You’re passionate about community outreach. How can you turn that passion into a successful career?

Over a four-year period of strategic and persistent engagement, I facilitated and mobilized discussions that culminated in fruitful partnerships with the Commonwealth Attorney's Office and the Hampton Sheriff's Office. Through targeted conversations, we secured support for incarcerated men who successfully completed the fatherhood initiative class, advocating for consideration of time served as a result of their participation. This collaborative effort aimed to empower and uplift individuals within the justice system, reflecting our commitment to rehabilitation and second chances.

Community outreach is very important. It helps get resources to people in need. It also shares information with people in positions to help, with monetary donations, clothing, volunteering, and so on. By sharing you give people an option to jump in and help if they choose, and you educate them so they can understand better how they can serve. When we share our world opens up. Otherwise, we are all living in silos keeping all the good knowledge and resources to ourselves.

As I shared already, my story of what community outreach is. The collaboration is crucial as it aims to provide additional support and recognition for personal growth and a positive change in the individuals participating and graduating from the fatherhood class and fostering rehabilitation and reunification back into the community. Most importantly, the Fatherhood initiative class significantly reduces the recidivism rate among participants who complete the program.

In my experience, several local facilities have created their Role and Job descriptions for their version of a fatherhood program. One facility hired someone from my organization to support their version of this program. It is always fun to be part of the solution.

I worked as the Director of Community Relations with a small nonprofit residential living center for neurodivergent adults. Some of the ways we did outreach was through a community teaching garden that served three local nonprofits, hosting a farmers market booth, and selling our produce to local restaurants in Napa. Other ways we did outreach was with employers to create job opportunities for our residents. Or participating in a public health assessment representing disabled adults and making sure they had a voice at the table. We also participated in the annual Napa Valley Give!Guide campaign where 40+ nonprofits collaborate for 2 months to raise funds instead of competing for the same money.

In order to turn community outreach into a career, it's important to find relevant experience in your previous roles. Highlighting community centered tasks in pervious jobs is a good way to build a resume with little experience. Volunteering and completing projects is also a good way to gain experience and exposure in the industry. Lastly networking with people working in leadership and gathering their insight and advice is very helpful. #communityoutreach #businessdevelopment #networking #linkedin #business #sandiego