YANA Virtual Town Hall
Wednesday, April 29, 2020
Fifty-five people came together online for a YANA Virtual Town Hall meeting on April 29. YANA President, Ken Inadomi ‘76, and Rachel Littman ‘91, lead the discussion by welcoming the community and sharing some of the work YANA has been undertaking before and during the COVID-19 crisis. Ken set the tone with wanting to relay positive messages.
Key takeaways included:
- Unrestricted giving and support from Trustees and donors is more important now than ever.
- Encourage nonprofit messaging to take a more positive approach to include words like “continuity” plans rather than focus on cancelled programs and events.
- Don’t make apologies if your organization or your work is not a multi-million dollar, front-line social services delivery organization. You and your donors think you are a 1st tier nonprofit!
- We are all in this together!
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Jennifer DaSilva ‘94, Founder & Executive Director, Start Small Think Big, shared how her organization has been helping under-resourced small-business owners in the NYC, Bay Area, and San Jose, CA communities.
John Bacon ‘85, Chief Development Officer, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, shared what life is like inside and behind one of the largest and most influential museums in the world.
Dasia Moore ‘18, YANA Board Member, and Board Chair, Go South, shared updates on the increased interest and commitment of Yale and other college students in giving back and helping communities, particularly in the South.
Miranda Massie ‘92 MA, Director, The Climate Museum, talked about the important work and even art that is being developed by the Museum.
Marwan Safar Jalani ’20 shared his personal, work, and educational stories about his life before and during Yale and how he and his senior classmates are coping being scattered across the globe with uncertain futures. Marwan was recently awarded a Rhodes Scholarship and still hopes to attend the Master’s program at Oxford in the UK this fall.
The spotlight featured the energetic and inspiring Demi Knight Clark ‘19 SOM Global Executive Leadership Program, the founder and leader of She Built This City, a social venture that encourages girls and women to enter the construction trade through educational opportunities and skill-building workshops.
To hear from our speakers directly and learn more about their work and stories, check out this short video.