Reflecting on the Power of Community

Spending the last two days at the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits annual conference was a bright light in a deeply difficult week.

There's a lot to process and reflect on, but here's where my head's at on this rainy Friday afternoon.

As a small business owner who works exclusively with nonprofits and foundations, I am proud that LaFemina & Co. became a business sustainer of the NC Center for Nonprofits this year. The passion, energy and expertise of the Center's staff was evident at this year's event - and North Carolina nonprofits deserve the high-quality support, connection and advocacy that the Center strives to provide.

Our state is full of incredible humans working to make life better for our neighbors in communities big and small.

Many of them were at the conference this week.

Many more were out in communities, volunteering with outstanding immigrant rights organizations like Siembra NC, doing grocery and schoolwork dropoffs, sharing important information and resources, and pushing back against ICE's inhumane and targeted attacks on our neighbors.

In the midst of the fear, heartbreak and despair this week has wrought, there is so much hope to be found in how our community has come together and mobilized to protect our neighbors and look after one another.

The work to make our communities and state a great place to live, work, grow, and thrive is work that takes all of us.

And that means we each need to take action.

One action I'm taking this year is investing in organizations that work to advance the entire nonprofit sector (like the NC Center for Nonprofits, the National Council of Nonprofits and Independent Sector) as well as specific nonprofits working on causes I care about.

I know from two decades working with social good organizations that the expertise, energy and impact they provide is essential to the just, joyful, and free world I want to live in - and to creating thriving communities.

I'd love to hear the actions you're taking in your community this year - or suggestions you have for others who may be looking for ways to help. Join in the conversation on Linkedin.