Pepperdine Waves of Service

While teaching English in Cambodia, Seaver College alumna Wendy Dailey (‘00) saw young victims of sex trafficking on a daily basis. When she returned to the United States, she teamed up with a friend to co-found International Sanctuary, or iSanctuary. The organization reintegrates former victims of human trafficking through the sale of products handmade by survivors.

WOS: How did you get involved with iSanctuary?

Wendy: In 2005, I was living in Cambodia, teaching English at an orphan care organization. Living in Southeast Asia, I was confronted on a daily basis with the reality of human trafficking. Girls were being exploited in broad daylight. It was everywhere. Upon my return to the States, my good friend, Stephanie Pollaro, was launching International Sanctuary, working with girls rescued from the red light areas in India. She needed someone to oversee operations stateside and asked me to co-found the organization. At that time, there were no funds. We didn’t really know what we were doing. God closed every single door and made it quite clear that this would be what I should do full time. A few months later, a newspaper article launched in the OC Register and the organization was in full swing. I didn’t have time for anything else. Immediately we had volunteers, supporters, events, and an organization to grow.

WOS: iSanctuary has a unique social enterprise model - selling products to benefit the fight against human trafficking. Why do you think this has been successful?

Wendy: Our success has come from creating a unique model. The girls and women we serve work directly within the social enterprise. All products are handmade by survivors of human trafficking in Mumbai, India, while all the orders are packed, prepared, and shipped by survivors rescued locally in Southern California. It’s a symbiotic relationship between Orange County and India. Neither program could exist without the support of the other.

WOS: Describe your job at iSanctuary. What’s your normal day like?

Wendy: Every day is different. The week typically starts with a staff meeting, focusing our team on objectives for the week and revisiting goals we’re aiming to accomplish. The rest of the week may be spent in various ways: at events, giving awareness presentations, learning from business mentors, meeting with my business partner to plan strategically, or meeting with local survivors to develop their future goals and plans. In a nonprofit, everyone wears many different hats. Since there’s so much variety, even if I don’t enjoy something like handling workman’s comp insurance or paying quarterly sales tax, there’s always ten other things that need to get done that I do enjoy.

WOS: What’s the best part of your job?

Wendy: I love that we are building something today that will serve girls and women tomorrow. I’m thankful for the survivors we have worked with and for the transformations we’ve seen in their lives. It is exciting to consider all the girls and women we’ll be able to reach on a global level as we grow.

WOS: What’s the most challenging part of your job?

Wendy: Learning to be a leader is always challenging. Though I’m constantly learning and growing, it’s never easy. There’s always room for improvement.

The second most challenging thing is when there are discouraging days. Sometimes it feels like we’re unable to achieve success with the girls or women we’re serving for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it’s because of a lack of resources, sometimes it’s decisions they’ve made, and sometimes it’s because of the reality of the challenges that survivors of trafficking face on a daily basis.

WOS: How did your education at Pepperdine shape your career and/or you as a person?

Wendy: Pepperdine gave me a strong foundation to become the professional I needed to be. As an individual desiring to make a difference in the world, Pepperdine gave me experiences that broadened my perspectives and view of the world, balanced with ethical beliefs. The motto to freely receive and freely give always seemed to be incorporated into the education. I am so grateful for the opportunity to have attended Pepperdine. It truly shaped who I have become and led me to where I am today.

WOS: I was reading through your website…I love the stories, the statistics, and all the great info on the cause and how your organization helps. I read the OC Register article, which mentions you don’t get paid from your work at iSanctuary. Are there plans to expand the organization to include paid staff positions?

Wendy: The OC Register article was published in January 2009. For the first two years, Stephanie, my business partner, and I did not receive a stipend. When we were unable to continue due to our savings running out, the board approved a small stipend. Our staff of four team members are all full-time; however, they make huge sacrifices by making a choice to work at iSanctuary. It is our hope that we will be able to grow the organization to be able to pay the staff a fair and equitable salary.

WOS: What piece of advice would you give to others who would like to start an organization to help solve a social problem?

Wendy: Research, talk to experts, investigate the industry FIRST. Many times people start endeavors with the intention of “wanting to help” without fully understanding the magnitude of the problem. It’s critical to gain wisdom and insight from insiders to determine the greatest need. Then the organization’s mission and goals can be established considering the parameters, challenges, and limitations at hand. Starting an organization requires sacrifice, commitment, and dedication. If you’re founded upon strong clear principles, the vision for the solution will keep you motivated to work toward the future achievements, rather than being discouraged by challenges you were not expecting to encounter.

To get involved with iSanctuary, contact Waves of Service (wavesofservice@pepperdine.edu) or the organization directly.

Waves of Service Leader Shannon Clark is a Fundraising and Special Events Coordinator at the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation. Waves of Service recently got the scoop on this Seaver grad’s work!

WOS: How did you get involved with the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation?

Shannon: After graduating from Pepperdine, I was intentional about looking for a job where I could put my event planning experience to use in a nonprofit setting. I found the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation and I felt a strong connection with their mission of finding the cause of breast cancer and eradicating the disease through innovative research, education, and advocacy. Breast cancer has affected too many people I know. So, I jumped on the opportunity to plan events and raise money to support cutting-edge research.

WOS: Describe your current role at this organization. What’s your typical day like?

Shannon: Right now the majority of my time is spent planning our signature event, Walk with Love 2013, a 5K walk/run in LA (coming up on May 19th), and getting to work with an amazing team of dedicated volunteers. I also get to support volunteers across the globe as they organize their own fundraisers that support the Foundation. I’m always amazed by their creativity! Every day at work is totally different. We’re a small team, with about ten of us in the office every day, so I get the added benefit of collaborating with and learning from pretty much every other department on a daily basis.

WOS: What other service activities have you been involved with throughout your life?

Shannon: Service has been a part of my life since seventh grade when my family went on a month-long trip to Belize to serve an impoverished community. That trip changed my life and opened my eyes to the issues of poverty and environmental justice. Ever since that trip, I felt called to help others and have been involved with several short-term service trips and programs in Switzerland, Mexico, Costa Rica, and California. During my time at Pepperdine, I was able to work for two years as a Special Events Coordinator at the Pepperdine Volunteer Center, which was an incredible leadership experience and solidified my desire to help others and work alongside volunteers professionally.

WOS: What inspired you to work in a job like yours?

Shannon: My mom and dad instilled in me the importance of giving back, and I found out I had a knack for event planning. I also love people. So nonprofit development and fundraising events feels like a natural fit.

WOS: What’s the best part of your job?

Shannon: I love that I am in the happiness business. Professor Sonja Lyubomirsky, author of The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want said this: “Research shows that there are many simple activities that reliably make people happier. My favorite is doing acts of kindness. The generous acts don’t have to be random and they don’t have to be a certain kind (e.g., anonymous or social or big, etc.). We have found that almost any types of acts of kindness boost happiness.”

By partnering alongside our donors and fundraisers and volunteers, I get to provide opportunities to boost their personal happiness as they give their time, money, and talents to a cause. It’s really rewarding, and I’ve gotten to meet some amazing people through work that I probably would never have gotten to meet otherwise.

WOS: What’s the most challenging part of your job?

Shannon: The most challenging, but maybe the most fun, part is that I get to wear a lot of different hats. I’ve gotten to do a whole gamut of things I wouldn’t have probably had the opportunity to do at a larger organization, including: some graphic design, putting together silent auctions, working with volunteers, providing customer service to our donors and event participants, and working with our corporate partners. With such a small team, every day brings new challenges and lots of work, but I have always enjoyed working in such a collaborative environment.

WOS: How did your education at Pepperdine shape your career and/or you as a person?

Shannon: Pepperdine gave me some incredible leadership opportunities, which prepared me for my career. My major, Integrated Marketing Communication, was actually the perfect fit for my current job, as it instilled me with business savvy, but also prepared me for the tactile things I do in my day-to-day work. Pepperdine also provided mentors who became invested in me, personally and professionally. Brad Starkey was someone who I met through Pepperdine’s Career Coaching Program. He was always connecting me with people, took time to listen and help me grow professionally, and instilled in me the importance of a handwritten thank you note. [Brad Starkey is also a member of the Waves of Service Advisory Council.]

WOS: What piece of advice would you give to others who would like to serve a cause, whether through a nonprofit, social enterprise, etc?

Shannon: Find a place where you are passionate about the mission and able to create value in your work. Everything else will fall into place.

For those of you wanting to see the PEPPERDINE PRIDE in Cady Tolon’s Crown Preparatory classroom…. Here is a look at these amazing future Waves! Cady entered our Waves of Service Video Contest last year with this spirited cheer (and won a great prize!), and we’re hoping that it inspires YOU to cheer for your P-E-double P - E - R - D - I - N - E Waves too!

Ay yo, Waves!!

~Alex

Waves Making Waves: An Interview with Cady Tolon ('08)

After National Teacher Appreciation Day on Tuesday (the first Tuesday of May!), it seems only appropriate to appreciate one of our great WOS Leaders serving in education! Combining her passions for social justice, urban service, social sciences, and education, WOS Leader, Cady Tolon, inspires young scholars every day as a teacher at Crown Preparatory Academy in Los Angeles. After graduating from Seaver College in 2008, Tolon moved overseas to serve and work in Rwanda for three years - teaching at a local school and working with an area nonprofit organization serving regional teachers and schools. While in Rwanda, Tolon discovered her love for teaching and honed in on her passion for education. Upon returning to the United States, Tolon sought out teaching positions within the urban Los Angeles area, and found Crown Preparatory Academy. Currently, she is teaching 5th grade Science and English at Crown Prep, and has taken the time to share with us the incredible work that she and her school do every day.
WOS:: Can you tell us a little bit about Crown Preparatory Academy and how you became involved with the school?
Cady:: Crown Prep is a charter middle school in the heart of South Central Los Angeles. It serves a demographic that lives 96% below the poverty line. The school’s ethnic makeup is 60% Hispanic, 40% African-American, which is in line with the surrounding neighborhoods. It’s currently in its third year. I came to it by chance, actually! I was working and serving overseas after my time at Pepperdine, and when I came back, I started looking for jobs here. I had always wanted to work in an urban setting and had always liked LA, and Crown Preparatory happened to be one of the schools that I applied to work at.
WOS:: What is it about Crown Prep that makes the school different from other schools?
Cady:: Crown Preparatory is unique in its structure. As with most charters, you have an extended school day and year, so every minute is maximized. Students are in school from 7:30 am to 5 pm, and it offers remedial work, extensions, and after-school tutoring as well. Crown Preparatory has a very targeted curriculum and instruction set that tries to get the kids where they’re at and build from there. It targets where their academic needs are and then really goes after those needs. There are lots of assessments that are given that can target those gaps, which then help teachers figure out what areas their scholars need the most help and attention in.
WOS:: How do you feel the school values (PRIDE – Perseverance, Respect, Integrity, Discipline, and Excellence) set Crown Prep Students up for success in the future?
Cady:: The character-building piece is huge in any educational system… that you teach to the whole child and not just to how they’re performing academically. You work with them and help them build those character traits that will help them succeed in other circumstances and experiences. When you teach, you are building potential global citizens, and the character traits that you help create go to serve not only their local communities, but a global one. And the PRIDE values that Crown Preparatory has set up are just one way to emphasis this: teaching that a person - no matter what situation they’re in - can persevere.
WOS:: Part of Crown Prep’s foundation is a longer school day… Many students (at least in my schools growing up!) complained about long days. Do you ever find that students struggle with this, or are they just excited to have the opportunity to learn?
Cady:: I mean, they’re in middle school, so absolutely they struggle with this. They’re not always thrilled to be there, which is to be expected. Some days we do get out earlier, and they always look forward to that... But I will say that the extra school days and the extra school hours are not as big of a deal as people may think. It’s always nice when they’re let out early, and they love the extra time to play with their friends, but a longer school day and school year is just something they’re used to. It’s expected, and they know what it takes to achieve.
WOS:: What is your favorite area (subject, topic, etc.) to teach? What do you think is one of the most important fields of learning for students to study?
Cady:: I teach English and Science, and before I taught here, my favorite subject and thing to teach would have been social sciences - government, geography, anything related to social sciences. But because things never turn out the way you expect, they have me teaching science! I always hated science growing up. I was never very strong at it, I always struggled, and when I found out that it was what I would be teaching, I really had to get into it and learn it myself. And now I love it! It is so fun to teach, the kids already love it, it’s hands-on and applicable, and the students can really get into. For them, it’s very much like, “I can take a break from school!”, even though they are still learning and engaged in a core subject. It doesn't feel like work for them, and they just love it. I think Social Studies is probably the most important, as far as a core subjects go, because the goal of education is to prepare you to be a well-rounded citizen and to pursue something you may not have anticipated. Social studies, when studied and learned in a well-rounded way, can be the best thing for creating global citizens. For example, Geography is one of the best subjects I think we can teach. It shows us how to be more aware of the world. It teaches that we are neighbors to a lot of really amazing cultures and there is a lot out there that we are not directly next to… And that is huge for learning.
WOS:: Some students at Crown Prep (and any school, for that matter) may come from chaotic home lives. How does Crown Prep provide structure and support for students to learn?
Cady:: Providing structure and support is key in a couple ways. When they come to the school, it’s key to provide a safe and comfortable learning environment. When you look at Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, you can see that people need to have basic needs of security met before they can achieve anything higher. Students need to have that security before anything else can take place. At Crown Preparatory, we want them to feel secure physically as far as having a safe campus goes, but also emotionally - they need to feel that they are accepted and valued within their community and that this is a place where they can feel safe being themselves. They need to know that they are all coming from different spots and with different struggles to tackle, and that’s okay. We also have very tight and fluid communication with home. Crown Preparatory teachers are expected to call each student’s home once every other week, regardless of performance. At the beginning of the year, we conduct home visits for as many of our students as possible, just to see what background each student is coming from, what may exist at home for them, and begin establishing relationships with their families. You’re constantly on the phone with parents, giving updates, checking to see if anything is going on at home, if you see something is off with a student, or talking about extra credit opportunities that some students may need. I only teach 5th grade, but I see parents of students I've never taught before at the grocery store and we talk as if they are parents of students in my class. It’s very close-knit. And that helps as far as the kids knowing that there really isn't anything to get away with at school because it will always get back to their families somehow.
WOS:: Pepperdine has a pretty active presence of students hoping to pursue careers in education post-grad. Are there ways that can current students at Pepperdine get involved with Crown Prep?
Cady:: Oh, absolutely! We've had students looking at doing student teaching here come and observe, and we are always looking for volunteers for people to come help out in the classroom. Since our model is so individualized, we are always looking for people to come help give that individual attention to each student. We also do a Saturday school once a month for students who are struggling or just need that extra help, and for those we often have a lot of community volunteers come through. Everything that we teach at Saturday school is on really basic remedial stuff that anyone can teach, so people who want to volunteer don’t have to worry about not being qualified or trained in a particular subject. It’s often math facts or reading help or that week’s homework… things that anyone can help out on. Crown Preparatory also loves volunteers who are willing to help with basic things - cleaning up the school, make copies, things like that. Something that’s also really cool about Crown Preparatory is that all of the classrooms are college-themed… and mine is Pepperdine! They’re all future Waves looking forward to graduating in 2024, and I cannot tell you how excited they get whenever someone from Pepperdine comes in to volunteer. We had a guy come in to give a motivational speech and show involving yo-yo tricks, and at the end of the show, he told my class that he graduated from Pepperdine and they went nuts. It’s great to have people from Pepperdine come in and volunteer and connect with kids who are just as excited about Pepperdine!
WOS:: What is the best part of your work? What is the most challenging?
Cady:: The best part is the kids. They can be insanely obnoxious and exhausting, and they take so much energy. But I love them. Especially this year’s group, I have just fallen head-over-heels for them. They are crazy and difficult and frustrating sometimes, but they have such fantastic hearts and work ethics and have shown immense growth. I love seeing growth in people. That’s one of the reasons I became a teacher. I think education provides this irreplaceable method for growth in any society. It’s so rewarding to see that growth in these kids. As far as challenging, they can also be just that. They come from such a wide variety of backgrounds, and you never know what the last ten hours held to change their mood or behavior. When they go home, you never know what might be going on that’s going to impact them in the classroom. You are expected to shape their future and help them perform a certain way, but there’s so much you don’t have control over. They come to you with these challenges, and you still have to do your job and help get them where they need to be each day.
WOS:: How did Pepperdine prepare you for a life of service?
Cady:: I think before I came to Pepperdine, I wasn’t really sure how I wanted to serve. I had always wanted to do something impactful on the community and on the world; I wanted to create change that would be life-changing, sustainable and global. I started as Communications major and thought I would do journalism, and as I was at Pepperdine, I realized this wasn’t me. I wasn’t doing as well as I thought I would, but still wanted to create change and inspire social justice. After talking to more people, professors, and faculty at Pepperdine, I realized my heart was in education and that was where I wanted to serve. Pepperdine taught me about the necessity of education in society, and the huge need for quality teachers in many places that may not be keen on education. Pepperdine helped show me that you have to inspire change from the ground up. Also, it prepared me by helping me find places where I could actually be in service. My academic advisor was the person who hooked me up with the position in Rwanda, and that has been one of the most meaningful and life-changing experiences I have ever had.
WOS:: In your opinion, what is the most important resource that someone serving can give to those they serve? How do you and Crown Prep Academy give this resource?
Cady:: I want to say time, but I feel like even more, when you’re serving you need to offer compassion. I think in any service position there can be a feeling of superiority that may come up inside the person serving – this “I’m serving you, you owe me” mentality, or the idea that because you’re serving, that somehow means you know more, or have more or are more than the ones you serve. But when you’re serving, you really need to put this aside. When you serve, it’s not just about being where they’re at, but understanding that there’s not anything that makes either side better than the other. I think that’s a huge part of the Christian message at Pepperdine too. Jesus was not here to condemn, but to show us that we’re all in the same place. As a teacher, that can be tough because you’re teaching children, and as part of the job qualification, you obviously do know more than they do. But I make sure to tell the students all the time that I love them. That was a big revelation this year, to remind them that they are loved and valuable. That helps to put us all on the same level, and to remind the students of their worth.
WOS:: If you could give one piece of advice to the world, what would it be?
Cady:: I’m a bit obsessed with Mother Teresa of Calcutta. She has offered some of the most profound wisdom regarding social justice, and held one of the most inspiring mindsets I can imagine, so my advice is just a long, stolen quote from her. She said, “People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway. If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway. For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.” That line in the middle is my favorite – Do good anyway. I would advise anyone, anywhere, to just do good anyway. :); Cady, thank you for shaping the hearts and minds of the children at Crown Preparatory and beyond. Your compassion, enthusiasm, and heart are gifts to the children that you teach, and your impact in South Central Los Angeles - and the world beyond - will be felt for generations to come! Thank you for taking the time to share your story, and we appreciate you this month and always! If you would like to learn more about Crown Preparatory Academy, please visit the Crown Prep website at www.crownprep.org/ .; ~Alex

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Kids in a New Groove moves in a new “Direction” for National Foster Care Month

Ahhh, summertime. It’s certainly “got that one thing” … Time to turn the “music up,” roll the “windows down,” and get a great tan (‘cause we all know “that’s what makes you beautiful”) … Time to “go crazy, crazy, crazy ‘til we see the sun” and “live while we’re young” … At least, that’s what summertime is for fans of the British-boy-band-turned-global-sensation, One Direction! And for One Direction fans, the summer is about to rock even more!

In honor of National Foster Care Month, One Direction has partnered with Texas nonprofit, Kids in a New Groove, for an ongoing charity auction, the “Kicks for Kids” contest. The boys have generously donated the shoes off their very own feet (autographed, of course) as a part of the Kicks for Kids auction. The highest bidders will walk away wearing Niall, Louis, Liam, Zayn, or Harry Styles’ shoes (even T-Swift herself would be envious!), and with the knowledge that their love of One Direction helped raise awareness for the 400,000 children and youth in the American foster care system. Kids in a New Groove and One Direction hope that the Kicks for Kids auction contest will raise both awareness for the needs of those in the foster-care system and involvement and support within our communities.

Kids in a New Groove is a nonprofit based out of Texas. Much like One Direction, they see the beautiful connection that can be made with music and the bridges that can be built when music is shared. Founded by Pepperdine School of Law alumna Karyn Scott (JD ‘93) in 2007, Kids in a New Groove seeks to provide youth within Texas foster care with committed one-on-one relationships through weekly private music instruction. Through their wide variety of programs and instruction, Kids in a New Groove works to share not only love and a love of music, but to provie children and youth within Texas foster care with the strategies and habits necessary for a successful life after foster care. Karyn serves as Executive Director of the organization, and is thrilled to see what opportunities the Kicks for Kids contest creates!

Bidding for Kicks for Kids began on Monday, May 6^th, and will end on Monday, May 13^th… so there’s still time to win your favorite heartthrob’s kicks! Check out the official bidding page for the shoes. Kicks for Kids will also be giving away a CD signed by ALL the boys (in case you can’t choose just ONE boy to bid on!). You can enter the CD contest on the Kids in a New Groove Facebook page. If you would like to find out more about the rockin’ work that Kids in a New Groove does, or how to get involved as a mentor, visit Kids in a New Groove.

So “let’s make a move” to raise awareness for foster care with Kids in a New Groove! Hope to see you all in the bidding war!

~Alex

Waves Making Waves: An Interview With Coach Mara Leigh Taylor (MA '03, 06)

Every year, thousands of individuals go through the prison system in the United States, and every year, many of these individuals go through rehabilitation to help create the foundation for a normal life post-incarceration. However, the sad reality is many return to the normal world without the tools to create healthy habits, stained by the stigma of prison. Fortunately, Pepperdine Graduate School of Education and Psychology alumna, Coach Mara Leigh Taylor, has a heart of compassion and the tools to help turn the lives of the incarcerated around. As founder of Getting Out By Going In, Coach Taylor has worked alongside prisoners to create a program dedicated to teaching the tools of Positive Decision Making. GOGI is a nonprofit whose Tools are used in prison systems across the nation. We had the opportunity to sit down with Coach Taylor and hear the GOGI story.
WOS:: Can you tell us a little bit about Getting Out By Going In and the inspiration behind founding it?
Coach Taylor:: I was a Pepperdine student in the psychology program, and there was a tour of a federal prison as a part of a drug treatment class I was taking for my requirements as a Marriage and Family Therapist. From the minute I walked into the prison, I knew there was a lot of work to be done, and I knew I could help out. At this time, I had never even seen a prison, never watched a prison show (which weren’t really around at the time), didn’t even really know that our nation had prisons… but I just walked in and remember thinking, “Wow, miracles could happen here. There is an unlimited potential for healing and to change from the inside out.” I asked my professor, Dr. Laurie Schoellkopf (who is a professor at the Culver City campus), what it would take to work or volunteer at them and she referred me to the warden. I began talking with the inmates about change. That was 10 years and 8 months ago, and since that time, GOGI (pronounced Go-GHE) has grown organically across the nation. Today, we have tens of thousands of prisoners helping each other to learn and internalize the Positive Decision Making Tools of GOGI.
WOS:: In which places is GOGI most active currently?
Coach Taylor:: GOGI has an extremely strong presence in the California Prison System. Second to that would be the state of Utah, where we have at least 1,000 active GOGI students. Third would probably be the federal government systems, which are studying and applying the tools taught by GOGI to their own prisons across the nation. But there are GOGI students in nearly every state, and we just keep growing.
WOS:: Do you find that the culture of each prison or center is different? How do these differences reflect the communities that they impact, and how can we, as members of these communities, reach out and help in areas of brokenness?
Coach Taylor:: Each prison – much like any community – has its own culture. And the prisoners have been told that that they and their culture are bad, flawed, and shameful. It’s an Us-versus-Them mentality, and this mentality only serves to create more problems and more prisoners. GOGI is so successful because we have infiltrated these prison cultures with a very positive culture of tools for them to self-correct and change their own communities independently. We offer a promise and a hope, actual cognitive tools that allow them to feel worthy, valued, important, and capable. To reduce crime in our communities, we can strongly support this form of positive peer education, which is growing across the nation. The sooner we get the taxpayer unburdened from the broken system and the sooner we get the government out of their failed attempts to fix it, the better off we will be. People can help people but this requires that the community get seriously involved in being the solution. Taxpayers waste too much money on a system that is currently ineffective, and the government has failed its prisoners and failed to make any significant lasting positive changes for hundreds of years. There is nothing keeping us from turning the entire system around completely if we step up to the plate and give prisoners, and all school children for that matter, tools to make positive decisions. But it has to be the people that make this change; it will not be accomplished the government.
WOS:: GOGI is founded on Positive Decision Making Tools … Of these tools, which is your favorite to teach?
Coach Taylor:: GOGI is a system of peer education that was designed by prisoners for prisoners, and it is important to recognize that it is the prisoners who have found and invented these principles. I don’t have a favorite, but the very first one was discovered by an inmate in San Pedro. In a conversation between us, the inmate looked at me and said, “What you’re telling me, Coach Taylor, is that I need to be the boss of my brain!” So that was our first tool: to be the “Boss of Your Brain." That may be a very simple thing for so many of us, but many of these inmates have never been told that this is even an option available to them. So many have grown up in environments of abuse, and many hold in all that anger and rage from their circumstances. Being the boss of their own brain is never something that they have been told is an option, as so many of the fractures from their past were beyond their control. But they CAN be the bosses of their brains, and they can turn their circumstances around because of it. We actually took this tool to the 108th Street School in Compton and we taught it to the classrooms and teachers there. The teacher then used that to correct the kids before taking any disciplinary action, which is much easier and more effective than the system of disciplinary action now. If the teacher can look at the students who are in the middle of a conflict or who are making poor decisions and say, “Who is being the boss of their brain?” instead of screaming, “Shut up and get to the principal’s office!”, the students can start to understand the process of healthy decision-making. Starting at the roots of a community and demonstrating these tools can work to stomp out the prison cycle. And if we empowered the prisoners to go into schools in these fractured areas and teach students from their own experiences and their own empowerment, we could make huge change. The problem is, most campuses don’t want former felons anywhere near their students, and it is the former felons who are the ones willing to volunteer their time. Until we empower them and the schools to be receptive to this, we cannot create that change. The solution is found within the problem.
WOS:: Which tool do you find the most difficult to teach (either from your own perspective or from an inmate’s perspective), and how do you overcome that difficulty?
Coach Taylor:: The most difficult tool is “Let Go." I would say from my experience that nearly 100% of the incarcerated individuals have been subjected to abuse of some sort within their lives, but may not even recognize it as abuse. Most inmates can identify the sexual or drug abuse or abandonment or poor parents. But some actually think they had a good upbringing, but don’t understand the reality that a drunk parent who beat them up is not really good parenting. Some say, “I had a loving home…but Dad would get mad and hit me a lot," and they don’t know anything different. For others, the pain is very real and raw. For a person from a background of abuse, it is very, very difficult to let go of the fractures that have really destroyed any possibilities of a normal life. And the shame associated with this abuse turns people to unhealthy outlets, like a chain of substance abuse, to try to assuage their pain and grief, which ultimately leads to incarceration. Letting go of that initial fracture and the subsequent fractures is very, very difficult. But it is the most liberating thing to see the light in their eyes when they finally are able to LET GO. It’s like this huge weight and burden that has been lifted off their shoulders. Most have a glow about them when they finally realize it, and it is so liberating for them, making room for real healing and positive choices for the future.
WOS:: How can current students at Pepperdine get involved with GOGI?
Coach Taylor:: Every Saturday we have volunteers come to Culver City, and we respond to letters that we receive from the inmates. We send handwritten responses to handwritten letters that we receive from the inmates. But because we are a very, very grassroots sort of movement that functions entirely from donations, we need stamps. So from students, we need people to collect stamps, to organize stamps drives, whatever it may be to find this resource. From a student perspective, we need social media presence. Social media is important because it gets the message out that these people can correct and once they have corrected that they can help others in their community do the same. Spreading the word about GOGI shares this message within our own communities. We also need all sorts of positions filled within GOGI. We need help with our website, we need business students to help with the business side of GOGI…Right now, we have a group of former felons who are helping current felons, and we need organizations and community support to keep up with how GOGI is going. We are a community effort, and we need more community members to understand that we have a huge problem in our prisons that is only solved by empowering prisoners to make positive decisions.
WOS:: What is the inspiration behind calling all of the volunteers “coaches”?
Coach Taylor:: We have volunteers that are just volunteers, and then we have volunteers who want to go through the GOGI certification who are the coaches. They have to go through the whole education process that the prisoners do to gain this certification. We ask nothing more or less of our prisoners than we do of all of our volunteers. Coaches have to complete the curriculum that GOGI teaches, they have to prove their worthiness, and they have to live up to a standard that proves that they are representing GOGI well. Most of our volunteers decide they want to certify as coaches because it enables them to better serve their community. And for anyone going through this process, it provides betterment with their own careers and family life, as they learn the tools for successfully working through things like conflict or adversity. There has never been a bad experience within the coach certification process.
WOS:: How did Pepperdine prepare you for a life of service?
Coach Taylor:: That’s what Pepperdine is about, that’s the core of the university – preparing students for a life of service. I think the mission and vision of the University was something that I experienced in all of my classes and in everything I did. I certainly was impacted by the tour of the prison, but I also saw this message in areas of my time at Pepperdine such as serving on the Alumni Leadership Council. To be surrounded by service, and to benefit from the university’s encouragement of students to serve, molded and shaped the career that I have today.
WOS:: In your opinion, what is the most important resource that someone serving can give to those they serve? How do you and GOGI give this resource?
Coach Taylor:: If you’re serving the people of GOGI, the most important resource is genuine care for the human experience. Also, confidence that any human – regardless of race, religion, size, or shape – can make better decisions. We all can learn positive decision making tools. It is important to see that by being of service to others, we are actually being of service to ourselves too. Modeling this lesson is an important aspect of our final tool - “Ultimate Freedom." This tool teaches that to live a happy life is to live a life in service of others. That is a freedom no one can take away.
WOS:: If you could give one piece of advice to the world, what would it be?
Coach Taylor:: Internal freedom is found in living for something other than your own wants and needs. Living your life for more than your own wants and needs eliminates the need for drugs, curses depression, and make the entire world more enjoyable. What’s funny is, when you start living your life for the care and service of others, your needs are completely fulfilled in a way that is bigger than your dreams, bigger than anything you could possibly need.; Thank you, Coach Taylor, for sharing the GOGI story! You are an inspiration to us all to be a positive influence within our own communities, and to love people even when they do not know how to love themselves. If you would like to learn more about how to get involved with GOGI, visit the GOGI homepage at gettingoutbygoingin.org .; ~Alex

1 week ago Short URL

Waves Making Waves: An Interview With Nicole Flowers ('04)

Social enterprise has hit the runway in recent years, with for-profit companies such as TOMS Shoes, Krochet Kids, and Stone + Cloth producing high-fashion items....AND social change. Waves of Service is proud to say that one of our very own leaders, Nicole Flowers, has joined the social enterprise ranks with a business that is not only fashion-forward, but forward-thinking. hiip was inspired by the stories and the power of social entrepreneurship. Flowers began the hiip story while working at Genentech – a biotechnology firm in California. After meeting Blake Mycoskie, the founder of TOMS shoes, at a Genentech meeting where he was speaking, Nicole was inspired to champion her own social movement - thus, the birth of hiip. Founded by Flowers, hiip is a company dedicated to eye-catching bags and relevant change - with every purchase of a hiip bag providing a hiip Kit for a member of the homeless population in San Francisco.
WOS:: What is the hiip story behind homelessness involvement? How did you become inspired to champion the cause?
Flowers:: I remember talking to Blake at the meeting about how I had always thought it would be amazing to work for TOMS, but about how much I wanted to do something communal and local rather than global. I had been involved with a bunch of global social entrepreneurship – I had worked with Stone + Cloth, I had climbed Mount Kilamanjaro with MAD (Make A Difference) to raise awareness for an orphanage – and I realized that I wanted to impact my own community too, just like I was doing with these global communities. I read Blake’s book, “Start Something That Matters," and thought, “Hey, I could do this!” I saw that homelessness was an issue that no one was really doing anything about, and I decided to attack the issue from the angle of heightening awareness about homelessness. I never set out to try and eradicate homelessness, but to try and inspire awareness and compassion towards the issue. The Bible tells us that the orphans and the widows will always be with us. We are called to serve others.
WOS:: Your bags are super cute and hip (pun intended!)…What inspired the idea of wearing a bag instead of carrying one? And why bags?
Flowers:: I was trying to come up with something that makes a statement, something unique, and I thought, the fanny pack! I wanted a versatile bag that was functional while still looking cute, and the fanny pack was just that. Everyone notices them, but no one in the fashion world really does anything with them! Prada has its bags, Gucci has others, but no one has designed a fashionable fanny pack. I think that’s a beautiful metaphor for the homeless, too. They are a group of people that are so often over-looked, unnoticed, not given a second thought. But, they are beautiful people with stories to tell.
WOS:: What is in a hiip Kit? And what does the service a hiip Kit provides look like?
Flowers:: A hiip kit is another fanny pack, made of nylon (functional, rather than fashionable). It holds necessities: shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, a toothbrush, sunscreen, and socks. In the kit, socks are HUGE because in San Francisico, the homeless are not allowed to sit or lie down for extended periods of time, so they are constantly moving and on their feet. Socks only last like, three days, even though they are so key to survival. As far as the service side of hiip kits goes, you don’t have to purchase a hiip bag to go hand out kits. Anyone who wants to serve is welcome to join a distribution team. We go out into the city in small groups and distribute the kits together. It’s a great service opportunity for people that want to help out, but don’t really know how or with whom to serve. They can connect with not only the homeless, but the team of like-minded individuals who join in handing out kits. Overall, hiip Kits serve as a way to try and join communities of “haves” with the communities that “have less.” They are not about eradicating homelessness as much as they are about showing a community of forgotten people that others really do care. It’s a cool process to watch, and we’re asking the questions: “How will this change habits and preconceptions that people on both sides of the issue have? How will the city change?”
WOS:: Do you keep long-term relationships with those that you serve?
Flowers:: I, personally, go around in my own neighborhood a lot and either hand out kits or just get to know the people who are there, because I consider them my neighbors. So yes, with some of the people I serve, I do keep those relationships. But we’re more about getting the word out, so we go all around the city and try to serve as many different people as we can. If we see the same people, we build those friendships and relationships. What’s cool is that a big part of what we hope to accomplish on hand-outs is trying to inspire people to make the cause their own and bring it back into their own communities – inspire them to go out by themselves versus in a big group and connect with the homeless that live in their smaller communities. In this way, some of the people who work with hiip keep long-term relationships, and others don’t. It also depends on who we partner with for hand-outs. If we partner with a bigger organization like Salvation Army or Glide, we tend to see a lot of the same people that have built relationships with these groups.
WOS:: What has been one of the most moving/compelling experiences you have seen while distributing hiip kits?
Flowers:: Wow…They all have stories, and that’s the big thing. It’s hard to narrow it down to one story! But I think that something that has really resonated with me is seeing just how much these people have experienced on the streets. With hiip kits, we go out and we think, “We’re going to give this kit and we’re going make an impact!” But then you actually go out and you see that the streets of big cities are very dark places. Homeless people are often a forgotten people, and because of this, they are overlooked and forced to see that darkness in the city – drunkenness, rapes, murders. They are not seen as people and not seen as valued, and for some reason, people who commit these dark acts are okay with committing them in front of the homeless. What we do with hiip is more than the kits. It’s seeing their hearts and re-humanizing them, in a sense. They are people, and it’s so wonderful to see them as such. One guy broke down about what he sees and that he felt so blessed that we would take the time to bring him something. There’s a stigma around homelessness, that it only affects people who are on drugs or who are drunks or whatever. But every year, 3.5 million Americans from all walks of life will experience homelessness. We are called as Christians – or even as human beings in general – to give light unto the darkness. We are called to go to the darkest places and connect with people. This is a seemingly small gift that makes a huge impact, and I am so thankful to have experienced so many stories so far.
WOS:: Does hiip plan on expanding outreach into other cities or homelessness outreach areas?
Flowers:: At the end of the day, there are only 6,500 people in San Francisco that are homeless (it’s hard to keep track since homeless people are often very transient.) That means that, in theory, we don’t need much time to hand out a hiip kit to every single one of them. We want to expand our influence and help as many people in as many cities as possible, and keep hiip a cause that makes a difference. We have a lot of people involved with hiip who want to buy a bag, but that want to help their OWN home, where they see the homeless in their own community. So we are going to be expanding pretty quickly. A lot of where we plan to expand will be to places with Pepperdine connections, or places with a strong network of people who are inspired by hiip. We are going to expand to hiip BK (Brooklyn) because we have some Pepperdine connections out there that really want to get involved. Philadelphia has lot of people that want to help out, too. Ideally, our website will reach a point where it will allow you to select where you want to give the kit when you buy a bag. Starting in May or June, we’re starting the hard research on where we can go. We have orders from all over the country and will try to focus on the areas where kits are being purchased. hiip is an easily transferable model, all you need is a non-profit to partner with in another city. We are thrilled at this prospect, and can’t wait to get started!
WOS:: Homelessness is an alarmingly relevant issue in our own backyard, and many people simply overlook it. What do you believe the secret to tackling homelessness and making a dent in the issue is?
Flowers:: Honestly, I think it’s long-term investment. If people aren’t educated financially or people don’t have families or friends to support them in healthy ways, it’s almost impossible to break that cycle of homelessness. Many homeless people don’t understand trust; they don’t know how to trust communities that have turned away from them. And building healthy trust and healthy habits takes a long time. You must build relationships with these people, so that they can trust that you are not judging them for their brokenness, and that you will be there all the time, instead of walking out on them as hopeless causes. Other social causes don’t necessarily require this incredible attention. You can dig a well and give people water quickly, which allows people to shift their focus from survival to education, you know? But homelessness is a life investment. You can’t stop people from losing jobs or being down on their luck; you can’t stop the brokenness or give a quick solution. But if people invest in them, we can see change in the face of homelessness. It’s a HUGE issue, it’s growing, and it’s hard.
WOS:: What does a typical day or hiip Kit distribution look like for a volunteer?
Flowers:: Right now, people can come and help stuff the hiip Kits, or help with distribution. We organize a time and just get out and go! With distributions, it can be a little trickier, and we’re currently in the process of streamlining it and making it as safe as possible. Right now we’re only taking 10 or so people out as a time, and it’s mostly been friends and family, and mostly young people. Every distribution is different as far as time goes, because not every person that gets a Kit wants to share his or her story, and some people really do. It’s usually a two-ish hour process. We don’t go out trying to blanket the city, but to open our eyes. At the end of a distribution, we always debrief. It’s so important to ask those on distributions questions like, “What did you see? How do you want to stay involved in the future? How did it impact you? Is there a group you want to get involved with in the future?” It really solidifies the experience and gets people thinking about how to stay involved with a cause if it has impacted them.
WOS:: Pepperdine shares a state with a city known for being the homeless capital of the nation… How can the Pepperdine community outside of San Francisco get involved with the hiip cause?
Flowers:: If anyone wanted to organize a service event in LA anytime soon, it would be easy for me to fly down and organize one! hiip has a ton of connections in LA, and we could organize distributions easily if someone had a passion about serving. In the future, we will hopefully have an online process for people to set up distributions. But for right now, please email me or call me if you are passionate about serving, and we can organize something pretty quickly!
WOS:: How has Pepperdine prepared you for a life of service?
Flowers:: Oh my gosh! A better question would be how has it NOT prepared me for a life of service. I don’t think that I would be the service leader that I am without Pepperdine. Be it Project Serve or Step Forward Day or my sorority, whatever it may be, we were (and are still) ALWAYS encouraged by Pepperdine to get involved, to give back, to get our hands dirty. I mean, we have a DAY completely dedicated to everyone who is at Pepperdine or has been a part of Pepperdine globally stepping forward. It is SO cool to know that people in Seoul, Korea or in Malibu or in San Fran are all stepping forward to serve on the same day. Convocations got real, thought-provoking conversations started. International programs encouraged us to explore and see the world as it really is. Service is just such an integral part of Pepperdine’s culture that it comes second-nature now. I always knew that I wanted to give back, but didn’t know what it would look like until I started seeing that social entrepreneurship that exists at Pepperdine. I learned so much about communication, being professional, writing, and how to bring all of those aspects into service. I was exposed to so many different service opportunities and inspirations in my four years as an undergrad. I think that’s why the world sees so many beautiful things coming out of Pepperdine. We attract a certain student and then we really grow them in practical Christian ways, which can so often go unnoticed at Christian colleges. We excel in academics, but also living out our Christianity. People are proud of it, and we have the heads, the hands, and the hearts to serve. We give back and we do well in life by doing good for the world. Everything Pepperdine does encourages service, and I am who I am because of it.
WOS:: If you could give one piece of advice to the world, what would it be?
Flowers:: Quit. Quit what you’re doing and start dreaming big. Do what you love, and take the risk. I think that the world would change so dramatically if people gave themselves the permission to follow their passions and find their way. We have so many people living lives in lackluster jobs, but if more people gave themselves the permission to dream big – and more importantly, to fail – the world would see incredible change and growth.; Thank you, Nicole, for sharing the hiip story, and for your heart for people! If you would like to learn more about hiip, purchase a bag, or get involved with hiip Kit distributions, visit the hiip website at www.hiipsf.com/ .; ~Alex

2 weeks ago Short URL

Tasty juices, sorbet, and fruit drinks that are good for the taste buds, body, and environment. That is Sambazon, which stands for Sustainable Management of the Brazilian AmAZON.

Seaver College graduate Jeremy Black (‘96) started the company with his brother and friend in 2000.

Thirteen years later, Sambazon products are sold in thousands of stores around the country - probably one near you. Celebrities, athletes, and the like are also embracing the company’s delicious (and nutritious) Amazonian flavors.

The B Corporation is a sustainable business that uses antioxidant-rich foods of the Amazon like açaí [pronounced: ah-sah-ee] to make yummy drinks and treats. The organization even boasts its own team of scientific and nutrition experts who help support the health benefits of the products. Aside from being good for the body, Sambazon is also sustainable and socially responsible. The company works with more than 10,000 family farmers. It has also helped fund local schools and partnered with major organizations like World Wildlife Fund to help develop more sustainable practices in the Amazon.

In addition to this amazing work, Jeremy is also involved with Plant with Purpose, a San Diego-based nonprofit organization that helps impoverished communities create economic opportunity through environmental restoration. Since 1984, the group has planted more than 9 million trees – wow!

Waves of Service recently interviewed Jeremy to find out more about his incredible life in service.

WOS: How did you get involved with Sambazon and Plant with Purpose?

Jeremy: My brother Ryan and our good friend Ed Nichols returned from a trip to Brazil in 2000 excited about açaí and, after hearing about the health benefits of the Amazonian fruit and the potential to create a business that would help create an economic incentive to protect the rainforest, I knew that this wasn’t just a great business opportunity, but an opportunity to create real positive change in the world. I learned about Plant with Purpose at my local church in 2008 and loved the idea of helping people get out of poverty by providing them with environmental education and resources to grow their own organic food - both to feed their families and sell to their communities and beyond. It’s like the saying: give a man a fish, he’ll eat for a day; teach a man to fish and he’ll eat for a lifetime.

WOS: Describe your current roles at these organizations.

Jeremy: At Sambazon, I’m the Chief Brand Officer, which means I work on a variety of brand and product development-related projects like new flavors in our juice/smoothie lines. Last year, we created a series of videos educating people about some of our Amazon Superfoods like açaí by taking them to the source and talking about the real health benefits and sustainability around harvesting them. With Plant with Purpose I simply donate resources and try to help create awareness of what they are doing.

WOS: What inspired you to get involved with environmental causes?

Jeremy: Traveling and learning about what’s really going on. Growing up, I think there is an assumption that “the people in charge” are being responsible and I quickly learned that, when it comes to the environment and food, that’s not the case. The fact that most Americans are consuming GMOs on a daily basis and we don’t have any good science to show that’s safe (actually a lot to the contrary) is not ok. And the fact that farmers are spraying toxic chemicals on the food we eat and poisoning the soil and water is also not ok. It’s our responsibility to be leaders and help to get the solutions (and there are tons of them) into people’s hands. It seems like a lot of my friends are starting to realize this now that they have children and are paying more attention to what they give them to eat.

WOS: What’s the best part of your job?

Jeremy: The organic food industry is a great community to work in and I’ve learned a lot from other entrepreneurs who are just as passionate about their companies and missions as we are about ours….and I have all the açai I can eat :)

WOS: What’s the most challenging part of your job?

Jeremy: Keeping the conversation relevant. It can seem like a broken record talking about organics and the environment to people sometimes when most people have heard about it. But it feels like momentum is really growing and a lot more people are wising up to the issues and, most importantly, what they are putting into their bodies.

WOS: How did your education at Pepperdine shape your career and you as a person?

Jeremy: Pepperdine was very challenging and it helped me develop good habits and discipline. There was also a strong element in community service and it helped me to further realize the importance of a commitment to that in my life.

WOS: What piece of advice would you give to others who would like to serve a cause, whether through a nonprofit, social enterprise, etc.?

Jeremy: I’d say the most important thing is to love what you do. Any job you end up taking on will take an enormous amount of time in your life. So, before you commit to something, make sure you love what you are going to be doing and feel like you’re not just selling a widget or being a cog in some wheel. Make sure you feel like you’re actually making a real positive difference in the world in a way that you are passionate about. And, if possible, take some time and travel (and don’t just go to all the easy places); get to Africa, India, and other countries that live differently than you’ve been brought up. See the world through others’ eyes. It will forever change you and you will never regret it.

WOS: Do you have anything else you’d like to add?

Jeremy: A concept I love to share with people is the idea that we all “Vote with our Dollars” every day and the “true cost” of things is the cost of the organic/fair trade versions. When you buy something as simple as a coffee, realize that you are creating demand for a replacement cup. Consider where that cup of coffee came from. Were the coffee beans sprayed with pesticides that polluted the soil and water in that third world country where it came from? Was the worker paid a fraction of a living wage to harvest it? Consider this….an organic/fair trade cup of coffee (or apple, or insert any product you purchase) may cost MORE than the non-organic/non fair trade version, but why is this? It’s because it’s cheaper to spray chemicals and pollute the environment and not pay people fair living wages. That’s not the “true cost.” The true cost is what that organic/fair trade product costs because it’s responsibly farmed and paid a fair living wage to harvest it. So, the true cost is the more expensive cup and you shouldn’t even be considering buying the cheaper non organic version- unless you feel okay taking a discount for polluting the environment and paying someone less than living wages to provide for you what you need.

Find out what other Pepperdine alumni are doing to serve others on the Waves of Service Facebook page!

When Moxie ran away from home, her worried mother created hundreds of flyers and began a frantic search around Los Angeles. After hours of looking through shelter crates, Martie Petrie (‘83) finally found her deaf Pomeranian puppy. The shelter had deemed Moxie “defective” because of her deafness and scheduled her to be euthanized.

The experience left Martie with a strong desire to help. She began volunteering at a local shelter and soon discovered that hundreds of dogs are killed each week.

“None of these animals had a voice,” said Martie. “Volunteering is the gateway to rescue. You really do see firsthand just how desperate the situation is.”

After years of working 14 hour days with major film companies like Disney and MGM, Martie had found her true passion.

Each week, she picked a different dog at the shelter to rescue. Others began encouraging her to start a nonprofit for her work.

“I had been looking for a cause to give back to the community. I had been longing to help out in some way. I thought, you know, this is my cause,” said Martie.

One day an accountant emailed Martie. She had heard Martie was looking to start a nonprofit. Each year, the accountant selected one nonprofit pro-bono case and that year she wanted to help Martie’s cause.

By 2007, Martie and Ken Guild opened Ken-Mar Rescue. Since then, they’ve saved the lives of nearly 500 dogs.

So, how has this nonprofit organization accomplished so much without a paid staff or even an office building in such a tough economy?

Check out these tips for nonprofit survival from Waves of Service Leader Martie Petrie:

1. Find a focus

While Martie wishes they could save more animals, the organization’s focus on specific dog types (under 20 lbs.) has helped increase effectiveness, enabling them to save about 100 dogs a year.

2. Form community relationships

Martie also attributes Ken-Mar’s success to the numerous committed volunteers and foster parents, as well as the partnerships formed with local shelters, pet stores, and customers.

“Customer service above anything else,” Martie advised. Martie worked to create an approachable atmosphere to help form partnerships in the community.

Ken-Mar goes above and beyond for the families adopting puppies. All dogs are microchipped, up to date on their vaccinations, and behaviorally assessed.

Adoptive parents are given instructional DVDs and materials. Some have their new pets delivered to them personally by the Ken-Mar team, which has traveled as far as Arizona to bring the puppies to their new families.

The organization also works to educate the public about the importance of spaying, neutering, and adopting rescue animals.

3. Know your limitations

“It can be very emotionally draining,” said Martie. “Keeping things in perspective is important.”

From emotions to finances, it’s important to know when to take a break.

“If you’re running a nonprofit, you’re the face of the organization. It is really important to give back to you. Really separate yourself to take a breather,” she said.

“Be aware of your financial situation. Always have secure funding for the first three years. You plough through your savings really quickly,” said Martie.

Martie was able to tap into her savings, but after five years of running Ken-Mar full-time, she also plans to return to the private sector.

4. Think like a business

Even though nonprofits often form out of a strong passion for a cause, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a strong business sense to make the largest positive impact possible.

“You have to think with your head and not with your heart when you’re starting a nonprofit. You need to treat it like a business,” said Martie.

“Be aware of what other nonprofits are doing right; more importantly, be aware of what they’re doing wrong. Be aware of who your end-customer is,” she advised.

Have a strategic plan that’s important and know when you’ve done enough, she added.

5. Let people know about your work

“Know that you’re always ‘on.’ Be able to have a polished three minute elevator pitch including not only what you do, but how others need to get involved,” said Martie.

6. When you hit a road block…

“When you’re faced with a lot of adversity, dig inside yourself and remind yourself why you’re doing this. If you find that can’t go on because of lacking finances, be smart. Reposition yourself. Be willing to change your location if you want to be more effective. Think outside the box,” advised Martie.

“You may need to go back into the private-sector workforce to save up money. Or take some time to retool your organization’s operations. Bump up your use of free tools like social media. Roll up your sleeves and get out there.”

Ken-Mar continues to save dogs each month. Like many small nonprofits, the organization has a lot of need. More donations mean more lives saved – they also mean being able to expand and meet other needs, like taking in disabled dogs. Martie said additional funds could be used to enhance the organization’s marketing, buy treats and more nutritious food for the dogs, pay a full-time staff, and establish a physical office location.

“We have big hearts, but small pockets,” said Martie.

To learn more about Martie and Ken-Mar Rescue, visit http://kenmarrescue.org/. Also, check out Martie’s 30 Second PeppTalk at the Waves of Service YouTube Channel!

Waves Making Waves: An Interview with Taylor Conophy

Our Waves Making Waves interview series is back! Last week, Waves of Service sat down with former Wave, Taylor Conophy. Taylor is an active volunteer with the New York-based nonprofit, Sparkrelief, an organization committed to changing the way people view disaster relief. We've all heard of social media (and are using it as we speak...), but Sparkrelief has inspired the world to use it to connect people to more than just "followers". Sparkrelief is a new form of social media - an online forum dedicated to connecting those suffering from the aftermath of a disaster to those who have the resources and hearts to serve. Sparkrelief has played an enormous role in natural disasters such as Hurricane Sandy, the Australia Fires, and the Joplin Tornado by connecting those in need with shelter, food, medical assistance, transport, and more - all by providing ONE place in which people can simply log on or call in with what they need and what they have to offer. Taylor currently volunteers at Sparkrelief's headquarters in New York, and has shared with us her experience with how Sparkrelief works, what we can do to get involved, and her own personal experience with disaster relief...
WOS:: How did you become involved with Sparkrelief?
Taylor:: I met the founder, Eli, at a birthday dinner in New York. I was told that I had to get to know him. We ended up having a four-hour dinner, where he basically told me his life story and all about Sparkrelief. After talking, I knew I had to get involved, and everything has gone from there.
WOS:: As a volunteer, what does your day-to-day look like with Sparkrelief?
Taylor:: Because I volunteer after work at my full time job whenever I have time, it varies a lot. We’re a super small tech start-up, so we all play different roles and wear different hats. Each one of us does what we can to make Sparkrelief a possibility. For example, during Hurricane Sandy, I was working on everything from managing volunteers to design to front-end web development.
WOS:: The whole world has heard of social media, but Sparkrelief puts a new face on communicating for a greater good. Do you think Sparkrelief is changing the way that people communicate after disasters or how people look at social media? If so, how?
Taylor:: Yes, Sparkrelief is changing the way people communicate after disasters. Personally, I don’t feel like social media is always the right tool to help during a disaster. Hash-tagging “Hurricane Sandy” isn’t going to help me find a house if I’ve been displaced. But Sparkrelief is changing that. Sparkrelief gives people one place to communicate during disaster about practical and tangible solutions to their needs. We currently have a plan to advance this communication and relief significantly, but I can’t say anything just yet. But I can guarantee that it will change the way people prepare for and recover from disasters.
WOS:: Sparkrelief creates a huge network for assistance and aid. Does it ever partner with organizations such as the Red Cross in relief efforts?
Taylor:: Absolutely. We definitely partner with almost anyone and everyone who wants to help. What’s great is that we can partner with everyone. For example, during Hurricane Sandy, Sparkrelief was able to partner with both the government and with those involved in the Occupy Sandy movement. We work with data that gives us the freedom to join up with anyone who wants to provide aid. Our partnerships range in size and comprehensiveness. For example, with the Red Cross, we use their API to pull up-to-date information about open shelters across the world. An API is an application-programming interface that is created by a company to offer access to their data for free. It gives people who are using Sparkrelief access to tons of up-to-date information about relief efforts worldwide. In short, yes, we partner with the Red Cross and many other organizations, and each relationship is different.
WOS:: Often times, people who are not in the area of the disaster want to aid in relief efforts, but are not geographically close enough to volunteer time, housing support, or other resources. How can people looking to aid in relief use Sparkrelief even if they are not in the same geographic area as a disaster?
Taylor:: That’s one great thing about Sparkrelief. Whether you are a lawyer looking to offer your legal advice or a a yoga teacher looking to hold a class at a shelter nearby, you can through Sparkrelief. The community (at large) offers a wide variety of relief and we take help from everyone and anyone who can offer it. For example, during Hurricane Sandy, tons of people in New York who were affected by the Hurricane needed legal advice to figure out what to do with their property that was floating down the street – what to photograph, where to begin, how to file for insurance, and other concerns. Sparkrelief was able to connect these people in New York in need of aid with lawyers and insurance agents on the West Coast who were willing to offer up their services. On Sparkrelief’s website, anyone can add a disaster that they are experiencing, and anyone can post about needs or relief offers. For the time being, we are dealing with bigger disasters, but we would love to eventually spread to smaller, individual disasters (like personal house fires), so that the community can react and aid those that need it. When we call for offers of “other relief” we really mean, get creative and think about how these people may need your help and what you can do to help.
WOS:: How can current students at Pepperdine get involved with Sparkrelief?
Taylor:: There are a whole bunch of levels that people can volunteer at. From tweeting or sharing on Facebook to devoting 40 hours a week to helping with development, design, or marketing of our platform. It all depends on what the students are looking for. At the moment, we are asking that people tap into their networks and find connections. Sparkrelief is looking for developers, accountants, lawyers, designers, marketing people, and so many other positions. Unlike a lot of big companies, we actually pick up the phone when people call, and would love to talk to everyone and anyone who has an interest in Sparkrelief about opportunities for involvement.
WOS:: What has been the most powerful experience you have had with Sparkrelief?
Taylor:: There are definitely a lot! For me, the most powerful experience does revolve around Hurricane Sandy – and not only because I was affected by it and used Sparkrelief to find things like where to charge my phone and find water distribution points. As a volunteer, I read and responded to literally hundreds of emails that came in daily about people offering their donated goods or services. It was fantastic to see how many people had heard about Sparkrelief and that so many people cared about their neighbors. It was so powerful to see that what Sparkrelief has to offer is filling a huge gap in the market.
WOS:: In the face of a disaster, what is it that you find the victims need most?
Taylor:: Every disaster is unique, so it’s really difficult to generalize. A drought in Africa is going to have different needs than a flood in New York City. This is exactly what Sparkrelief is made to help with. We direct people to what they need specifically, so if the person in Africa needs water while the person in New York needs to find where to charge their cell phone, we can give them the information they need and adapt to different needs as the disaster recovery progresses.
WOS:: How did Pepperdine prepare you for a life of service?
Taylor:: I definitely appreciated my time at Pepperdine, and I have never experienced such a loving environment where people actually care for each other so selflessly. It’s sad to say, but I haven’t experienced that in many other places in my life. Students actually wanted to do something to give back to their communities and wanted to have a purpose in life, which was incredible and inspiring. Even after I graduated, when reaching out to alumni, I received the same love and compassion. To know that people really do care and want to make a difference is inspiring.
WOS:: In your opinion, what is the most important resource that someone serving can give to those they serve? How do you and Sparkrelief give this resource?
Taylor:: I guess my answer stems from my experience at Pepperdine – because people are compassionate, they give others effected by disaster something to hope for. Having hope in disaster is invaluable and people all around the world are really stepping up to the challenge of helping those in need. Because Sparkrelief is community-driven, it is important that this compassion and engagement exists. One of my favorite quotes is “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” by Edmund Burke. I think that really speaks to what I’m trying to say here!
WOS:: If you could give one piece of advice to the world, what would it be?
Taylor:: I mentor a few people right now, and I always start off by saying you should respect everyone, whether they are a janitor or a CEO. You don’t know what their story is, what they’ve come from, or where they’re going. It’s the greatest piece of advice that my mom ever gave me, and I think it applies to SparkRelief too. Those who are affected by a disaster didn’t choose for it to happen to them. They come from all different walks of life and experience different difficulties. It is so important to be compassionate and have respect for everyone.; Thank you, Taylor, for sharing your experiences with Sparkrelief and for inspiring us to be the "good men" who actually do SOMETHING. We hope to hear more from your time at Sparkrelief, and cannot wait to get involved.; For more information on how to get involved with current disasters, or Sparkrelief, visit the Sparkrelief homepage at sparkrelief.org .; ~Alex

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