focus on (12:15)
- The challenges that come with their work (15:17)
- Two key actions for nonprofits and community leaders (19:27)
Additional resources:
- Craft3
- Network for Oregon Affordable Housing (NOAH)
- Community Housing Fund (CHF)
- Three Portland nonprofits to share $5 million grant to invest in communities at risk of displacement – OregonLive
The Public Space is brought to you by the Nonprofit Association of Oregon. NAO strives to connect, improve, and advance all nonprofits to help build a thriving and vital Oregon.
In the fall of 2020, Oregon was faced with deadly wildfires that spanned across several parts of the state, one of which grew from 500 acres to 130,000 acres overnight! With the help of a longtime friend and the extraordinary community of Santiam Canyon, Deana Freres was able to establish the Santiam Canyon Wildfire Relief Fund which helps fill the needs of those affected by the Lionshead and Beachie Creek wildfires. Deana also shares what drives her in taking such a leadership role in her community and offers guidance we can all take when faced with devastating events.
The nonprofit sector has a racial gap in its leadership. Sean Thomas-Breitfeld shares empirical data collected from surveys, focus groups, and interviews conducted across the U.S. He discusses how 2020 events have galvanized people and movements into action, and have started a whole set of changes that should be continued in 2021. He offers tangible actions that we can take to address the racial gap in nonprofit leadership.
In this episode:
- The Building Movement Project (3:25)
- Organizations vs. Movements (6:22)
- What the Race to Lead survey data told us (7:52)
- What 2021 will look like for nonprofits (15:00)
- Affecting and influencing change in 2021 (16:07)
- Ways foundations can invest in nonprofits (16:57)
- Ways organizations can support movements (18;19)
- Tangible ways to address the racial gap in nonprofit leadership (21.43)
Additional resources:
- Building Movement Project
- Race to Lead Series
- Race to Lead Surveys
- Let’s Talk About the Nonprofit Racial Leadership Gap and White Advantage – Independent Sector
- Why Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Matters for Nonprofits – National Council of Nonprofits
- Equity and Inclusion Lens Guide – Nonprofit Association of Oregon
- Navigating Race and New Leadership in a Time of Upheaval – Stanford Social Innovation Review
- Nonprofit Resources to Support Racial Equity – Nonprofit Leadership Center
- The Social Sector Has an Internal Racism Problem – SOJOURNERS
- How Can Philanthropy Redistribute Power – Trust-Based Philanthrophy Project
The nonprofit sector, including philanthropy, is at a crossroads. Shari Dunn compares the nonprofit sector to an ill patient, and discusses the contributing factors that led to this condition. She prescribes how the patient can get well, be healthy, and thrive. She reimagines the transformation of the nonprofit world into an exciting, effective, and vital social enterprise.
In this episode:
- Moment of great change for nonprofit sector (4:21)
- Interplay between philanthropy and nonprofits (7:09)
- How nonprofits should see themselves (11:17)
- Philanthropy historically and what it should look like now (16:42)
- Board members’ role (21:06)
- Address race and racism (22:30)
Additional resources:
- NAO's 2020 State of the Sector Report – Nonprofit Association of Oregon
- America’s Nonprofits – National Council of Nonprofits
- The Charitable Sector – Independent Sector
- Health of the U.S. Nonprofit Sector – Independent Sector
- Nonprofit Executives and the Racial Leadership Gap – Race to Lead, Building Movement Project
- The Race to Lead Series – Race to Lead, Building Movement Project
- Race to Lead: Women of Color in the Nonprofit Sector – Race to Lead, Building Movement Project
- The Social Sector Has an Internal Racism Problem – SOJOURNERS
- How Can Philanthropy Redistribute Power – Trust-Based Philanthrophy Project
- No More Band-Aids: How Funders Can Advance Systems Change – PEAK Grantmaking
- Jim Crow Philanthropy by Emily Masghati – US History Scene
- Trends in Northwest Giving 2019– Philanthropy Northwest
- Charitable Giving Showed Solid Growth – Giving USA
2020 has been a momentous year for everyone, including the nonprofit sector. Jim White and Jenn Clemo recap 2020 and discuss why and how they took the bold step of combining their organizations this year. We also look at what factors and influences will shape the nonprofit sector’s landscape in 2021 and how nonprofits can approach the new year.
In this episode:
- 2020 standouts for NAO and Oregon (2:25)
- Looking ahead at 2021 (4:34)
- Americans’ trust in nonprofits (6:30)
- NAO-CNS merger “mini” case study (9:09)
- How nonprofits can position for long-term sustainability (13:37)
Additional resources:
- Emerging Nonprofit Partnerships Model by Scott Schaffer, Public Interest Management Group
- Three Questions to Consider About Nonprofit Merger – Public Interest Management Group
- Mergers, Collaborations, and Strategic Alliances – National Council of Nonprofits
- Merger and Strategic Partnership for Nonprofits – Scott Schaffer, Public Interest Management Group - 11/10/20 webinar recording and slide deck
- The Nonprofit Mergers Workbook – LaPiana Consulting
- NAO COVID-19 Resources
- NAO Oregon Wildfire Response Resources
- NAO upcoming webinars
- Trust in Civil Society Report– Independent Sector
- Oregon’s economic and revenue forecasts
The Latinx community makes up more than 13.2 percent of Oregon’s population but are disproportionately represented across the board. Anthony Veliz discusses why and how he founded the Oregon Latinx Leadership Network – the collective movement of people and organizations across the state – which is bringing much-needed attention and action from leaders and decision makers to the Latinx community.
In this episode:
- What is the Oregon Latinx Leadership Network and why was it started (1:51)
- The invisible majority (3:39)
- Galvanizing the Latinx community (5:41
- Stewarding the $5 million funding (8:34)
- What does visionary leadership look like? (12:27)
- Everybody has a gift (16:03)
Additional resources:
- Oregon Latinx Leadership Network
- IZO Public Relations & Marketing
- PCUN
- STORI Jobs
- Oregon demographics
The Public Space is brought to you by the Nonprofit Association of Oregon. NAO strives to connect, improve, and advance all nonprofits to help build a thriving and vital Oregon.
Leaders are responsible for managing major organizational crises with far-reaching impacts in real time. Kim Brick and David Navarro, both leaders of color at Oregon Coast Community Action, share what they did when confronted with a racially charged crisis that threatened their organization and entire community. ORCCA serves Coos, Curry, and western Douglas counties with a mission to actively create positive changes for a thriving community.
In this episode:
- The racially charged crisis that ORCCA was confronted with (2:07)
- Ways to manage a crisis in real time (6:19)
- How organizations can self reflect and move forward (14:01)
- The importance of resources and support (16:14)
- What leadership in action looks like (19:56)
- Why we all need to be aware of our own implicit bias (20:55)
Additional Resources:
- October 27, 2020 recording: Managing a Racially Charged Crisis in Real Time: How Two Nonprofit Leaders Rose to the Challenge with Kim Brick and David Navarro, Oregon Coast Community Action
- July 7, 2020 recording: How to Conduct an Internal Equity Audit presented by Alexis James, Construct the Present
- June 18, 2020 recording: Leading Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Efforts during a Crisis presented by Alexis James, Construct the Present
- Sign up for our newsletter to receive news and more resources.
The Public Space is brought to you by the Nonprofit Association of Oregon. NAO strives to connect, improve, and advance all nonprofits to help build a thriving and vital Oregon.
Effective leadership is crucial to successfully navigating a crisis, but what does it look like in practice? Steve Patty shares tangible steps every leader can take to not only weather a crisis, but also grow through it. Steve is a teacher, consultant, author, and conference speaker. Through his consulting firm, Dialogues in Action, he helps people and organizations evaluate their impact, expand their influence through leadership, and develop strategies to move their mission forward.
In this episode:
- Productive ways to view a crisis (1:38)
- Opportunities presented by difficulties (3:07)
- How leaders tend to react to crisis (7:01)
- What leaders should do in a crisis (11:34)
- The importance of support structures (15:39)
- Three key actionable steps for leaders to take (16:55)
Additional resources:
- October 22, 2020 recording: How to Lead through Turbulent Times: Six leadership practices for facing adaptive challenges presented by Steve Patty
- Rethinking your Strategy: Planning Recovery for COVID-19 Webinar: Part 1,Part 2,Part 3
- Sign up for our newsletter to receive news and more resources.
The Public Space is brought to you by the Nonprofit Association of Oregon. NAO strives to connect, improve, and advance all nonprofits to help build a thriving and vital Oregon.
The Public Space is where thought leaders share strategic ideas and solutions that spark positive change in civil society. The Public Space is hosted by Lilisa Hall, the Membership, Communications, and Advancement Director for the Nonprofit Association of Oregon.
Every month, experts from across the nonprofit sector and beyond join Lilisa to talk about the changing ideas, opportunities, and issues that affect our communities. Each conversation will offer tangible steps that nonprofit organizations, supporters, and partners can take to better our communities.
The Public Space is brought to you by the Nonprofit Association of Oregon. NAO strives to connect, improve, and advance all nonprofits to help build a thriving and vital Oregon. Subscribe to The Public Space wherever you get your podcasts and visit nonprofitoregon.org for more information.