You’re Hired
Posted by Valerie F. Leonard in Uncategorized on September 3rd, 2009
I thank Keith Pye, a fellow Whitney Young Alum, for the following information.
Hello Alum:
Attached is a brochure to “Your’re Hired” a job seminar I will be conducting on September 26, 2009. This seminar is a pro-bono endeavor on my part. It is my part in trying to help serious job seekers develop new skills and strategies. Please forward a copy of the brochure to any person or organization that you feel may benefit from this conversation. If any of you have a direct contact to a Senior HR Specialist, please contact me. I will provide you with additional information upon your contact .
Keith Pye
Class of 79
312-890-3131
The 7 Deadly Sins of Board Development
Posted by Valerie F. Leonard in Board Development, Capacity Building, Leadership on September 3rd, 2009
We have all heard of the 7 deadly sins for our everyday lives—lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy and pride. These vices, if left unchecked, can lead to harmful consequences. When it comes to board development, there are 7 mistakes that can stagnate organizational growth.
1. Selecting board members based on friendship or family relationship, without regard to level of commitment, core values or skills the prospective members bring.
2. Allowing prominent, or “big name”, people to come onto the board with the understanding that they won’t be able to make meetings or attend functions
3. Having board members “rubber stamp” decisions made by the board president or executive director, without discussing the benefits and consequences of the decision upon the organization.
4. Lack of commitment and participation from board members
5. Failure to adequately monitor the organization’s finances
6. Failure to file required annual reports with the state and local government
7. Failure to keep abreast of the latest developments in the organization’s industry, locale or community
To learn more about how your organization can avoid the 7 deadly sins of board development and other pitfalls, be sure to register for Capacity Building BlocksTM, a 10-week workshop series for nonprofit leaders who are serious about maximizing community impact. The interactive workshops will provide an in-depth organizational assessment, and balance of instruction, case studies and group activities designed to help participants strengthen their organizations’ infrastructure, and position them for long term sustainability. The workshops will take place every Tuesday, from September 15, through November 17, 2009 at the Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 North Central Park, in Chicago, from 9:00 a.m. through 12:00 noon. Participants may take any number of workshops based on individual needs. The workshop fees range from $65.00 per workshop to $45.00, depending upon the number of participants or workshops.
About the Author
Valerie F. Leonard is a Chicago-based community development consultant, with a mission to strengthen the capacity of organizations to make a positive impact on the communities they serve through technical assistance, specialized workshops, resource and organizational development and project management. For further information, you may call Ms. Leonard at 773-521-3137, visit www.valeriefleonard.com or e-mail her at consulting@valeriefleonard.com.
Copyright Valerie F. Leonard. All rights reserved
Assessing the Habits of Highly Effective Agencies
Posted by Valerie F. Leonard in Uncategorized on September 3rd, 2009
I am conducting a series of surveys of agencies engaged in capacity building activities. This includes government agencies, foundations, nonprofits and faith-based organizations. I ask that you take 10 minutes to complete a short questionnaire. Click Here. A link to the survey is also on the front page of my website, www.valeriefleonard.com.
Your individual contact information and responses will be kept confidential, and aggregated results will be shared with those who respond. The survey will be available until September 15th, and results will be sent by September 22nd. Over time, information from the surveys may be useful for your organization as you develop needs assessments and build your case of support as you apply for funds for capacity building. Thanks!
CJ Dispatch-9-2-09
Posted by Valerie F. Leonard in CJ Dispatch, Law Enforcement on September 3rd, 2009
I thank Frank Bass, from Cook County Board President Todd Stroger’s office, for providing the following e-mail:
CJ DISPATCH
A periodic e-mailing from the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority
You are a CJ DISPATCH subscriber. This periodic newsletter is read-only. It is not a discussion list. All replies to this e-mail should be sent to Sal Perri at sal.perri@illinois.gov. The Authority encourages you to forward the CJ DISPATCH to anyone who may find it useful. Directions for removing your e-mail address from this mailing list can be found at the bottom of this e-mail.
Authority releases final report of the Go To 2040 Crime and Justice Planning Initiative
The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, in partnership with University of Illinois at Chicago Center for Research in Law and Justice, has released the publication, Final report of the Go To 2040 Crime and Justice Planning Initiative.
This report is the culmination of a comprehensive, long-range planning project that looks ahead to Year 2040 for the 7-county Chicago metropolitan region, and addresses six major themes:
- Refining our understanding of the causes of crime and delinquency.
- Addressing the needs of crime victims.
- Fairness and equity in law enforcement strategies.
- Community engagement and capacity building for a holistic approach to crime prevention and intervention.
- Non-criminal justice solutions for drug offenders.
- Alternatives to incarceration and offender reentry.
For each theme, this report contains a description of the issue and the challenges and opportunities in the area, as well as an action plan that describes recommendations and strategies for addressing the issue.
In general, the recommendations encourage the pursuit of evidence-based, rational approaches that have a high probability of achieving justice and enhancing public safety, as well as the development of multi-agency partnerships that require agencies outside the criminal justice system to accept responsibility for policies and practices that contribute to deviance, delinquency and criminality.
The crime and justice planning process planning process was part of a broader effort sponsored by The Chicago Community Trust and the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning that encompasses multiple domains of public life including land use, transportation, housing and environmental issues, education, health, workforce development, arts and culture, food security, human relations and public safety.
More information on that project can be found at www.goto2040.org.
To unsubscribe from the CJ DISPATCH mailing list send an email to Sal Perri, CJ DISPATCH Mailing List Manager at sal.perri@illinois.gov.
Questions, comments, or need assistances send an email to cja.irc@illinois.gov.
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Women’s Leadership Summit
Posted by Valerie F. Leonard in Leadership on September 3rd, 2009
I thank Amania Drane, Principal, Nia Enterprises, for providing the following information regarding an upcoming Women’s Leadership Summit at Benedictine University, on October 9, 2009. Please click onto the link below for details.
In the Loop: 9-3-09
Posted by Valerie F. Leonard in Capacity Building, In the Loop, Surveys on September 3rd, 2009
Welcome to In the Loop, an eclectic compilation of e-mail transmittals that I have received during the past week. From time to time, you will find announcements of events, grant opportunities, job postings, links to websites and articles of interest or notes of encouragement. I hope that you, or someone you know, would find the information to be of use. If you would like to subscribe, submit material, or make general comments, you may contact me at consulting@valeriefleonard.com. If you have comments about any of the announcements or articles that you think others may find of interest, I encourage you to post comments below. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Valerie F. Leonard
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