Five Reasons to Grab A Ticket to #Gigs4Good Thurs 4/12! April 11, 2012

Team Up for Nonprofits presents Gigs4Good this Thursday 4/12 7 – 11pm, benefiting Seattle Works. $20 in advance.

There are so many reasons to buy your ticket today!

5. The music is good!  If not, GREAT!

Don’t believe me? Go ahead, throw your headphones on, hit play and let it carry you through today: http://bit.ly/ziHQYQ

   

How you doing?

4. The show is being produced by a fellow nonprofit – Team Up for Nonprofits!

A minimum of $15 of your $20 advance ticket goes to Seattle Works.  That’s incredible.  With Team Up, you buy the ticket, they bring the music and nonprofits get the money.  That is awesome sauce.  Your ticket makes sure this can keep happening: http://bit.ly/G4GSW

3. The weather has been ab-fab. Time to take advantage of a rooftop patio.

Have you seen Hard Rock’s patio? Well I dare you to find a better one in Seattle my friends.  Perfect for a little pre-game beverage if you know what I mean. Don’t worry, if Seattle’s true colors come through and it’s raining they have some fancy cabanas.

2. Seattle Works is known for bringing together nice, fun people – and this is no exception. Come meet some of them!

Almost 5,000 people are on this facebook event!  That’s because people are connected and looking to mix, mingle, network and meet new folks.  Come to move, shake, do your thang.

1. You <3 Seattle Works and want to support us!

$20 is likely cheaper than your average night out – right?! Affordable philanthropy – don’t mind if we do.  We’re gearing up for Seattle Works Day on Sat May 19th, which is our largest annual day of service and gets 1,300 people out in our community to give back. Seattle Works gets you connected to your community… and Seattle Works Day is just one way that we do it.

Grab your tickets to Gigs4Good and we’ll rock out with you on Thursday! http://bit.ly/G4GSW

So you’re thinking about starting a group to engage the young people?? April 4, 2012

I just sent an email to a really fantastic organization that is starting an advisory board targeting younger people. It’s not the first time we’ve been asked for advice in this area (and hopefully not the last! ask away!) so I figured I might as well take those same thoughts and put them up on the blog.

A lot of these start-up “young professional” or “20-something” groups start with good intentions and then fizzle out. Here’s how to build a group that creates value….

1) The group must have buy-in and support from the organization in a real way. It can’t be some young staff member’s pet idea and they get given the green light to move forward without any real commitment from the organization.

2) Younger people care about more than happy hour. Some groups mistakenly think all you need to do is host a “happy hour” and you’re relevant. Sure, fun social activities can be a draw, especially if there’s free or affordable booze, but groups that don’t have any real content or connect to the agency mission are short-lived.

3)  Younger people care about more than social media. A few years back, several groups thought that if they just got some young people together and threw some happy hours, they would be set. This still happens a little, but the thing I hear a lot is now – we just need a Facebook group, or we just need to start up on Pinterest, because that’s what the young people do. It’s the exact same mindset as the happy hour mindset. Sure, younger people like those things. But they are not any type of magic bullet. Social media can be a great element of your strategy, but it’s not the strategy itself.

4. What DOES work is identifying people in the demographic who care about your organization’s mission, bringing them together, listening them, valuing their opinions, and then building a program. They should have a real voice in the organization, and you should identify ways they can have both an independent identity as this younger group, and legitimate interactions with other stakeholder groups in your organization. This may take a little longer to do, but you’ll wind up with something real and that can last, rather than a flash-in-the-pan.

5. You know what works in terms of cultivating donors, engaging volunteers, building relationships and developing strategy at your organization. (And if you don’t, it’s worth thinking that through before you start a new group.) Rely on those skills first and then layer on what you know and what you are learning about younger people.

Growing the presence of young people in your organization is about diversity. Start with the basics of person-to-person engagement. Respect and value differences. Listen, and hear from people directly what they want, rather than assuming you know what they want. Be open to learning. Be open that you may need to be doing something differently at your organization itself, not just marketing to a new audience and plugging them into your organization exactly as it currently exists. Be honest with yourself and with your new group about what you would like for their participation to bring to your organization. In short: take it seriously.

Thus endeth the lecture,

T

Thank you Tegan! March 5, 2012

Do you all remember Tegan?!

She spent a great year here with Seattle Works as an AmeriCorps member coordinating and leading The Bridge program and contributing so SO much to this organization.

Last week we got a package in the mail and it totally made our day/week/month!  After Tegan wrapped up her year of service she returned home to Colorado to begin a Master’s program in Library Information Sciences with a museum/archival focus.  She also went back to work at the bookstore we had heard her talk about so fondly.

The package included a bunch of awesome books that we’ve been wanting to read!  Plus some amazing tea that looks fancier than the selection we normally keep in the office, and this note:

 

“Hey Seattle Works -

Here’s a gift to say THANK YOU FOR BEING SO FRICKING AWESOME. No really… you’ve inspired me to switch things up a bit with school – I’m starting a MA in Nonprofit Management program this year. Bottom line: you were great, still are and I miss you all. I hope things are going well – come visit!”

- Tegan

 

We wish you nothing but the best Tegan and are so happy to hear of your continued success!

Making some news, getting a mug February 27, 2012

Oscars, schmoscars – Seattle Works is hitting the screen via Comcast Newsmakers!

The interview is available on YouTube and has been showing on tv in conjunction with CNN Headline News. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKeLz4igQSU&feature=youtu.be

It’s five minutes of big picture perspective on Seattle Works, including a shout-out on being selected as an Innovation Hub.

Thanks Comcast for the opportunity (and the mug!)

- Tara

Donate like a Diva! December 6, 2011

Our friends over at Team Diva Real Estate wrote this awesome piece about us:

 

“Have you ever wanted to find a way to give back to the community through an organized network of local nonprofits that need helpful, awesome volunteers?  Well you are in luck because Seattle Works has been providing this service to aspiring givers for over 20 years!”

More…  http://www.blog.teamdivarealestate.com/2011/12/04/seattle-works-connecting-people-with-the-community/

 

Team Diva is not just your average real estate team. They go beyond buying and selling homes because their focus is to create community in all interactions.  We love that focus!

Rock on Team Diva – rock on!

What makes planning fun? Post-its, red dots and Gaga! November 17, 2011

It was all hands on deck this week, which for Seattle Works means three full -time AmeriCorps team members (Jenna, Page and Ellen), two full-time staff (Tara and Bevin) and two part-time staff (Tyler and Andy) and for a 12 month planning session.

We call it the Great Calendaring Session of 2012 and it happens with background beats from Gaga.

 

Everyone is responsible for identifying their own programs, events, meetings, grant deadlines, what have you dates on post-its and then placing them on the ginormous calendar sheets.  Once that happens we looks at the year quarter by quarter as a team and see how the dates overlap/intersect.  It was seriously the most productive two-hour discussion we’ve ever had around our calendar!

You might be asking yourself, “Why should l care about your calendar?” Because it’s going to make hanging out with Seattle Works easier on you!  Team Works rounds will be kicking off consistently, year after year in the same months, we’ll have one training course, either The Bridge or HandsOn Leadership, offered every month (for the first six months of the year) and major events like Seattle Works Day is already set (mark your calendars – Sat 5/19/12).  Plus we’ll be publishing all these dates for you at the beginning of the year in case you’re a planner.

You. are. welcome.

This is how connections are made October 12, 2011

Seattle Works is many things to many people! We strive to connect people every day – be it to volunteer opportunities, their community, cool events, each other, etc.  and today WE DECLARE VICTORY.

We left out names for privacy reasons, but we are so touched by the sentiment that we had to share. We received a generous donation with the following note attached:

“This gift is made in the name of the bride and groom.  Seattle Works is how we met and became friends, and now we’re so happy to be celebrating your marriage. Congratulations!”

- a friend of the bride and groom

Remote Fridays! June 17, 2011

Have you heard about this thing we call a “flexible workspace”?  If you follow our blog it’s possible that you have!  We rent a pretty small space from the Hearing, Speech and Deafness Center which we call our office, or our home base.  If every single person that works in some capacity for Seattle Works (staff, AmeriCorps, intern, contractor, work-study, bookkeeper, Percival, etc.)  were in that office at once it would be quite crowded.

Enter “flexible workspace” to save the day.  Everyone is equipped with a refurbished laptop and empowered to work from the places that make the most sense for them!  Often that’s in our office, but because we like being out and about in our community we instituted something called Remote Fridays.  Every Friday you can find Seattle Works out at a different coffee shop.  We try to switch up the neighborhoods and are open to going just about anywhere that has free wi-fi and allows us to camp out for 8+ hours at a time.

Today we’re at the Cherry Street Museum which is awesome!  They even had a chalk wall so we could mark our territory:

From Blog Photos

What’s your favorite coffee shop?  Any suggestions for where we should go next? 

Looking for our secret admirer February 15, 2011

Somebody sent us a valentine!  It’s so great, we couldn’t keep it to ourselves.

Featured in The Stranger’s Reader Valentines it says:

I <3 U Seattle Works

It’s been over 3 years and we’re still together, longer than me and any girlfriend ever. We’ve done some amazing stuff together and I heart you for it

Seriously, we aren’t making this up! http://post.thestranger.com/seattle/Valentines/Page?search=seattle+works

Lucky for us, our AmeriCorps gal Kathleen was thoroughly reading through the listings looking for the one that was meant for her, and stumbled upon the message for us.

We <3 you too, secret admirer.  Your message is pinned on our bulletin board, and will forever be pinned to our hearts.

21 Fun: Why Seattle Works is a Sure Bet December 8, 2010

 

Connected volunteers! Leaders taking action! Inspired community conversations! You like these things, yes? You want these things for YOUR community, yes? Make it happen: Give to Seattle Works!         p.s. need a little more motivation? How about this… 21 reasons why Seattle Works is a sure bet. 21. We’re led by a dedicated board of directors who have their eye on the ball, and all 18 of them make personal gifts to Seattle Works every year. They’d be really happy if you joined them. 20. Over 18,000 hours of volunteer service in 2010 (so far) facilitated by yours truly. 19. We offered a new, free event this fall on how to effectively communicate with your elected officials once they are in office. It even included a section on “thanking or spanking”. Oh my. 18. Our organizational vision is “a thriving community of actively engaged individuals.” 17. We just completed our third annual international service trip in partnership with local nonprofit Crooked Trails. Twelve volunteers spent a week building a school in Nepal. Past destinations include Peru and Thailand. Those are some good reasons. Ready to make a gift? 16. One of our most successful auction items at Swank this year was a round of jello shots. Maybe we just wanted to mention this because it makes us laugh. And maybe we’re mentioning it because it’s an indicator that we have our finger on the pulse, know what motivates our audience and aren’t afraid to have a little fun. Maybe? 15. Feedback from our most recent board training course, The Bridge: “Made me feel like part of the community.” “Well done.” “Very helpful.” “Fantastic!” “Thanks for your work and enthusiasm!” 14. We created our 2011.2013 Strategic Plan through a thoughtful volunteer-lead process that engaged our key stakeholders. We listen, and we plan ahead, with our community’s best interest in mind. 13. This Saturday alone we are hosting five volunteer projects, helping out Habitat for Humanity, Downtown Food Bank, Neighborhood House, Phinney Neighborhood Association and Northwest Folklife Festival. 12. We launched a new program this year! Hands On Leadership is an innovative way to solve a real community problem by training volunteer leaders to work with nonprofits to make a sustainable impact. 11. Seattle Works does all our fine work on a budget of less than $450,000 a year. Your gift is no drop in a bucket! How about now? Are you motivated? We’d be honored to have your support as a donor. 10. Percival, our very own office mascot: 9. Our Weekly Email provides 4,000 people with information on volunteer opportunities and civic events from organizations all across town. Rumor has it it’s kind of funny too. 8. Seattle Works volunteers do so much work with organizations like Northwest Harvest, Foodlifeline and local foodbanks that we were nominated for the Mayor’s End Hunger Award. 7. There’s a method to the madness. Our program strategy is to provide fun, easy accessible community engagement opportunities that help people get going, paired with a clear path to build knowledge, connections, leadership and commitment. 6. Transitional Resources, Powerful Voices, Nature Consortium, Girls on the Run and YPIN are all among the organizations that have gained board members through Seattle Works. 5. Super cute Seattle Works Day tees. How better to say thanks and hurrah for the more than 3,500 hours of service provided in one day? 4. We experienced a building flood and snow this year without missing a beat thanks to smart technology and solid remote working policies. Team members have gotten their jobs done from our workspace, from home, from coffee shops, from Egypt and even from 35,000 feet in air! 3. November’s Team Works projects were dedicated to our local greenspaces. Of the 1000+ people who dug in on Green Seattle Day, 320 were Team Works volunteers! 2. We’re fresh, but we’re not new: 2010 marks 21 years of building community involvement! Talk about a track record. 1. YOU. Seattle Works is a sure bet because we have you: someone willing to invest in their community. We really are a sure bet. Please support Seattle Works today!

Seattle Works is a 501c3 nonprofit organization, federal tax id #91-1416844