We are all more powerful, with more capacity to deeply and positively change the world around us than we will ever learn. Committing yourself to impact the life of someone you don’t know(yet) is a scary charge; it comes with pressure to succeed, guilt regarding your own privilege, doubt whether you can do it, and risk of failure. It also comes with an indescribable feeling of reward, connection, love and hope for progress.
I’m talking about being on the board of a nonprofit. Let’s be honest, nonprofit board service is not everyone’s version of sexy. It’s not often touted as the most fun or engaging way to make a direct and tangible difference in your community. Boards are not always the most inviting or inclusive. All that said, when I stepped off of a nonprofit board (yesterday!) I took some time to reflect on just how much board rooms matter and how participating in one can make a difference in your life, and the lives of those in your community.
7 years ago to the month — in March of 2012 — a friend of mine invited me to attend an education workshop hosted by a nonprofit called “Full Circle Fund.” Since then I’ve worn almost every hat I could find within the organization, including member, team lead, interim CEO, board member, and even event MC. All in the name of catalyzing impact for nonprofits and stewarding an engaged philanthropy model. I spent half of my 20’s growing up in this community of practice that afforded me the grace and gentle push to lead teams of pro bono consultants, to get on stage in front of hundreds of people, to hire new leadership, to drive financial decisions, and more.
The choice to step down from my role on the board was not easy, especially when I reflect on the impact, lessons learned, and meaningful relationships I’ve developed along the way. But when I also think about all the venues in which I’ve stood up and challenged power structures to be more inclusive, pushing individuals in positions of privilege to pay it forward for the next generation by inviting someone to take their seat at the table — this is simply my way of living into that by example.
Helping hire our Executive Director extraordinaire, Jay Hirschton, was a top 3 board member moment!
A couple of my reflections as a board member –
When you are persistent about inclusion and representation, the leadership team will get to a place of candor about both the current and desired future-state of the organization. It’s not easy being the youngest / immigrant / woman / of color speaking up for communities that look like you but don’t have a seat at the table. The burden of carrying the conversation of equity forward in rooms full of predominantly older white male leaders is real. Step up to that plate proudly knowing a peer board member will one day admittedly call themselves “pale, stale, and male” in a conversation about diversity. Count that day as a win.
When you take a chance on someone, you open a door of opportunity – a door that might have stayed closed otherwise. I am consistently grateful for the talented, vulnerable, loving people who took a chance on me joining the board, a then twenty-something year old trying to find her footing in the social sector (… still trying, to be clear). If you are in a position of authority, a position of door-opening for someone that might seem ‘risky’ to invite in — do it. And if you are that person for whom the door opens, don’t for a second doubt that you earned and deserve that seat at the table (I will remind you).
When you stick with something, you will learn … a lot. As a result of my years on the board, I’ve seen financial hardship, staff turnover, leadership change (hi, did I mention it’s a nonprofit?)— and I’ve also witnessed over 300 people connect with 50+ organizations, develop lifetime relationships, and drive real, tangible, measurable, goose-bump inducing impact for the Bay Area community. It’s the stuff you won’t learn in a book or a webinar. It’s the stuff you experience when you keep showing up week after week, and year after year. Find the place you want to keep showing up, learn a lot, and don’t forget to celebrate often as well.
A few bigger picture takeaways from my experience engaging with Full Circle Fund (and other nonprofits):
Life changing work does not happen from behind a screen. Or neatly between the hours of 9am and 5pm. It happens when real people connect in real time to solve really hard problems together. On weeknights, over weekends, in conference rooms, around dinner tables, at coffee shops, on video chats. Explore the world around you, show up to a random event your friend invites you to, RSVP to a meet-up that sounds interesting, get a sense for what your community needs, learn what others are doing about it — keep pushing yourself to get out there.
Staying proximate to those who’s lives are most impacted will never fail you. None of us have the answer to end homelessness or stop domestic violence. And unfortunately there is no gold-standard or rule book for getting involved in moving these challenges forward. Start somewhere — by getting as close as you can to a problem you care about. Sit down with a black male high school student and listen to why he struggles with toxic societal constructs of masculinity. Sit down with an undocumented immigrant and listen to why her fears of deportation have led to severe depression. There are no shortcuts to building empathy.
Your community is full of eclectic, diverse, funny, smart, caring people who give a shit about making the world a better place. Find these people. Keep surrounding yourself with these people. They might not work where you work, live in the same neighborhood as you, or look like you. When you push outside your comfort zone and find others who share the same values you do, who have the same dreams for the world you do — nothing beats the seed of transformation that is planted when you come together. Keep these people close.
If you or someone you know is interested in learning, growing, challenging, and contributing to a nonprofit board — I might know of an immediate and exciting opportunity (!). Lift up your fellow Bay Area change-makers, I’m here and grateful for it. And if you know of a board opening or volunteer opportunity that I should know about — I’m all ears.
WRITTEN BY Roxana Shirkhoda
Social justice advocate. Product of Immigrants. Rule re-writer. www.about.me/rshirkhoda