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Announcing the 2007 ncyt Spark Award Recipients!
You’d be amazed at what young people working in North Carolina’s nonprofit sector are accomplishing today! By reviewing nominations for the first annual statewide Spark Awards, we’ve been privy to incredible stories of resilience and testimonials of success.
ncyt, North Carolina’s young nonprofit professionals network, in collaboration with the NC Center for Nonprofits, is proud to announce the winners of the first annual Spark Awards. The six winners were chosen for outstanding achievement in the areas of leadership, innovation, collaboration, impact and sustainability. ncyt, through a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, instituted these awards to help recognize the significant contributions that young professionals make in the social sector.
2007 ncyt SPARK AWARD CELEBRATION!
The Federal, 914 West Main Street, Durham, NC, 27701
919.680.8611 http://thefederal.net/
Wednesday, May 9, 2007, from 6:30-8:30 pm+ Open to the public!
The 2007 ncyt Award, an overall award with a $500 cash prize in recognition of an individual whose work demonstrates leadership, innovation, collaboration, impact and sustainability, and shows a passion and commitment to ncyt’s values of diversity, accountability and transparency, was given to Lori Fernald-Khamala, Organizing Director of the National Farm Worker Ministry’s Durham office. Lori’s work as the sole paid employee at her organization provides a stunning example of each of these values, and her impact is truly deserving of recognition.
Serving as Organizing Director for NC from 2001-2007, Lori’s emphasis on developing young people’s leadership through her mentoring of interns strengthened the national organization’s commitment to youth. Lori’s contributions included Project Solidarity, connecting NC church-goers to farm worker realities; the NC Farmworker Advocacy Network, now the “face of farm worker advocacy” in the state; and a state-wide network of 120 congregations and groups to support the Farm Labor Organizing Committee’s successful boycott of Mt. Olive Pickles. In 2005, to address impending burn-out, she took a six week sabbatical, and on return implemented a new plan for sustainability. By practicing self-care while remaining accountable and committed to her organization and its stakeholders, Lori embodies ncyt’s values and vision of sustainable careers in nonprofit leadership positions for young professionals.
Five 2007 ncyt Spark Awards with $200 cash prizes were awarded to Outstanding Nominees in each of the following areas:
• Young Nonprofit Staff Member: Deana Joy, CrossRoads: Sexual Assault Response and Resource Center, Burlington
Deana began volunteering at CrossRoads in 2001 and was quickly promoted to staff positions. She helped establish protocol for responding to victims of sexual violence, now followed by Alamance County Law Enforcement, hospitals, and the D.A.’s office. In 2006 at the age of 27, Deana became the youngest ever Executive Director of this agency. In addition to supervising employees, she raises funds for CrossRoads, and recently hosted a live and silent auction which raised $26,000.
• Young Nonprofit Board Member: Annie “Molly” Shatley, Life in Limbo Foundation, Hickory
Molly’s fresh approaches and innovative thinking include the formation of the LILF Virtual Thrift Shop, an eBay store, to generate income for the nonprofit. Molly takes a hands-on approach, including home visits to LILF clients, organizing complex paperwork, and assisting with the organ transplant coordination process in concert with the transplant center.
• Young Volunteer / Leader: Mary Margaret Burdett, African Medical Mission, Hendersonville
Last summer, Mary Margaret raised over $4000 to spend five weeks in the Transkei region of South Africa to work with the AMA. Before leaving, she approached a locally owned children’s store and was able to secure donations of art supplies for the preschool she would visit. A powerpoint presentation of her trip compelled her senior high school class to help purchase a much-needed car for the African medical volunteers.
• Nonprofit to Work For: Student Action with Farmworkers (SAF), Durham
This outstanding organization was founded in 1992 by young people, is staffed by young people, and prioritizes working with young constituents through their programs. SAF is a young, dynamic, non-hierarchical workplace fostering leadership development and innovation in the social justice movement. Its workplace culture, emphasis on anti-oppression work, and creative organizing strategies serve as excellent models for other nonprofits seeking to fulfill their mission and empower young people to make change.
• Adult Ally / Mentor for Young Nonprofit Workers: Melinda Wiggins, Student Action with Farmworkers (SAF), Durham
Melinda Wiggins exemplifies the role of a mentor by empowering young people to play active roles in changing the conditions that affect their lives and those of others. As Executive Director of SAF, Melinda has helped build the leadership of young people through innovative programs such as the 15-year old Into the Fields Summer Internship program, and the new Project Levante, aimed at developing the leadership of migrant youth in rural North Carolina. Through these innovative programs Melinda has helped develop the leadership of hundreds of young people, many of whom have chosen to continue working in the social sector as a result.
These Spark Award winners reflect the talent and leadership found among North Carolina’s large and diverse population of young people in the nonprofit sector. Ncyt opened nominations for the Spark Awards at the 2007 NC Center for Nonprofits Conference, as an avenue to recognize the contributions of young professionals in our sector and to highlight the need to support the professional development of these young leaders.
For over a decade, ncyt has been a resource for young people in NC’s nonprofit sector, providing networking, professional development and advocacy through regional activities and classes delivered through Duke’s Certificate Program in Nonprofit Management. The genesis of ncyt was an informal meeting at the 1996 NC Center for Nonprofits Conference, and ncyt is proud to have the Center as a partner in presenting the 2008 Spark Awards. Nomination Forms will be available yearly on September 1st at www.ncyt.org
2008 ncyt Spark Awards
These annual awards recognize outstanding achievements and contributions of young people (age 35 or under) and their allies in North Carolina's nonprofit and volunteer sector. ncyt, North Carolina's network for young nonprofit professionals, will highlight nonprofit staff, board members, volunteers, and other leaders whose work demonstrates Leadership, Innovation, Collaboration, Impact, and Sustainability, and who show passion and commitment to values of Diversity, Accountability, and Transparency.
Individuals may nominate themselves or others for any award. Award forms should not exceed three pages and may include one support item (such as a newsletter, video, or photograph). The supporting item should not be a substitute for required information. Typewritten responses are appreciated. Materials will not be returned. Nominators are limited to one nomination per category. Please submit a separate form for each nomination. All information will be kept private except for winner notification and publicity purposes.
Nomination forms will be available here on September 1, 2007. Nomination deadline is December 31st at midnight. Recipients will be notified in February.
Forms can be mailed to PO Box 40098, Raleigh, NC, 27629, or emailed to spark [at] ncyt.org
Click here to see the 2007 Spark Awards Nomination Form!
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