SHFS Panel at CNM Bridge to Excellence Conference

On May 15, Safe Haven Family Shelter hosted a panel discussion during a session of the CNM Bridge to Excellence conference. We are using this blog entry as a recap of our session for both those who attended our session and anyone else who has an interest in the topic! Below you will find sections that include our session title and summary, panelists (with contact information), links to our presentation materials and other links/resources. We hope to use the comments section to continue our discussion and to answer questions about our session at the CNM Bridge to Excellence Conference.

Session Title:

Design-a-thon: 30 Volunteers. 24 Hours. 1 Mission.
(A Story of Crowdsourcing, Creativity and Innovation)

Session Overview:

A New Website. Two Brochures. Marketing Strategy. Two Videos. Three display ads.
This is a wish list that many nonprofits create but do not have the resources or time to make happen – especially not all at once. Safe Haven Family Shelter became the beneficiary of all of these items in only 24 hours! Yes, really, 24 hours.

Safe Haven Family Shelter became the recipient of the 2nd Annual Design-a-thon sponsored by Geek for Good and Civic Actions led by Ian Rhett, Bruce Stanley and Jessica Murray. What’s a design-a-thon? A great question that we also asked when approached with this concept. Design-a-thon is a crowdsourcing model that brought 30 volunteers together for 24 hours to create a website and marketing materials for our nonprofit organization. Does the sound of it make you nervous? Us too! But when 30 extremely talented professionals came together with our own staff and board for 24 hours, we worked together collaboratively to make quick decisions and accept new ideas. It was an incredible experience and had created amazing results.  It wasn’t all smooth—we hit a few bumps in the road (aka creative direction change at 1 a.m.), but the journey was worth it.

In this session we shared our design-a-thon experience, reveal the materials that resulted from this crowdsourcing experience and explored how other nonprofits could use the crowdsource/design-a-thon model (on a smaller scale) as an innovative way to complete a pressing marketing or creative project. Nonprofits often get caught in the cycle of planning to plan to plan their new marketing materials. And then they have to tackle the question of time and money to achieve these goals. Thise innovative concept of design-a-thon and crowdsourcing can be a means to gain new materials with a quick turnaround and small monetary investment.

Links to our presentation materials:

Powerpoint Presentation

Handout on Replicating the Design-a-thon Model

Handout with Infographic (Crowdsourcing v. Design-a-thon)

Panelists:

Joyce Lavery, Executive Director, Safe Haven Family Shelter

Tammy Rutherford, Board Member and Marketing Committee Chair, Safe Haven Family Shelter

Ian Rhett, CEO, CivicActions

Bruce Stanley, Sr. Faculty and Graphic Design Coordinator, Brand Director, Nossi College of Art

Stacy Nunnally (panel moderator), Independent Social Media Consultant, Stacy Nunnally Consulting

 Other Links:

Link to Safe Haven videos shown in session

Link to Safe Haven Website

Link to the live blogging from night of our Design-a-thon

Link to Safe Haven Facebook page

Link to Safe Haven Twitter

Talk Amongst Ourselves:

Let’s keep the discussion going. Please use the comments section to ask questions, request information or leave a general comment.

Clint holding his GED!

Soon after coming to SHFS, his wife decided to move to another program- one that Clint was not able to enter with her and Chase.  At first, Chase stayed with Clint, then eventually moved to the program with his mother.  This really devastated Clint, as his little boy was his whole life.  We allowed Clint to stay in our program for quite a while, hoping that he might be granted full custody of his son.  During that time, and with much encouragement and therapy, Clint really started to see his own worth as an individual.  He has spend so much of his adult life following in the footsteps of his wife, following her bad decisions, that he forgot that he was his own person with his own dreams.

Clint speaking at the Nashville OIC Annual Dinner

Clint became a very special client for all of us. We really got to see Clint grow and blossom.  It has been amazing to see Clint make good decisions and gain his own self-worth.  Since leaving our program, Clint has gone on to receive his GED through our partner agency, Nashville OIC.  He was even the guest speaker at their annual dinner a couple weeks ago.   He has also been able to maintain a job and is currently in another Transitional Housing program, saving his money, and working towards getting his own apartment.  He comes back regularly to visit us and calls me almost weekly to check in.  He has been and will continue to be a joy to work with!

When I asked Clint what Safe Haven has meant to him, this is what he told me:

Clint with Nashville OIC Executive Director Helen Farrow & SHFS Program Director Jennifer Reason

“It was life changing.  I focused on what I needed to do.  I changed the way I was thinking.  Before, I was just following my wife, whatever decisions she made.  Many of those decisions were not good and got our family into trouble and homelessness.  Since being at Safe Haven, I realized I have to take control of my life and make the decisions that are best and what I think is best.  I got my GED in March.  I didn’t think I was worthy before and that changed while I was at Safe Haven- the support, the counseling, y’all just helped me out a whole lot.  My attitude changed, and I knew I could do it.  Getting the GED is just a start.  I know I can reach other goals, too.  The staff was just kind and good and accepted me.  Y’all were the best.  It was the first time I had help from individuals who weren’t related to me, showed pure love.  Even though I am no longer at Safe Haven, I still come back.  I love y’all.  This is my home in Tennessee.” -Clint, March 20, 2012

Jennifer Reason, LBSW is the Program Director at Safe Haven Family Shelter.

Tina Waymire Collier, SHFS Clinical Supervisor/Therapist pictured with GNASH and Nashville Predators Hockey Team Foundation President, Sean Henry.

Safe Haven Family Shelter’s Helping Hands: Play Therapy Program was a proud recipient of a Nashville Predators Foundation grant on April 20^th – allowing us the opportunity to purchase toys, books, dress up costumes and play therapy furniture for our clients.  Play therapy can be used to address a wide variety of issues and problems, including, but not limited to, fears and phobias, grief, trauma, behavioral issues  and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.  A play therapy room is an essential component when working with children, and some adults, of all ages.  Therapeutic play offers a powerful tool helping our clients resolve a wide range of psychological difficulties as well as empowering the parents in short-term play therapy along with their children, as part of treatment.

Last year, Safe Haven Family shelter provided 1092 sessions and worked with 75 new clients.  Of those sessions, 321 were conducted within the child’s school – offering a unique component of care involving the teacher, the school counselor, and the parent; thus, empowering the parent to become active with the child’s continuing educational needs and concerns.  We served our children in 22 schools last year. Since the “school based” sessions began, we have yet had a child held back a year – quite an accomplishment when working with homeless families and their children.  The children love to have their “one on one” session held at the school – and are eager to participate.  Additionally, I witnessed many parents becoming involved with their child’s school when they may have not felt otherwise comfortable – consequently building a healthier attachment with their children.  This is a wonderful testament to the success of our therapy program and how we are making a longitudinal difference for our families.

Safe Haven Family Shelter IS making a difference. We are enabling our clients an opportunity to seek “self health” and to break the repetitive and harmful cycles of homelessness.  By allowing our clients to receive therapy in a proper environment, and with the essential tools necessary for treatment, we are assisting our clients, and empowering them, to walk a path towards a healthier emotional life.

Tina Waymire Collier,  LMFT is the Clinical Supervisor/Therapist at Safe Haven Family Shelter.

“I am very excited and thankful that we are all here to celebrate Lawanda and her accomplishments today.  Although Lawanda is our focus today, so many people, companies and agencies have come together to offer support, education, housing, physical and emotional needs and more to get her to this day.  Some of those include Safe Haven Family Shelter, New Level Community Development Corporation, Habitat for Humanity, Ceva, her family, volunteers and more.  As the Program Director at Safe Haven, I never dreamed that we would be standing here today.  Lawanda called me in November 2009, as she was being evicted from her home.  I was impressed that despite her circumstances, she was able to keep her job.  I wanted to get her into shelter before life got so chaotic that she lost her job.  From our emergency shelter, she took part in transitional housing for over 2 years.  We thank HUD for funding this program that allowed Lawanda time to pay off her debts and get connected with New Level and Habitat.  Such an accomplishment to go from homeless to homeowner!  Lawanda is truly an amazing mother and woman.  She has worked tirelessly to just make day-to -day events happen, sometimes even getting up at 3am to get the kids situated and off to work on time.  She’s had more than her fair share of bumps in the road, but has always come out on top.  Her quiet confidence has built over time, and she will most definitely be a role model for others in all of our programs.  I want to read this poem as a blessing for her new home…”

FILL THIS HOUSE

Fill this house with abundance.

None like it has ever known.

Fill this house with peace and joy.

And let those within it,

Witness this shown.

Fill this house with a wealth of health,

With a giving of opportunities to dismiss all pain.

Fill this house with the light of light.

And keep the darkness outside to remain.

~Lawrence S. Pertillar

Lawanda, I want you to remember that you did not get here by yourself.  Just because you will be graduating in the next few weeks from many of these programs, you are not alone.  Our doors are always open, and you are a part of each of our families.  I’m so proud of you.”

 

 

 

 

 

Jennifer Reason, LBSW is the Program Director at Safe Haven Family Shelter.

"The World Will be Saved By Beauty"- Picture created by a child staying at Safe Haven; Poster designed by our volunteer, Carlton.

Monday, April 30^th is the last day Carlton will volunteer with Safe Haven after many years of service. He will help with dinner, engage with our families (especially with the children at the shelter) and he will stay overnight one last time. Tonight, we will give him a little send-off that will include a homemade cake (never store-bought for Carlton!).

Overnight volunteers, like Carlton, serve in a key volunteer role that has so many facets…as innkeeper, mentor, encourager-in-chief, educator, mediator,  life coach.  Carlton is heading to the Congo in Africa for a few months of service before heading to California to pursue his M.A.  in Divinity.  I knew this day would come. I even helped it arrive as I was one of the sources for his letters of recommendation. He was given a full scholarship for his academic pursuit. I am happy for Carlton as I know he belongs in the classroom, the pulpit, or in some more consistent service and leadership role to have greater impact and fulfill his own potential. But we – staff and our families – will miss him terribly.

Carlton was once a wealthy businessman involved in the movie and advertising industries. His life path led him in another direction, and he ended up embracing a life of service and prayer. Humility and equity guide his life now (we are publishing this blog after he leaves – he wouldn’t want the attention). Safe Haven has been one of the beneficiaries of his commitment to service – for that we are truly grateful. I think he is irreplaceable, but I am hoping others will be inspired to bring all the many gifts he brought our families.

What has made him so special to us… to Safe Haven? Maybe it has been his tattoos – Polynesian in nature and telling many personal stories — and his stories about his world travels and adventures. Maybe it is his belief in equity and social justice and how that is lived out in all his interactions with our families that  made him so special. Maybe it has been about the lavish photo books on literature, history, geography and the quality movies he shared with our children (such as Hotel Rwanda) that opened up their minds and souls to a wider world of knowledge and possibilities. Or it could be that he cooked from scratch and brought in exotic foods and desserts for all and sometimes cooked with our children and families such as at the New Year’s Eve sushi party at Safe Haven. Or maybe it was the art projects where he encouraged some incredible and creative work from our children and produced a series of well-received posters. All this, and he speaks French.

Carlton told me the most important thing one can do for our families is just to sit with them – sit with them with complete equity in the tradition of Martin Buber’s  “I and Thou.” He also sent out a message to all his friends the other morning: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” -Nelson Mandela. His books and movies and cooking and encouragement were his way of introducing our children to a richer education he imagined they didn’t experience in their schools. He trusted them with knowledge. He would also sit with our families through their suffering and set-backs as well as their victories. Affirm. Challenge. Encourage. Ask the best from them all – and from us as staff. That changed our many worlds.  Made us all better.  Made me better.

Carlton would sometimes come to my office just to talk. We would debate methodology v. theology (I think both debates are needed in this field); theory v. practice (ditto).  Sometimes we discussed the  colors of paint on the walls according to “color theory”.   Other times, it was the role of daily expectations of clients in crisis v. big picture solutions. We didn’t always agree, on the surface, but deep down, I think we agreed absolutely on those values we both hold dear:  family; faith (however defined); fairness and equity;  education;  kindness; compassion and empathy; humility; justice;  peace.

Carlton, we – and I – will miss you (and your wonderful baking). Au revoir au revoir pour le moment.

~Joyce

Joyce Lavery is the executive director and CEO of Safe Haven Family Shelter.

Thank you to everyone who made the 3rd Annual Dancing for Safe Haven Family Shelter such a success. Together, we raised more than $100,000 for homeless families in our community. The event was held Friday, April 20 at the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel. All proceeds raised at the event provide shelter and transitional services to homeless families in the Middle Tennessee area.

“The 3rd Annual Dancing for Safe Haven event was an incredible evening,” said Safe Haven Executive Director Joyce Lavery. “I am grateful to the staff, Board of Directors, volunteers, dancers, event chairs Mike and Sharon Pigott (they were awesome!) and to everyone for supporting our agency and mission! Nashville is a generous and creative community! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! “

Congratulations to the 2012 Dancing with Safe Haven winners!

Audience Favorite: Gerald McRath, linebacker for Tennessee Titans

 

 

 

Judges Favorite: Chet Parlavecchio, Assistant Special Teams Coach for Tennessee Titans

 

 

 

Online Favorite: Deborah Varallo, President Varallo Public Relations

 

 

 

For a full list of the celebrity dancers and their professional dance partners from Dance World, please click here.

Thank you to event hosts: Kelly Sutton, Fox 17 morning show host and winner of the 2010 Dancing for Save Haven “Audience Favorite” and  Woody Wood & Jim Chandler of 107.5 The River.

Thank you also to the judges for the event which included: Ted Clayton, Ellen Nelson, Heather Byrd and Jana Davis.

Also at the event, Safe Haven honored Dave Roberson with the 2012 Hero Award. The Hero Award honors a volunteer who has exhibited extraordinary leadership, vision and dedication.

“We enter this world with nothing and, eventually, we leave with nothing. What we do in between can be of a significant positive benefit to others,” said Roberson at the recent patrons’ party for the event. “The character of an organization is the ability to help others in their greatest moment of need. This is the fabric of Safe Haven Family Shelter and, truly, who we are.”

“We dance for laughter, we dance for tears, we dance for madness, we dance for fears, we dance for hopes, we dance for screams, we are the dancers, we create the dreams.” – source unknown.

“Thanks again to our wonderful staff, volunteers, board members, families, donors and sponsors for dancing and dreaming with Safe Haven! It was a memorable night full of fun and purpose and we raised over $100,000 to support our excellent shelter to housing programs! Another great year!!!! ” – SHFS Executive Director Joyce Lavery

Check out more pictures from the 2012 Dancing for Safe Haven event!

Want to see more pictures from the event? Click  here to see more pictures of guests, staff, board, judges, hosts, celebrity dancers and their professional dance partners.

For more about all of the dancing action (including pictures, blogs and videos), check out some of the media coverage of the 2012 Dancing for Safe Haven event:

The Tennessean post event video coverage. Click here to view the video.

The Tennessean post-event coverage of “Titans Raising Money by Dancing.” Click here to read the article.

Titans Online post-event pics of the Titans competing in the dance competition. Click here to read the article.

Titans Online post event wrap up article. Click here to read the article.

Fox 17 Nashville pre-event interview with Kelly Sutton. Click here to view the video interview.

104.5 the Zone pre-event radio interview with Gerald McRath and Chet Parlavecchio. Click here to listen to the podcast.

The Tennessean op ed piece by celebrity dancer, Deb Varallo. Click here to read the column.

WKRN-Channel 2 and NewsChannel5 coverage of McRath and Parlavecchio dance rehearsals. Click here to view the compilation video.

Thank you to PRESENTING SPONSOR:

Please click here to view additional sponsors. We appreciate all of your support!

Our certification will be for through 2012-2014.  EVE certification requires each agency to have:
1. A volunteer component in their strategic plan.
2. A dedicated and trained volunteer manager—either paid or unpaid.
3. A screening process to be sure that volunteers’ time is well-spent and targeted to their skills and talents.
4. An orientation for all volunteers.
5. An evaluation process to look at a volunteer’s impact on the community and agency.

Thank you to all of our volunteers that make Safe Haven Family Shelter an EVE certified organization. From helping with dinners, to overnights, special projects and events, group projects, and weekend helpers, to curriculum teachers and childcare…and, others I’m sure I’ve missed; your impact is greatly appreciated! Because of your support and dedication, Safe Haven is able to help families in our community achieve self-sufficiency.  We couldn’t do it without you!!

If you’re not yet a volunteer at Safe Haven and would like to be, send me an email at stinnell@safehaven.org.  We’ll get you plugged into the mix!

Stefanie Tinnell is the Community Relations Manager at Safe Haven Family Shelter.

Deb Varallo is Dancing for Safe Haven on April 20e Tennessean by clicking here.

When I was 5 years old, I went to a tap dancing class; but I didn’t want to stay. Though my father offered me 50 cents to take the dance lesson, I turned down the 50 cents and left. I may now regret that decision. On Friday evening, April 20, five other non-dancers and I will participate in a special event, the third annual Dancing for Safe Haven Family Shelter. The board and staff at Safe Haven say we are local “celebrities” paired with professional dancers. I say we are crazy people who will be stepping on lots of toes.

To date, our celebrity dancers include: Gerald McRath, linebacker for Tennessee Titans; Chet Parlavecchio, Assistant Special Teams Coach for Tennessee Titans; Sheyla Paz Hicks, Owner/President of Paz Communications, Inc. and Executive Producer of Entertainment Circle (SPANISH-TV); John Steele, Senior Vice President Human Resource for HCA ; Bob Tuke, law partner at Trauger & Tuke and adjunct professor Vanderbilt School of Law; Bill Vandiver, hairdresser to the stars, and owner of The Edge Salon and Deborah Varallo, President Varallo Public Relations. (Click on any dancer’s name to see their bio and professional dancing partner.)

Dancing for Safe Haven Family Shelter is April 20 at Loews Vanderbilt Plaza. For more information and to purchase tickets, please click here.

April 20 Dancing for Safe Haven event. News Channel 2 and News Channel 5 caught up with celebrity dancers Gerald McRath (linebacker for Tennessee Titans) and Chet Parlavecchio (Assistant Special Teams Coach for Tennessee Titans) at their recent rehearsals. You can view this coverage and get a sneak preview of their dances here: Channels 2 and 5 Cover Dancing for Safe Haven Practice

Titans linebacker Gerald McRath takes a break from dance practice to speak with Channels 2 and 5.

To date, our celebrity dancers include: Gerald McRath, linebacker for Tennessee Titans; Chet Parlavecchio, Assistant Special Teams Coach for Tennessee Titans; Sheyla Paz Hicks, Owner/President of Paz Communications, Inc. and Executive Producer of Entertainment Circle (SPANISH-TV); John Steele, Senior Vice President Human Resource for HCA ; Bob Tuke, law partner at Trauger & Tuke and adjunct professor Vanderbilt School of Law; Bill Vandiver, hairdresser to the stars, and owner of The Edge Salon and Deborah Varallo, President Varallo Public Relations. (Click on any dancer’s name to see their bio and professional dancing partner.)

Dancing for Safe Haven Family Shelter is April 20 at Loews Vanderbilt Plaza. For more information and to purchase tickets, please click here.

Joyce Lavery is the executive director and CEO of Safe Haven Family Shelter.

I remember just over two and half years ago having lunch at the now closed Miro District Food and Drink with a few board members (Anita Baily, Jim Shulman and Kelly Dillon) and our new event consultant, Trey Lipman to discuss meeting one of the goals the board set for me when I began my employment as executive director – to create a signature event for Safe Haven Family Shelter. Now, in this day and age for nonprofits, fundraising dinners are a risk. Major fundraising consultants urge against creating new events that aren’t already set in your community since they are not the most efficient way of raising funds for an organization, and there are just too many dinners, luncheons, breakfasts already. I go to many, invited to more, and while I always enjoy them and glad to support my fellow organizations that do great work, we knew we had to come up with something memorable.

We weren’t even finished with our entrees when Kelly suggested a theme we could all rally around: a takeoff of “Dancing with the Stars.” She knew of another such model in another city that was successful. It was a moment that reminded of the quote from T.S. Elliott: “Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal.” Or my take on it: “Immature fundraisers imitate; mature fundraisers steal” (but never steal from your neighbor!). So we forged ahead and began planning our first Dancing for Safe Haven event- knowing our original/ unoriginal idea could be just the ticket for success. We checked with our attorney, looked for venues, planned budgets, asked community leaders and local celebrities to dance, found professional dance companies to partner with to provide the choreography and dance partners, sought sponsorships… and the rest is history.

In just over two years, Dancing for Safe Haven has already become a Nashville tradition and named in NFocus and Nashville Arts Magazine as among the best new parties in the city. The dancing, the costumes, the music, the incredible talent of the professional dancers, the fun, the mission and the utter chutzpa of the guest celebrity dancers are always memorable. We made our financial goals each year, and staff and board sometimes can’t believe that we actually pulled this off. I credit the dedicated board that was willing to walk with me and take this risk, our donors that believed in our ability to pull this off, and my colleague and friend, Trey Lipman, event planner extraordinaire, for making this happen. Trey’s flair, energy, creativity and ability to connect people with purpose around the city are legend.

Safe Haven is a blessed and beloved organization doing some of the greatest work in our community. Serious work. But on April 20, 2012, it will be time to laugh, have fun, remember our mission and why we are there, but, yes, to dance. Miro District Food and Drink might have closed, but Dancing for Safe Haven… now that is an affair to remember, and we are still open for business.

To see who is dancing, purchase tickets and vote for your favorite dancer online, click here.