This post is long (long) overdue! A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to attend the 2010 mHealth Conference that was held in Washington, DC this year. While I initially registered as a blogger, the conference upgraded my registration to a full press pass when I signed in. I was pleasantly surprised (elated actually)!

Conversations during the Independent Sector Conference definitely pushed thoughts about diversity and inclusion to the forefront of my mind.  Since then conversations have pushed my thoughts to the “so what” factor. What does it all mean? While substantive discussion is for another day and another post, I will say thoughts on diversity have slowly shifted to thoughts about equity and justice, my answer to “so what?” With that in mind, I was interested to see these elements would manifest themselves during the mHealth Summit.

…and was I pleasantly surprised!

The first session I attended was a plenary session focusing on the future of the mobile health programs, particularly in relation to communications, data collection and analysis, the underlying theme of each panelists’ comments revolved around innovation and access.

Before I share with you some of my reactions, let me share with you the key players:

Moderator:

Vijay V. Vaitheeswaran, Healthcare Correspondent, The Economist

Panelists:

Robert Tapia-Conyer, Ph.D., President and CEO, Carlos Slim Health Institute

Nils Daulaire, M.D., M.P.H., Director, Department of Health and Human Services Office of Global Health Affairs

Donald J. Jones, Vice President, Health and Life Sciences, Qualcomm, Inc.

Rafael Anta, Lead Specialist, Inter-American Development Bank

Deborah Estrin, Ph.D., Professor and Center Director, UCLA Center for Embedded Networked Sensing

Julian Schweitzer, Ph.D., Principal, Results for Development

What is Mobile Health?

As someone who definitely isn’t an insider to the health care industry, I often have to navigate a pretty steep learning curve. While I definitely understand the ideological and practical implications of mobile and emergency health more today than I did three or four years ago, there still remains a natural knowledge gap since this actually isn’t my profession.

I am going to assume that you are want to know what mobile health is. In the most basic terms, mobile health refers to innovation and technology that allows health practitioners to bring medical technology and access to those who need it.

Mobile Health is so much more then that. Mobile health is a movement that is revolutionizing health care. It is revolutionizing research, access to information and services and innovation, new ways of thinking about health and “doing” health care.

Mobile Health is Innovation
Mobile Health is Access
Mobile Health is Consumer Driven
Mobile Health is a MOVEMENT

The primary question Vaitheeswaran challenged panelists and the audience to consider – what is the place of mobile technology in health research and access, especially in communities that continue to function on the margins of access to quality information and services to make better health-related decisions?

….ok, questions – what role does medical technology and innovation play in improving access? What are the sustainable models, and what are the inter-sector possibilities for impact?

Rafael Anta underscored that the future of the mobile health sector will depend on how the sector faces certain challenges: strengthening public health management and including targeted innovation. Interestingly he steered away from defining innovation solely in terms of technology, but rather as a tool for better organization, how health is delivered and new business and funding models.

Nils Daulaire emphasized the need for more targeted information gathering to drive innovation. “If we don’t know the right questions to ask, we don’t know the right direction to go in.” The mobile health industry needs to allow customers to drive innovation and that customer-drive initiatives are sustainable. Specifically, Daulaire pointed towards the urban and rural poor, that understanding their realities, needs and barriers (such as literacy) as integral to sustainable mobile health.

Innovation for a Cause

So, do we innovate for innovations sake, or is there a greater purpose? While pointing out that one of the key benefits to technological innovation is the collapse of time and space, parameters are still important. The reality is that faster monitoring must lead to faster interventions and access to therapies. For Donald Jones the most powerful impact of innovation lies in access – to information and resources, empowering patients by providing real opportunities for self-management. We all self-manage to some degree, right?

To varying degrees we decide whether the flu-like symptoms we are experiencing warrant a dose of TheraFlu and a good night’s rest or whether professional medical services are necessary. Jones underscores that the necessary goal is creating proactive self-managers, as in providing patients access to the tools necessary to take more ownership over their personal health. In pragmatic terms, discussions of ownership and empowerment lead to a more nuanced discussion of compliance. What do patients do with this new access to information and services?

Human Capital, the Key to Access

Central to this discussion of access to information and resources is the growing shortage of resources, as there currently exists a shortage of 2-4 million health care workers throughout the world. Julian Schweitzer pointed out that even though facilities exist that can train health care workers, this does not address the actual shortage of workers entering and remaining in the field. Dr. Schweitzer raised the concern that until mHealth can overcome this shortage, it won’t be able to overcome many of the major barriers to actually delivering health services, particularly in isolated areas that lack any qualified health workers to begin with.

Consumer Focused Models

Whether it’s for access to information and services, or bringing health resources to areas and communities on the margins of health access, all panelists agreed that innovation needs to happen to develop sustainable business models to address the most pressing health issues; two that kept resurfacing were infectious diseases and maternity and childhood. In addressing these issues, the models must provide access to health information and services in a simpler and faster way, reaching those populations beyond the present reach of health services.

Making It Happen

The World Health Organization and QualComm have joined forces to develop and provide fetal monitoring kits for high risk pregnancies. Trials have begun in Mexico to address high fetal mortality due to women not being able to reach hospitals in adequate time. [link]

What’s Missing?

There remain several missing pieces to this puzzle, pieces that required inter-sector partnership:

• sustainable funding models
• public private partnerships for philanthropy
• …..did I mention funding?

More dialogue has to happen around who is currently funding innovation within the sector and who is actually making money. Many current initiatives are subsidized in various ways which isn’t conducive to long-term sustainability. The private sector already gets the importance of this and has produced sustainable models. Question is, how can the private sector partner with the health sector to replicate these models to provide sustainable medical solutions to communities that have previously been forgotten or left behind?

Making It Happen

Nike is making money in building sustainable funding models around community building. Nike as build a successful global social network system, connecting more than 2 million customers. The question is, how can mobile health technology initiatives tap into that model to transcend subsidized models?

So What?

What I find most interesting is that these conversations – innovation, access, sustainable models, inter-sector partnerships – are conversations that are happening across sectors. While inter-sector dialogue is an increasingly common phenomenon, the breathe and depth of dialogue is missing from industry-specific conferences.  Conference platforms are still dominated by niche-specific thought leaders.

Where are you seeing public inter-sector dialogue that is impacting the ways in which sectors collaborate to develop sustainable models for delivering their products and services? Where do you see need for improvement? What models have worked in your communities?

I was recently invited to join an exclusive social media team (“BlogSquad”) at this year’s Independence Sector Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.

For those of you unfamiliar with Independent Sector, it is:

the leadership forum for charities, foundations, and corporate giving programs committed to advancing the common good in America and around the world. It’s aim is to fulfill our vision of a just and inclusive society and a healthy democracy of active citizens, effective institutions, and vibrant communities.

It’s a great opportunity for me to collaborate, connect and learn new strategies from the best and brightest in the industry, gaining knowledge and skills that will directly benefit my clients!

Send me to the 2010 Independent Sector Conference in Atlanta as a member of the Social Media BlogSquad.

Take your virtual front seat with CoverIt

Only 12 days until the Conference! Give today!

*If you prefer making a donation by check, please email me at kathrin.ivanovic at gmail.com

As a member of the 2010 Independent Sector’s social media team, I will be tweeting, facebooking and liveblogging my way through the conference – workshops, plenary sessions, behind the scenes. I will be everywhere and you will be too!

You can expect:

• Daily Featured interviews with thought leaders and next generation trailblazers
• LiveBlog from workshops and plenary sessions
• Behind the Scenes look at who is Connecting for a Cause
• You ask the Questions and I get the Answers (send questions to kathrin.ivanovic at gmail.com)
• End of Conference Roundup of all the highlights, sights and sounds from my fellow social media team members
• Lots and lots of photos courtesy of TwitPic

The Budget:

• Airfare $164.40
• Cab: $50
• Registration: $500 (NGen Program Oct 19-20 and Friday 1 Day Pass to general conference)
• Food Stipend: $160 ($40 dollars per day)

I am thankful for your generosity!

As a token of my appreciation, please choose one of the following:

• 1 week ad space on my blog
• 1 advertising space in my bi-weekly newsletter (mailing list of more than 2500)
• PSA each day of the conference on Twitter, Facebook and in my LiveBlog Feed
• Logo included in the Post-Event Round Up

Independent Sector launched the NGen Program at the 2008 conference in Philadelphia. NGen is a program that is committed to developing the next generation of nonprofit leaders, critical to the ability of charities and foundations to improve lives around the world. I was there in 2008, reporting from the front lines. That is where I met the ever-fabulous Monica Montgomery of The Urban Momentum Network. Once again, Monica and I will be tweeting, facebooking and blogging about all things philanthropy! Joins us!

Send me to the 2010 Independent Sector Conference!

Take your virtual front seat today!

*If you prefer making a donation by check, please email me at kathrin.ivanovic at gmail.com

Growing up I thought that I was half German half African American. The Latin aspect only emerged recently when I found my birth father and began talking with his older brother and my half brother. I can’t say that I even have a Latina-consciousness or that I have even really contemplated what that means to me.

I comprehend my gender identity – femme – so much better than my ethnic/cultural identity. I understand it and feel it in every fiber of my being. Being femme is just….its me, my center. I feel profoundly liberated by my femme-ness, precisely because it feels natural and innate without needing to be juxtaposed against something else – butch comes to mind or anything else along the spectrum for that matter. Now, the butch/femme community and the greater LGBT community…that is a bigger can of worms. Nevertheless on a micro level I make complete sense to myself, and really, that’s all that matters. Now, I should back up and qualify that – I didn’t always feel that way. There was a time when I didn’t posses the vocabulary or understanding that described me - ok I am going to leave that train of thought for another day. I digress. Point is I make sense of some of my various identities – femme – and others not so much.

Culturally, I understand and can process being mixed. The individual components rarely ever make sense though. And, honestly…I rarely ever force them to. I know where I belong in the mixed experience. In many ways “home” is far less complicated within the mixed community than any of the other communities that I am a part of.

So, what does it mean for me to be Latina?

Half the time I think that I know very little about what it means to be African American. I do understand the mixed experience – the hybridity. Since ethnic identities are societal/social constructs, can I really claim to be something that I know nothing about? Can culture really be reduced to cuisine, music, and cultural and artistic traditions mixed with a little geographic positioning? If that’s the case, anyone can learn to be any ethnicity of their choosing. I think not! I do think that ethnicity is something that begins as a communal experience that finds expression in individual identity. Hmm….I think I just figured out what I am going to talk about…..

Core premise of IdeaCamp!

I don’t have any concrete expectations, but am looking forward to meeting some new people outside of my immediate network. Make some new connections, learn something new……perhaps even set the stage for some new collaborations.

I’ve connected with a few other queer Christians who are going, so I can’t wait to touch base Saturday night. Plans are to go out in DC.� I am interested in forming more queer-positive spaces throughout Christendom.

Either way, it should be a good time. I am staying Fri – Sun, so if any of my DC folk want to get together for brunch on Sunday, let me know.

I have never really been plugged into the BlogHer community. I joined s few years ago because I thought that connecting with other women bloggers would be enriching, both personally and professionally. But�as always, life got in the way and I never took the time to see what the network had to offer. Thus, I was stunned when Elisa sent me an email (enter twitter ID) inviting me to participate in the Leadership: Hope and Change in Action panel discussion at this year�s conference in Chicago. I didn�t even know that I was on their radar.

My first reaction – apprehension! I have a bit of stage fright that often affects my decisions whether or not to accept speaking engagements (I have gotten better over the years). But�after some consideration I jumped at the chance to meet other community activists who use their blogs (and other social media tools) to affect change in their communities. Good stuff, right?!

So, connect I did! I met so many awe-inspiring women this weekend! I was especially excited to meet some people I have had considerable online contact with over the last couple years.

So here are my Top 5s of BlogHer09! What were yours?

(no particular order)

Top 5 Memorable Moments

1. Birds of a Feather LGBTQ Style

2. Finally meeting @MoreThanMommy @FunkyBrownChick and @NYCityMama

3. QueerBrunch at West Egg with @lesbiandad @LizaWasHere and @msbri

4. Ilene Chaiken proclaiming the buying power of the lesbian community from center stage (advertisers get with the program)

5. Queerosphere Party at Crimson Lounge (cough cough)

Top 5 Flops

1. Walking out on Ilene Chaiken to speak on Hope and Change panel

2. MommyBlogger hijack (non-MB) LifeBlogging Session

3. Dial Up…err, I mean Hotel WiFi

4. Not enough time to chat with everyone I wanted to – quality time and conferences do not mesh well

5. Double Booking of Hope and Change in Action AND Women of Color and Marketing panels

Top 5 Kleenex SOS

1. QueerBloggers Panel – the very best of what it means to be a part of our community

2. DaddyBlogger Keynote…not a dry eye in the house

3. International Activist Scholarship Winners – real women real change

4. Bubbles at the L Room Party

5. the practically orgasmic massage at the Friday night cocktail party

Top 5 Parties

1. Queersphere @ Crimson (Hotel Sax)

2. Seaman Party in Room L

3. Friday Night Cocktail Reception (massages were divine)

4. Blogalicious (so I heard….but never made it)

5. EA @ House of Blues

Top 5 Laughing Til It Hurts

1. quote – “It’s ok if you are straight, but if you don’t twitter…i’ve got to go!”

2. Mommy’s partying 80s style (what a flashback)

3. Deb on the Rocks @ Humor Panel

4. The vibrator heist (thought someone was going to get trampled to death)

5. Smackdown at BowlHer @ Lucky Strikes

On a sidenote: I have never been so pampered in my life! Pedicures, massages, fantastic food, open bar, ….and the list goes on! The BlogHer team went above and beyond in making this event exciting and accessible. Personally, they helped me get there – way above the call of duty! My roommate was able to secure a sponsor for the room, so my only real expense was the kennel for Samson and a little bit of spending money.

The conference was such a goldmine for new post ideas and projects. Despite the three-day whirlwind, I did have some time to reflect on the nature and status of The Diversity Projekt. I am no longer taking on new clients and have referred most of my old clients to trusted consultants in my network. Therefore, how will TDP adapt to my new life circumstances? Stay tuned for that post! I can say though that I am finally going to try out some new tools – particularly video. I am also re-launching Philadelphia Speaks and am working out the specifics of a monthly forum for activists in developing nations – I met four amazing women this weekend and want to lend a spot on TDP for them to be heard. Their stories are inspiring and humbling!

Thoughts for next year � There needs to be more balance to help represent and speak to the diversity of women who attend. This year’s conference lacked balance. I realize that many conferences are driven my supply and demand, particularly when it comes to sponsorships. Nevertheless, the conference was overwhelmingly dominated by the �MommyBlogger� (MBs) contingent � panels, company’s at expo, parties, etc. The vast majority of swag speaks to this niche – not any of those I often find myself in. Most breakout sessions had two panels for MBs, while the social change and women of color panels conflicted on the schedule. Mind you all three of us on the social justice panel were women of color. There were no exhibitors who really spoke to me as a lesbian or as a woman of color. Yes, we do laundry, use hair and skin care products, but there are also a host of other products applicable that may be outside of the MB frame of reference.

Also, the panel discussions that were not specifically geared towards MB�s were still dominated by topics most relevant to their niche � sponsors, monetization, etc. Even the one discussion that was specifically geared towards non-MBs was hijacked. Several MB apologists dominated the discussion and prevented us from having some discussions on how we, as Non-MBs, could support each other better. At times I really wondered where and how I as a queer woman of color really fit into the conference format.

If diversity and inclusion are the desired and intended goals, we need to be more mindful to speak to women and women’s issues, concerns, desires, etc. across the entire spectrum. Focusing almost exclusively on one niche to the exclusion of another, sends the wrong message. It makes assumptions about value that I am not entirely comfortable with. Is that really the messsage we want to send? Is alienating each other really the router we want to take?

So, I guess what I am trying to say is:

1. tone down the swag

2. work towards more diversity and balance

3. can’t wait to go to NYC!

Just some thoughts…….

His challenge for men become engaged in finding solutions not only to violence throughout the city of Philadelphia but also to play a role the restoration of hope, dignity and civility within their communities was quite inspiring.� His message was a call to action for men, particullary as their presence is required at the table in order to win the war against violence – “The issue of violence, specifically as it relates to women is a MALE issue and a MALE problem.”� He went on to state, “Let me be clear, as a man, husband and father there is never any reason for a man to put his hands on a woman or child in any circumstance. It is not right or manly to engage in that kind of behavior.”

One of the most impressive and dynamic panelists was Edwin Desamour, Program Director of Today’s Boys Tomorrow’s Men P@ WOAR (Women Organizing Against Rape).� Today’s Boys Tomorrow’s Men is an example of a program that does so much yet remains invisible within a city where the more recent shooting is the model for the hottest news stories.� Nevertheless, this program is front and center in engaging boys and young men in taking an active part in their communities by building strong relationships with themselves and the world around them.� The primary focus of this program is mentoring and motivation through action for good.�� “This is not Today’s Thug, Tomorrow’s Inmate!”

TBTM is a leadership program designed foster positive development and growth for today’s young males.

Module 1 focuses on attitudes and abilities necessary for positive self-awareness and personal development.

Module 2 focuses on skills and abilities needed to effectively plan for the future. Focus is also given to the development of relationships with peers, adults and employers.

Educating and empowering young women is an essential component to combating violence in our communities.� Young men are equally essential in achieving this goal. Panelists continually turned to the need to regain a sense of civility in the ways in which we engage with each other.� Mayor Nutter and Edwin both pointed out that violence of the street is often a direct reflection and reenactment of the violence many young men and women witness and experience in their homes. Providing sustainable alternatives and providing opportunity and investment in community are crucial in breaking this chain.

I participated in Philadelphia Futures for several years.� I have been unable to participate during my time at Villanova University.� However, now that I am done with school, I hope to once again volunteer my time as a mentor. I encourage you to check out the Philadelphia Futures mentoring program as well as these other great programs throughout the Philadelphia area:

AMACHI - Mentoring Children of Prisoners in Philadelphia

Public/Private Ventures

Urban Health Initiatives

I am honored to be among an impressive blogger presence at this year’s Independent Sector Conference:

Trista Harris — New Voices of Philanthropy
Tera Wozinak — Social Citizen
Rosetta Thurman — Perspectives from the Pipleline
Katya Andresen — Robin Hood Marketing

It was also a privilege to meet Heather Carpenter at NonProfit Leadership 601. I also met a prospective new blogger, Monica.� She is a prominent member of Philadelphia’s rising non profit leaders and the Director of Development and Publicity at the Green School in the Mount Airy section of Philadelphia, a school for autistic children. We will be setting up her blog within the next couple of weeks. She has a lot to say!!

I am so thrilled that the Chronicles of Philanthropy picked up our presence and gave a shout out to our efforts.

After the closing of this year’s IS Plenary, many NGens gathered for a post-conference brainstorming session.� While we initially broke discussed our reaction to the conference in smaller groups, we came together in the end to discuss several topics important to both NGens and the IS conference as a whole:

Value

- many felt that the orange “NGen” tags were value on several fronts. They provided visibility of emerging leaders to both other NGens and to more established members of the IS community.

- The larger presence of NGens at the conference allowed us to share our concerns and issues of the future of the IS and the non profit world as well as a way in which we can contribute to its growth

Why Did you Come

- to meet and network with other NGens and more established members of the IS and Non Profit community

- several suggestions were shared about how to better facilitate interactions between NGens and established IS members 1) mentoring and coaching opportunities 2) speed networking between NGens and established members 3) collaboration on plenary planning committees 4) IS board membership program

- NGen investment in the sector through mission based development

Where Do We Go

- while many appreciated the seperate NGen track of workshops this morning, others thought that it separated us from the rest of the conference

- many advocated for more NGen participation in the planning of the IS conference, as presenters and speakers, and on the Board of Directors.� Several individuals argued that if IS was truly committed to including NGen’s into IS, it would provide a way for NGen’s to actively participate in the planning and execution of furture conferences and initiatives

- several individuals expressed the need for a greater presence of new media at the conference, particularly more Net Cafe stations and better access to power sources for those who have their own equipment. Also, the incorporation of sessions on the usefulness of new media to non profits and foundations should be established.

- fostering of more scholarship opportunities for NGens who cant afford to attend on their own accord (encouragement to send thank you letters to all contributors to 2008 scholarship fund)

- establish opportunities for NGens to interact in the local level, particularly through engaging local organizations such as PYNL (Philadelphia Young NonProfit Leaders) and YNPN (Young Non Profit Network)

- creation of a listserv to share ideas

- establishment of regional breakout sessions at next year’s IS conference

- more NGen participation as moderators and speakers

- NGen panel discussion or presentation at Plenary Meetings at next year’s conference

Moderator: Kalvin Taketa, IS Board Member and President/CEO, Hawai’i Community Foundation
Panelists:
Randall L. Kennedy, Michael R. Klein Professor of Law, Harvard Law School, Harvard University
Sterling Speirn, President, W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Luz Vega-Marquis, Secretary, Independent Sector and President/CEO Marguerite Casey Foundation
Maria Wilson, President/Founder, The White House Projekt

While I had limited power, I was able to jot down some thoughts that jumped out at me:

Speirn: “While the glass ceiling was smashed, there are millions trapped in the basement.”

Kennedy: Why is there a “who’d have thunk it” idea that Obama could be elected, that people could have pulled the lever to vote for him.

We need soon however to be thinking about what next” and I hope that we are not so entranced by what happened last week, that we fumble an opportunity to push the agenda for social justice.

Wilson: Two conversations got invoked in this election:

1) race
2) gender
3) class – Obama class upwards and Clinton class downwards

The changing of the conversation is a major milestone in this country.

“You can’t be what you can’t see.” – What happened all over America, is that there are children from all races and gender that they can be president of the United States.

I know that I cannot celebrate very long, but it is great!

Vega: “The real America showed up at the poles.” In response to the idea that Palin spoke for the “real America.”

The real America finally got included. The fact that she is proud that Latinos voted the right way in this election.

Taketa: Obama as a transcended of all aspects of our population. Is Obama unique?

Kennedy: Obama is an extraordinary politician. Yet, Obama had a hard fought campaign for the Democratic nominee on gender. Gender and racial lines are moving. They are still there but they are moving. Obama still had to overcome his race. There are a variety of politicians of a variety of racial politicians and women politicians. Obama is the person of the hour but he is the tip of the iceberg. In a way this is the most hopeful thing of the election. There is more coming.

Speirn: If the issues are not central nothing will change. Education system is bankrupting our nation. Health status and economic status which is linked to education. The social determinants of education far outweigh all other issues.

Vega: Expectations of Obama are high. He also talked to us about us and what responsibility we take as members of this society to take active part in our future. We need to be responsible for the kinds of things we want to see. We need to begin shaping agendas in our communities. We expect miracles, but we need to hope in what we really can change. It is the collection of our efforts to build a better society.

Wilson: Obama did something transcendent – The major ways AA leaders have made progress is through challenge. Some questioned that AA could not make progress without bargaining. Obama assumed good will which is the third way – not challenge or bargaining. No negative stories about the campaign staff – mission of being respectful and doing good.

Wilson: about Clinton’s campaign – when it comes to gender, gender will always trump gender. But if you only have one person who is different, you look at what they have different. Gender is central. It meant that Clinton had to walk all fine lines about being tough enough and maintain appeal. At end of campaign she felt she had nothing to lose, and she was more authentic.

Wilson: We learned about the continuing way gender continues to be reported in the media. There was an enormous amount of sexism in this election.

The movement – Civic engagement of young people, women and African Americans:

Kennedy: the horizons have been widened traumatically. The sense of possibility – young women, people of color – frankly regardless that everyone’s horizons were opened and that has something to do with extraordinary moment we are in. Even people who did not vote for Obama, even his rivals, many of them have been changed and moved to opening their horizons.

Wilson: inspiring but what do we do next? If they are not engaged – if it is just about their votes – we will lose them again. Obama has a plan, but we all need a plan too for the energy.

(ran out of battery)

This conversation derailed within the first five minutes of comments. The panelists began discussion the ways in which the 2008 Election redefined discussions of Race and Gender in America, particularly the ways in which these new discussions influence the non profit sector and the ways in which the non profit sector can contribute to these discussions.� A great topic, particularly since a “what now?” theme ran through the entire conference.� However, the conversation quickly jumped to the failures of the Clinton campaign, policy reform and eventually the prison system.� Once again, a fruitful discussion on race and gender derailed! Is it that we don’t know how to have a meaningful discussion on race or that it’s just to complicated and uncomfortable?

Not hopeful for an effective lame duck session. Some have said that we need to ban the idea of the first 100 days with the issues this country is facing. Can you speak to this?

Nicholas Giordano: This transition is unprecedented – economic situation, two wars and general economic problems.

300 executive branch positions need to be filled. The top cabinet positions will be filled quickly so that when Congress goes back into session, the nomination proceedings will go pretty quickly.

Do you think the Bush Admin right now is ready to step aside? What indications?

Nicholas: Pretty positive. President Bush has gone forward and made sure money was put aside to for a seamless transition. Named internally those who will be responsible for policy transition. They seem to have all pieces in place. There will be some bumps, but the prospects are good.

What is the best way to get ideas into the transition team?

Nicholas: All transition team personnel have been announced so there are great access points. The change.gov platform is great for people to get information and jobs. However, getting information directly to the people responsible is the best way.

What changes can we expect with the House leadership?

Nicholas: This leadership has shown the ability to control the agenda to a great degree. Not much will change with the pickup of the 20+ seats. This will further embolden them. Pelosi and the team has been good in controlling the agenda. I would expect more of that. Leadership change will occur since Rahm Emanuel going to the white house. The ratio in the committees will change a bit. The democrats will have more flexibility in the caucus
in general. There is less a concern for the need of republicans to push things through.

SHIFT

Some questions about defining the non profit community there have been some discussions about whether charities engaging with the poor are the only effective non profits, but public policy non profits are essential in that process.

Nicholas: Mr. Rangel has talked a lot of time taking about the corporate tax code and reform. This will be essential. Also the Ways and Means committee will be influential in the fiscal policies.

Senate Finance Committee: Sen Grassly has been proponent of more regulation of charitable organizations. Rised questions about university endowments and whether hospitals are providing sufficient community benefit, but he has also had a close colleague in Sen. Boccas who has shared concerns but has great interest in the share of non profits.

Efforts in creating an increase in Philanthropy. What is the outlook for further investigations and what will be Mr. Grassly’s role going forward?

Over the last two years the issues, the chairman Boccas and Sen. Grassly has not been aligned. Chairman Boccas in the caucas is looking make an effort to be bipartisan. The will also be responsible for the tax issues and health care reform issues so from his standpoint there will be several important priorities.

Bridgestar.org� – information about Non Prof Executive development.

What if you find yourself in a position different than what you were hired from?

Create your own opportunities. Be strategic in managing your duties and be clear about your job expectations. Be open and honest in dialogue with employer. If position will never embody what you are looking for, you need to start thinking strategically of looking beyond to a new position.

Bait and Switch is often used to trap young capable employees.

If you have identified where you want to go and the skills, how do you develop skills in a practical way in a job that does not need those skills?

Join board of small non profit without much staff so that you can pitch in on day to day operations. How do you find board opportunities? Check board websites such as Board Source. There are link programs in many cities across the country.

Conferences are great ways to build skills. Engaging in your non profit associations and other business associations who have programs for skill building.

Look at network to see how consulting can a resource for consulting to build practice. Look into Tap Root Foundation as they help siphon people into non profit from business sector.

Reach out to your network and people who are doing what you want to do for informational interviews and mentoring programs.

If you love the mission of your organization yet the culture of your department is not aligned with the way you are comfortable with doing work. How do you function with the disconnect between the culture of the org and your personal culture?

Look for other departments that fit your personal culture. Try to incorporate tools that help clarify people’s position and roles. Think about managing up through open dialogue.

How important or essential is a graduate degree?

Grad degrees are essential. It is more important about where you went and the culture of the institution.� Some organizations are threatened by MBA degrees but that is an “old” non profit culture.� For Exe Directors an MBA is high on the list for a “must have”.

What do you do if you happen to be in one content area but want to transfer to another content area? Changing mission focus.

Volunteer in the area that you want to transition to. Create your own volunteer initiative within your existing organization or your community.

Job Transition Components:

1) geography

2) type of org

3) type of role

Easy to change one. Hard to change two, Difficult to change all.

Informational interviews are essential for transitions. Who knows who and how you can network.

Facebook and InkedIn is the new wave of of job transtion.