Growing Resilient Non-Profit Organizations
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In This Episode
As we enter full swing into the holiday season and head towards the end of 2020, it is a time to take stock of everything that’s happened this year. It’s been a lot. In talking about businesses and organizations building resilience, we had to catch with our friend Alexya Heelis, Executive Director of the United Way serving Saint John, Kings and Charlotte.
Alexya shares with us how the pandemic has affected their efforts, how they’ve seen organizations and people shift and grow to focus on what matters most. She gives us some great ideas on how we can all contribute to our communities and non-profits.
Alexya leaves us with a wonderful quote that sums up the beautiful, thoughtful perspective she always brings to our podcast:
“Life doesn’t get easier or more forgiving; we get stronger and more resilient.” –Dr. Steve Maraboli.
Episode Breakdown
First 10 Minutes
We catch up with Alexya to hear about how things have been going with the United Way through the pandemic. The group talks about resilience behavior during the pandemic and how quickly people have shifted into the new normal.
10 Minutes – 20 Minutes
Alexya tells us about the recent programs United Way has run to help organizations and people identify what is essential for their clients. Alexya shares the amount of funding they have been able to use to support their clients during the pandemic. The group talks about shifting how people think about giving donations to organizations and creating integrity in how other groups raise and give donations.
20 Minutes – 30 Minutes
The group talks about the shift in volunteering and the need to think about doing it in a broader sense of helping one another. The group talks about the ways you can donate to different organizations.
Alexya Heelis
Executive Director, United Way serving Saint John, Kings and Charlotte
With over 20 years experience in the non-profit sector, Alexya remains passionate about building strong communities and helping non-profits to be robust, enduring and efficient. Her work with United Way is an ideal vehicle to pursue these goals.
Also, because she is a mother, Alexya seeks by example and concrete accomplishment, to demonstrate that it is possible to make a substantive, positive difference toward a more just and opportunity filled community.
United Way serving Saint John, Kings and Charlotte
The United Way serving Saint John, Kings, and Charlotte brings people and organizations together to build vibrant neighborhoods and strengthen our community. Our roles are multiple: we are a funder, partner, convener, and advocate.
There are over 80 United Ways in Canada, and we are each autonomous. However, we are all part of the same brand and work within the same framework: helping kids be all that they can be; moving people from poverty to possibility; and building strong communities. Each United Way has its own independent board of directors made up of local volunteers from diverse backgrounds who make the decisions on the directions for the United Way.