Earlier this month Episcopal Charities’ Volunteer Coordinator, Emily Collie-Beard offered a Sustainability Institute Webinar titled, “How to Create an Effective and Well-Rounded Volunteer Orientation.” Over forty representatives from community outreach programs across the Diocese of New York participated. Participants learned how to foster volunteer leadership and retention as well as strategies for volunteer appreciation. Participants also learned innovative team-building activities that promote social justice. The webinar also gave program representatives from Midtown Manhattan all the way to Millbrook, NY a chance to see each other on-screen and share best practices. As one attendee shared, “I know the strengths of our own volunteer base, but it is refreshing to hear the experiences of others across the Diocese and learn how to appreciate and engage our volunteers in different ways.”
Emily also shared resources that Episcopal Charities’ Volunteer Program can offer to outreach programs across the Diocese. In addition to placing individual and group volunteers, Episcopal Charities matches volunteers with professional skill sets with outreach programs that need specialized services. Episcopal Charities also provides ongoing training for volunteers, workshops about systemic injustice, and tools to strengthen the infrastructure of existing volunteer programs throughout the Diocese. If you are interested in utilizing any of these resources, please contact Emily at 212-932-7354 or e-mail her by clicking here.
Episcopal Charities’ Sustainability Institute Workshops are free of charge and open to anyone associated with the Diocese of New York or its outreach programs. You can find information about upcoming workshops through our calendar and on our Facebook page. Our next workshop is “Embodied Mindfulness, Helping Children Thrive” led by Little Flower Yoga + Mindfulness, an organization dedicated to helping children and teens develop strong inner resources and navigate the challenges they face with a sense of strong self-awareness. The Poughkeepsie session will be held on Saturday, March 30th, 10:00am-1:00pm at Christ Church (20 Carroll Street, Poughkeepsie). You can sign up here. The Manhattan session will be Wednesday, April 3rd, 10am-1:00pm at the Diocesesan House (1047 Amsterdam Avenue, New York). You can sign up for the Manhattan session here, we hope you’ll join us!