Susana Valverde Solano’s Post

Are you looking to meet new people? Interested in charitable causes or want to learn skills to advance your career? Volunteering may be a good option. When you volunteer, you have the opportunity to make a true difference in the lives of others. If you’re the type of person interested in social interaction, volunteering has social, career and personal benefits. Here are some good outcomes to motivate the sense of volunteering. ✍ Helps you meet new friends - As a volunteer, you’ll typically interact with people from diverse backgrounds, which allows you to learn other perspectives. ✍ Increases your social skills - By spending a lot of time working with others and using social skills, like active listening and relationship management, you’ll have the opportunity to develop your future personal and business relationships. ✍ Improves self-esteem - When you do something you feel is worthwhile and valuable for your community, it gives you a sense of accomplishment that may help you feel more fulfilled about your life and any future goals. ✍ Provides job prospects - Choosing to pursue a career in the field you’re volunteering in, the connections you make also may help increase your job prospects. ✍ Brings fun into your life - Volunteering for organizations or causes also may provide you with a renewed sense of creativity and motivation that carries over into your personal and professional life. Find organizations that fit your interests, either close to home or remotely. To get started, try searching for open volunteer roles.

Servant leadership is what we all need to aspire too.

As someone who fills multiple leadership roles in 100% volunteer organizations, I am always looking for ways to motivate volunteers. It is the reality that in most non-profits, volunteer service is "all carrots and no sticks" so leaders have to find ways to motivate, appreciate, but still hold accountable, their volunteers. Here are some tangible ways I use: --Handwritten thank you cards. I cannot stress enough the power of getting a nice piece of mail. --Public thank yous. With email, teams, and social media it is so easy to say thank you to supporters and volunteers. Make it personal that it comes from you. For example, when someone crushes a task, I'll put in the team slack group a thank you/recognition. It allows the team to celebrate the person and recognize them. --Set expectations for preferred ways to communicate (I am admittedly hard to reach via phone with no notice), and timelines for responses (my rule is if I haven't answered you in 48 hours, absolutely nudge me with a follow-up!) --SCHEDULED check-ins, using the form of communication THEY appreciate. Very few people appreciate unsolicited phone, teams, or slack calls. So I either text or email and ask to schedule an informal check-in and ask them how they want to chat. Then I send a calendar invite. I find this respects everyone's time, allows for everyone to acknowledge the commitment, and allows them to chat with me in the manner they are most comfortable with. --I invite my volunteers to do the above process when they want to chat with me. While I will always TRY to answer when they call, that isn't always possible, so I encourage them from day one to reach out and schedule a good time. What other ways do YOU accomplish this in your roles?

🙌 Engaging in volunteer activities and giving back to your community are powerful ways to extend purpose beyond your job. 🌟 Volunteering allows you to utilize your #skills, expertise, and resources to make a positive impact on causes that align with your #values. 🤝🌍 Start by exploring volunteer opportunities within your organization or in your local community. 🏢🌱 Look for nonprofits, social enterprises, or community organizations that work towards causes that resonate with you. Consider how your unique skills and strengths can contribute to their mission. 💪🌟 Volunteering offers a range of benefits. It allows you to contribute to a cause you believe in and make a difference in the lives of others. 🤲🌈 It broadens your perspective, deepens your understanding of social issues, and cultivates empathy and compassion. 🌍💙 Volunteering also provides opportunities for #personal and #professional growth, allowing you to develop new skills, expand your network, and gain valuable experiences. 🌱🤝📚 In addition to formal volunteer activities, look for ways to incorporate giving back into your daily work routine. 🌟 Offer your assistance to colleagues, mentor junior team members, or share your expertise with others. 🤝📚 Small acts of kindness and support can create a positive work environment and foster a sense of purpose and fulfillment. 🌟💼 By engaging in volunteer work and giving back, you extend your purpose beyond the boundaries of your job. 🌟🌍 You become a catalyst for positive change, both within your organization and in the broader community. 🌟🙌 Your contributions not only #benefit others but also enhance your own sense of purpose and fulfillment in your professional life. 🌟✨ #coachingandmentoring

Today I am personally asking my LI connections to read the following & if you can help reach out to me, or repost it to your followers with a personal ask. You know I do my best to share my talents with worthy non-profits. Thanks! In the spirit of unity and gratitude on this MLK holiday, I extend a heartfelt invitation to all my LI friends and family who are patriots and believe in the power of service. The mission is clear: Support Gold Star Families who have made the ultimate sacrifice by sharing these hero's stories. I am calling on responsible individuals, groups, and organizations to step up by volunteering their time and talents in 2024 and make a lasting impact by joining this nationwide mission. To date, over 300 Gold Star families have already been blessed by this organization.   Patriotism Knows No Bounds! - Whether you're near or far, your commitment to our Gold Star Families can transcend geographic boundaries. I am we're looking for volunteers–both in person and remote–who are ready to share their talents.   Opportunities to Serve - Whether you prefer in-person (North Dallas TX) or remote, a few hours or days each month, there's a role for everyone. In-person positions, such as gallery staff, admin, or light maintenance during regular hours provide a direct & personal connection with our mission. We're also seeking volunteers that can help strengthen our 2024 team both in person or remote for marketing, social media, communications, fundraising, creative design, physical gallery community engagement, technology, and more.   Who Can Step Up? Maybe it's just you ready to volunteer your time and skills. Perhaps it's a veterans group in your community or company passionate about corporate social responsibility. Maybe you have retired & are looking for that opportunity to serve, or a school or college eager to instill a sense of civic duty in its students. Your unique contribution, no matter how big or small, can make a profound impact. But you need to take the first step.   Express Your Interest – Reply to this post or direct message me with the area or role you're interested in exploring. Your expression of interest does not commit you at this time. I am here to chat, connect, understand your passions and skills, share more about the program, and find the perfect fit for you or your group.   Let's come together as a community and turn our shared love for this great nation into a force for good. Our Gold Star Military Families deserve nothing less. Thank you for your consideration and support in this volunteer effort. I have experienced that a gift of volunteering will not only make a positive impact on the lives of those you serve but also regenerate a sense of hope, unity, and resilience within our community, creating a ripple effect of positive change that extends far beyond the initial act of service. Let's unify & chat! #GoldStarFamilies #Service #Patriotism #VolunteerOpportunity #SupportOurHeroes #RemoteVolunteer #MedAssets

There are many reasons why people choose to volunteer, ranging from the mundane to the professional. It may surprise you to hear or find out some of the reasons why people volunteer. As a project manager and volunteer engagement manager, I have had the opportunity to interact with many volunteers and recruit them for various purposes. Through these experiences, I have learned that the motivations behind volunteering can change over time. Initially, I was attracted to volunteering some 8 years ago simply because I saw a group of young people doing something positive and I loved it. As time went on, I became more connected to the work being done and developed a deeper understanding of what drives people to volunteer. This understanding led to a stronger commitment to volunteering and the desire to do more. Over the years, my motivations for volunteering changed. I began to focus on developing specific skills and gaining experience in areas of personal interest, such as leadership and organizational skills. As I continued to volunteer, I found that the experience I gained helped me build my professional network and explore career options. I have heard many reasons why people choose to volunteer, including giving back to the community, helping those in need, gaining new skills and experiences, meeting new people and making friends, feeling a sense of purpose and fulfillment, making a difference in the world, learning about different cultures and ways of life, and developing new skills. Understanding these motivations is important in creating an environment that enables volunteers to have a fulfilling experience. Volunteering can provide a wide range of benefits and can be motivated by a variety of reasons. Whether you are looking to gain new skills, meet new people, or give back to your community, volunteering can be a rewarding experience. So, what motivates you to volunteer? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below. #tobatalks #themedutainer #volunteering #LCCwithAbby

Volunteering helps boost your career and improve your quality of life. Anyone who knows me or looks at my resume can see just how important volunteering has been to me. I always reflect to others that volunteering has given way more to me than I could have ever anticipated: 🌟 Volunteering in the mental health field ignited my passion for psychology 🌟 Volunteering boosts your self confidence 🌟 Volunteering gives you the understanding, knowledge, and experience college could never provide. It put me way ahead of my peers when getting my degree 🌟 Volunteering provides outstanding networking possibilities 🌟 Volunteering gives life greater meaning and purpose 🌟 Volunteering allows you to connect with a wider circle of people 🌟 Volunteering highlights your ethics, values, and determination to potential employers Volunteering offers numerous benefits to helping you find a job. Before I got my degree, I was offered several positions within the field of psychology because people were so impressed with my skills, knowledge, and what I had accomplished #volunteering #meaningandpurpose Excellent article on eleven reasons why volunteering can boost your career! https://lnkd.in/ePtxfDfr

💡 Why Volunteer for Local Nonprofits? 1. Skill Enhancement: Volunteering allows you to apply your technical knowledge in real-world scenarios. Nonprofits often need tech-savvy individuals to help them streamline their operations, build websites, manage databases, or create engaging content. 2. Community Impact: By volunteering your tech skills, you're directly contributing to causes that matter. Your expertise can empower them to do even more good. 3. Networking: Volunteering offers a fantastic opportunity to expand your network. You'll meet like-minded individuals who share your passion for tech and social impact. Plus, you'll establish valuable connections with nonprofit leaders who may later serve as references or mentors. 4. Resume Boost: Building a portfolio of volunteer work can significantly enhance your resume. It showcases your dedication, versatility, and commitment to using your skills for the greater good. Future employers will take notice! 5. Personal Growth: Volunteering isn't just about giving; it's also about receiving. You'll learn new skills, gain a deeper understanding of community issues, and develop soft skills like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. 💼 Where Can You Volunteer? The possibilities are endless! Local nonprofits come in all shapes and sizes. You could help a food bank optimise its distribution system, assist a school in setting up a coding club, or revamp a small charity's website. Your skills are in high demand, and there's a nonprofit out there that could benefit from them. 🤝 Getting Started: Tips for Tech Tip Volunteering 1. Identify Your Interests: Think about the causes that resonate with you. What issues are you passionate about? 2. Reach Out: Contact local nonprofits or check volunteer platforms like VolunteerMatch or Idealist to explore opportunities. 3. Set Realistic Expectations: Understand that nonprofits may have limited resources. Be flexible and adaptable to their needs. 4. Commitment Matters: Once you decide to volunteer, honor your commitment. 5. Learn and Share: Share your knowledge with the nonprofit's team, but also be open to learning from them.

Do you want to get started working in the third sector? Maybe you're interested in how you can work with or for a charity, community group or social enterprise, but are not sure where to start. I have been working in the third sector for almost 20 years now. And what I can tell you from my experience - from starting as a volunteer at a playgroup for disabled children whilst at uni, through to becoming a senior leader - is that in order to work in the third sector you need: 🫂to be able to work with broad and diverse range of people 👂 listen more than you speak 🫶and have a genuine interest and passion for your work. So, here's the 1 tip I would give you if you wanted to pursue a similar career path: Volunteer! You've probably heard that expression about knowing the price of everything and the value of nothing. Well, whilst the idea of exchanging your time, knowledge and skills for free might make some scoff, I believe it is the best way to understand what is really valuable. 💪Volunteering allows you to stretch your capabilities and learn new skills, for free. 🤝 It enables you to engage with people from diverse backgrounds, growing your own network. 🧠 And it exposes you to different cultures and lifestyles, increasing empathy and understanding what matters - and is valuable - to other people. In a competitive job market, all of these attributes will help you find opportunities and stand out. Once you land a paid job in the third sector, you'll be much better at it. It doesn't matter what stage of your career you're at either - whether you are out of school or looking to switch careers - volunteering is the one thing that can help you get started in the third sector. So for those who want to get started, there's a link below to help you find that volunteering opportunity. And if you've read to the end and you're working in the third sector, what advice would you give someone, based on your own experience? #ship30for30 #volunteering

Getting the community involved in a major new project, development, or business can be crucial for its success. Here are some effective strategies that Mutual Growth facilitates: 1. Community Meetings: Organize open forums or town hall meetings to inform the community about the project and invite feedback. These meetings can be in-person, virtual, or a combination of both. 2. Local Partnerships: Collaborate with local businesses, schools, and organizations to gain support and spread awareness. This can also include sponsorships or joint initiatives. 3. Social Media and Online Platforms: Utilize social media channels and local online forums to engage with the community, share updates, and gather input. 4. Surveys and Feedback Forms: Distribute surveys, either online or in-person, to collect opinions and suggestions from a broad segment of the community. 5. Local Media Engagement: Work with local newspapers, radio stations, and TV channels to feature the project and its potential benefits to the community. 6. Community Events: Host or participate in local events to showcase your project. This can include fairs, festivals, or informational booths at popular community gatherings. 7. Transparency: Keep the community informed about the progress, challenges, and changes in the project. Regular updates can foster trust and support. 8. Community Benefits: Clearly communicate how the project will benefit the community, whether through job creation, improved services, or other means. 9. Feedback Implementation: Show that you value community input by implementing feasible suggestions and publicly acknowledging these contributions. 10. Inclusive Planning: Involve community members in the planning process, especially those who might be directly affected by the project. 11. Educational Workshops: Host workshops or seminars that provide more information about the project and its impact. 12. Volunteer Opportunities: Offer opportunities for community members to get involved directly, such as volunteering on certain aspects of the project. 13. Engaging Elected Officials and Leadership: Building relationships with local government officials and community leaders is crucial. Engaging these leaders can also provide valuable insights into local regulations and help in navigating bureaucratic processes more effectively. Additionally, their involvement can lend credibility and visibility to your project, encouraging broader community support. Remember, the key to success in community engagement is consistent, open, and respectful communication. Tailoring your approach to the specific community and its needs will further enhance the effectiveness of these strategies. Team@TheMutualGrowth.com