Leading & Innovating in an Erratic Economy

written by Don Crocker, Executive Director and CEO of the Support Center for Nonprofit Management

It seems to me that great leadership in our current volatile economy doesn’t look much different than what it looks like when the economy is more stable.  The ability of leaders to get the outcomes they strive for may be challenged in this economy, but all our best leaders demonstrate a relentless desire to make something productive and important happen regardless of the external environment.  These leaders are able to manage the conflict between valuing the good that currently exists within the company and the knowledge that things must change to secure long-term success and sustainability.  Great leaders nurture innovation – they continuously challenge the status quo and work to propel their companies forward to meet the challenges of our ever-changing environments.  Steve Jobs has suggested that “innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”

Some of our current leaders – people like Geoffrey Canada at the Harlem Children’s Zone, Patrick Corvington, at the Corporation for National and Community Service, and Donna Colonna of SUS – seem to live for “new, different, better.”  These leaders don’t sleep much – they are restless and spend more time than most thinking about what needs to change and how to make the change.  They are constantly listening, questioning, testing.  The listening is done with all of the senses – observing the body language of employees, feeling the pulse of their companies through the rhythms and tones of both internal and external conversations, and examining all angles of customer and client behaviors. There is a culture of leadership throughout SUS.  SUS leaders know they are responsible for change, but they are also keenly aware that they can’t do it by themselves.  They create space both inside of their organization and for those outside of the organization to try out new ideas, to experiment, to contribute.  They see everyone as potential contributors and investors in the future of their mission to “provide services and supports for individuals with special needs to live with dignity in the community, direct their own lives and attain personal fulfillment.” What are your thoughts about leadership?  What do you do or what do you want to do to contribute to innovation and sustainability?  Could it be that many of our current leaders, young and old, are influenced by the some of the provocative words of Bob Dylan:

“He not busy being born is busy dying” “What good am I if I know and don’t do, what good am I?”

Donette Hercules is an example of the excellent and innovative leadership at SUS.  Check out her video here.

Importance of Performing Arts at SUS

Louis Cavaliere,  Senior Vice President, Developmental Disabilities, Home Care & Children Services

You may know that Services for the UnderServed (SUS) is raising funds for the performing arts at our upcoming fundraiser, Fire & Ice, on February 11^th at the NYC Fire Museum in Chelsea.  The performing arts, and arts in general, are integral to SUS’ mission of providing services and supports for individuals with special needs to live with dignity in the community, direct their own lives and attain personal fulfillment, as they allow the individual to express themselves more fully.

The needs of individuals with developmental disabilities vary because of the differences in what the individual is capable of. Individuals with disabilities – whether it is physical, developmental or psychological – sometimes lack the ability to get their feelings heard through words which perhaps limit full engagement.  The act of verbalizing, expressing and then obtaining what we want may seem simple enough to you and I, but to someone who has not been exposed to or does not have the physical or physiological capability to do so causes challenges that prohibit their advancement.  However, implementing performing arts into the spectrum of social services for individuals with developmental disabilities has proven to be of great importance as it opens up the individual to other forms of self expression/communication.

The arts are the outlet in which these individuals are able to socialize amongst peers with similar interests while expressing themselves creatively with movement (dancing), colors (painting) and verbalization (singing).  However, one of the most challenging aspects in providing these services is keeping individuals engaged in the activity. With practice, the individual realizes their success which can therefore create a sense of accomplishment upon completion of the project.

SUS provides many of these activities currently, including a Movement and Music Therapy class and the SUS choir, Voices of Hope.  However, with the current economic environment and looming government budget cuts, these programs may have to go.  That is why the Fire & Ice benefit is so essential for our programs.  Please come and show your support.  To buy tickets click here.

Henry

Henry, an individual living with developmental disabilities at an SUS facility, talks about his life at SUS and how he has become a much more independent person through his job and also learning how to brush his teeth and take a shower. He has become so independent that he is trying to save money to buy DJ equipment so that he can become a DJ at parties! Henrys experiences are an example of how SUS helps those living with developmental disabilities and mental illness, AIDS or homebound live a fulfilling and independent life.