Storytelling for Nonprofit Leaders: Connecting the Personal to the Professional

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

REGISTRATION IS CLOSED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST.

8:30 - 9:00am - Networking and Coffee
9am - Noon - Workshop

Half-Day Workshop: $90

About this session: "So, what does your organization do?" In order to secure funding, build our audience, or increase our capacity, it's a question we have to answer often and we have to answer well. But, do we know how to respond this frequently asked question beyond sharing our organization's mission? In this session, participants will be guided through a series of activities that allow them to develop effective stories to authentically share who they are, what they do, and why they do it. The exercises are expertly crafted to engage participants in both reflection and practice that results in a deeper understanding of how to shape experiences into compelling narratives that highlight the impact of their work.

Who Should Participate: Executive, Fundraising, and Marketing Staff

About the Presenter(s):   Amanda Delheimer, Artistic Director, 2nd Story; Lauren Sivak, Managing Director, 2nd Story; LaTanya Lane, Manager of Artistic Partnerships, 2nd Story

Amanda Delheimer's scholarly and artistic work circles around the intersections of story, psychology, biases, and the body. She was chosen for the inaugural art Equity Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Facilitator cohort, funded by the Mellon Foundation and hosted by the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in 2015. Since then, she has actively engaged with the Theater Communications Group as a part of their anti-racism work. Most recently, Amanda presented for the Theater Communications Group's annual conference in St. Louis, MO, on “White Fragility and Social Location Theory” and for the Michigan Presenters Conference in Detroit, MI, on “Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion—What does that mean for Presenters?” As the Artistic Director of 2nd Story, she has facilitated trainings, workshops, and experiences for partners on a local and national level, including work with Skadden Arps, Hinshaw & Cullbertson LLP, the Gender and Sexuality Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and the National Able Network, among others. (she/her/hers)

Lauren Sivak believes in supporting those organizations that do essential work in their communities. Since joining 2nd Story in 2014, she has overseen the transition of leadership from 1099 freelance contractors to W2 salaried employees, has nearly tripled the organization's annual operating budget, and has grown the organization's fundraising event income tenfold. Prior to accepting her position with 2nd Story, Lauren served as the Managing Director of Walkabout Theater Company and worked at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, most recently as the Special Projects Coordinator. She is the recipient of Harry L. Davis Executive Education Scholarship for Nonprofit Leaders through the University of Chicago and has two certificates in Nonprofit Management from UIC. (she/her/hers)

LaTanya Lane is a facilitator, writer, performer, occasional activist and full-time parent. Her creative and professional work explores how humans navigate and survive their own thorny constructs. She is a two-time alum of the Voices of our Nations Arts Writers Workshop, a student at iO Theater, winner of the 2018 Diverse Worlds Grant from the Speculative Literature Foundation, and a company member with 2nd Story. She has a BAfrom Lee University and an MAfrom Chicago Theological Seminary. (she/her/hers)