Kellie Costa’s Post

Science Technology Engineering, Arts, Math. It is so critically important to underline, highlight, and bold how important the arts are in our digital now. I'm a technologist. I love technology and what it does to help people. And I'll straight up tell you the most important courses I took during college had to do with ethics, philosophy, critical thinking, and communication. Why? Because these weren't adjacent or interest-driven skills to the core competencies I had around tech. I had little motivation to learn them because I didn't know anything about them. I'll straight up tell you that understanding these concepts has made me a significantly better technologist than if I had just stayed in my lane. If you're at AFCEA Belvoir's event supporting STEAM today, you're helping create a better tomorrow by giving kids the opportunity to know the arts. Give yourself a pat on the back. And say hi to the Dev Technology Group, Inc. team while you're there!

Assembling a diverse panel of judges for the SPIAs isn't just about selecting winners—it's about fostering inclusive sport and recognising the organisations and individuals who champion it. Excited to celebrate excellence and diversity in sports! 🌟 #SPIAs #InclusiveSport #DiversityInSports"

❗️ Young people remain largely underrepresented when it comes to decision-making in sport clubs and organisations. ⁠ ⁠ Read 🧐 our new position paper “Youth participation in sport organisations: quo vadis?” where we address the challenges and opportunities for meaningful and effective youth participation in sports organisations, coupled with recommendations for exploring the manifold possibilities to achieve effective and meaningful youth participation in sport governance bodies 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eitEJhja

This article and these stats have come out while I am right in the middle of creating my doc - more important than ever to raise awareness about the industry. https://lnkd.in/dBzPMJAu

LINC events through the United Way of Dane County are such a great way to bring fun events to your workplace culture! We always have people come out for a fun time! Who doesn’t want to have a little fun, build stronger relationships AND help your local community?? #EmployeeEngagement #CommunityEngagement #MadisonWI #PositiveWorkplace #WorkplaceCulture #Community #RelationshipBuilding

Diversity in golf is paramount for our industry's growth and sustainability. Embracing diversity fosters inclusivity, opening doors for new perspectives, talents, and innovation. It enriches the fabric of our sport, reflecting the varied backgrounds and experiences of our global community. By promoting diversity, we ensure golf remains relevant and accessible to all, breaking down barriers that may have hindered participation in the past. More importantly, diversity enhances the quality of our workforce, driving creativity and productivity. It also expands our market reach, attracting a broader audience and securing the future of golf as a thriving and dynamic sport. As leaders in golf management, we have a responsibility to champion diversity, creating environments where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to excel. #golf #golfbusiness #golfmanagement #diversityingolf #golfdiversity #diversityandinclusion

By putting #golfclubs at the heart of local communities, we're creating new narratives that are playing a crucial role in changing perceptions, breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for new audiences to discover the benefits of a regular visit to their local club. #unpaidcarers #opportunity #hope #belonging #purpose #inclusive #healthyageing.

There is no reason at all why you would have noticed this, but I don't post very often on social media. But, as @LYRowing About Us (londonyouthrowing.com) turned 18 years old this year, I wanted to change that. I have, in different guises, been involved with grass root rowing and sport for the last 25 years and feel incredibly lucky to have worked at LYR (and a couple of years @CRIBoston) for the last 17 years. This year LYR invested in a report to determine the ‘so what’ of that time and of LYR flagship project – Active Row. People talk about the great works they are doing, and I applaud everyone that is in this area of sport delivery. It can be incredibly hard and the most rewarding job there is – often on the same day! But I asked the amazing team here at LYR – ‘so what’? What is it we are doing and if we believe we are doing remarkable things for young people across the UK, how do we prove that, how do we talk about those benefits and how do we add detail and data to that work. Earlier this year, we released LYR’s Social Return on Impact Report that looked at the Active Row programme in London. Partnering with @Tideway and State of Life, we asked the big and tough questions. Tough because we did not honestly know what the outcome was going to be. We ‘knew’ that it was effective, but could we prove that? The report is here, and the headline is that Active Row works, and works incredibly well. Sport and physical activity can change lives for the better and provide numerous benefits that I believe are so much wider reaching than being fitter and sportier. What we do makes a real difference and has been making a difference for the last 18 years. As celebrate our milestone, here is to the next 18 years and even more success that cannot always be seen in the many thousands of young people we work with, up and down the UK, every year. If you would like to read the report, Our Impact (londonyouthrowing.com) please do and if after reading it, you feel you would like to help us do more of this amazing work, please get in touch. Thank you to everyone that has helped LYR do what it does for the last 18 years – know, for sure, that you are categorically, making an enormous difference. 

It's true. After over seven years and countless memories made, it's time for me to cycle out of my leadership positions within the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP Global) & the Association of Fundraising Professionals - New York City Chapter (AFP-NYC). Taking a step back from AFP is proving to be an emotional journey, intertwined with threads of bittersweet sentiments. Saying goodbye (see you later?) to an organization that has become a part of my identity is not easy. Stepping down means leaving behind a dedicated team and a cause that has become deeply ingrained in my heart. Celebrating successes, witnessing the growth of individuals within the organization, and contributing to meaningful changes in our industry have fostered a profound sense of fulfillment within me. I am looking at this departure as not an end but a transition—a passing of the baton. Cycling off the Global and NYC boards will offer an opportunity for fresh perspectives and for new minds to invigorate AFP's mission. Cycling off isn't a farewell; it is a culmination of experiences that have shaped not only the organization but also my own growth and perspective. The bittersweet emotions are a testament to the depth of the connections made and the significance of the journey undertaken. In case you need further evidence, take a look at some of my favorite memories below...

How is FFA growing the next generation of leaders who will change the world? For many, growth occurs during the National FFA Convention & Expo. Here are tips to help attendees (and family members) prepare.