Clear some brain space for NOT Congress
Written by: Sue Lockett, CFRE
Preferred pronouns (she/her)
Most days my brain is occupied with names of animated characters and a growing list of foods my daughter finds unappealing. Toss in the ever-changing shoe sizes and passwords to multiple early learning websites, and my brain begins to reach capacity. Enter COVID-19 with its host of protocols for work and school and extracurricular lessons – it seems impossible to retain one more piece of information.
As my daughter enters Grade 1, I’m slowly expunging a wealth of infant and toddler information to allow more adult thoughts to regain some real estate in my brain. But it’s a process, and in some cases I still feel as though I’ve had my head in the sand for five years, especially when it comes to what’s happening globally regarding our treatment of each other as humans.
The pandemic has brought to light the bad and the ugly, but also the good. There are groups out there who are learning and trying to do better. I’m proud to see the fundraising sector is one of them. AFP is dedicating resources and asking their members to guide them towards better inclusivity. This year’s NOT Congress includes an array of session leaders who speak passionately and confidently on this topic.
Sarah Kay is changing the world “one step, one poem, one pun at a time” with her popular spoken-word poetry. From a Norwegian fjord to an LGBTQ gathering in India, she has educated and empowered people through her poetic performances in over 30 countries.
Nicole McVan and Tanya Rumble teach fundraisers to better understand positions of power and privilege to become more authentic and effective in their work. Nicole describes themself as a white, transgender, non-binary professional who believes in the goodness of humanity. Tanya speaks from her lived experience as a mixed-race women in an interracial partnership, who is also a third culture kid.
If you’re a parent like me, or simply a fundraiser feeling overwhelmed, I suggest you begin to create some vacant areas in your brain that you can fill with inspiring content from speakers like Sarah, Nicole and Tanya. Their uniquely rich backgrounds and experiences will complement the valuable knowledge they have to share with you. Learn how to lead your team forward and better relate with your donors in an ever-changing world.
All speakers will deliver sessions at AFP’s NOT Congress, a virtual fundraising conference taking place November 23-25.