North Star Black Cooperative Fellowship Fall 2017-Spring 18 Fellows
Fred
We are honored to announce the North Star Black Cooperative Fall 2017-Spring 2018 Fellows;
Amoke Kubat, Carl Crawford, Harrison Bullard, Jolene Mason, Lashunda Roberts, Lavasha Smith, Nicque Mabrey, Selah Michele, Sheronda Orridge, Sylvia Williams and Tonya Draughn.
The North Star Black Cooperative Fellows are working on diverse cooperative initiatives that include: food, housing, natural body & hair care products and services, artist cooperatives, and worker cooperatives. Please do support, congratulate and cooperate with these Black Cooperators!
photo credit: adja gildersleve (photo of a the North Star Black Cooperative Fellowship Session; Rethinking Capitalism with Dr. Rose Brewer.)
Nexus is seeking a full-time Administrative Specialist to be an integral part of Nexus’ administrative team. The Administrative Specialist will take the lead in coordinating and supporting programs such as the Community Engagement Institute, Community Wealth Building programming, the North Star Black Cooperative Fellowship, the Boards and Commissions Leadership Institute, as well as supporting Nexus’ internal office management.
Nexus is hiring a part-time, paid intern for our North Star Cooperative Fellowship. For information about the position and instructions for applying, please visit:
To answer this question, we turn to the story of the Blue Line Coalition:
With the landscape of our cities ever-changing, the Metro Blue Line light rail extension is planned to connect North Minneapolis and Brooklyn Park, running through neighborhoods with a majority population of people of color and immigrants. Major infrastructural investments like the light rail extension will impact our communities for decades to come, with economic impacts in the billions.
There is a long and damaging history in this country of transit planning and development negatively impacting communities of color, especially historically African American communities. We need look no further than the Rondo Community in St. Paul, decimated by the construction of Interstate 94 in the 1950’s and 60’s when highway planners failed to engage and listen to the concerns of the community. To ensure that this damaging pattern was not repeated, several community organizations came together in 2012 to form the Blue Line Coalition to advocate for community engagement in the planning process of the Blue Line light rail extension.
Today, Blue Line Coalition members have seen their impact on the policies and structure of the light rail plans, and in building community capacity. The Blue Line Coalition has created a couple of videos that demonstrate the power of community engagement as a key strategy to advance equity in our communities.
Check out the below video for a message to our partners in philanthropy about resourcing community engagement.
Watch the below video for a perspective from BLC member organizations on their experience organizing community.
Nexus proudly welcomes three new members to our Board of Directors: Elaine Rasmussen, Gordon Goodwin, and Jodi Bantley.
Elaine is the CEO of Social Impact Strategies Group, a start-up venture whose mission is to democratize access to capital by and for women and communities of color as well as mainstream impact investing for accredited and non-accredited investors. Elaine has also participated in Nexus’ Community Wealth Building Culturally-Based Cooperative Development Technical Assistance Cohort.
Gordon is the Midwest Region Project Manager of Race Forward for the Government Alliance on Race and Equity, which is a national network of jurisdictions committed to advancing racial equity by transforming government’s role into being an effective and inclusive democracy.
Jodi is the Community Engagement Coordinator for Civic and Community-Based Learning at Metropolitan State University, and has been a long-time partner of Nexus in Community Wealth Building.
We are thrilled to bring these leaders’ voices to our Board as we head into a year full of exciting work in 2018!
“At Nexus we think it’s very important for people to take vacations to get away, spend time with family or to concentrate on things outside of work. However, you shouldn’t have to vacate your job or the work experience in order to relax and experience a sense of wellness. We believe that wellness should be integrated into the work environment and that people should be able to engage in wellness in addition to any vacation they take.”- Repa Mekha, President & CEO, Nexus Community Partners.
A little over a year ago, Nexus Community Partners’ President and CEO, Repa Mekha, took a three-month sabbatical. He spent this time traveling, learning, and reflecting on his ten years of leadership at Nexus. The time away was invaluable for Repa and the organization, and both were stronger when he returned. While on sabbatical, Repa reflected on the importance of wellness, and how too often our organizational structures and cultures discourage staff from taking care of themselves. “I think we often think that not being able to keep on pushing means there is something less about us when in reality, we’re just human and we can only drive for so long without our minds, our bodies, and our spirits needing rest”. Upon his return, Repa and staff began articulating what it would look like if we integrated personal and collective wellness into our work – what would it look like if we made an organizational commitment to the nourishment of our whole selves.
Nexus’ Wellness Program is a collective experience that promotes valuing individuals and the work they engage in. We believe this should be the way forward for the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors. Valuing the wellness of your staff; valuing the whole person, changes the way they approach the work and the way they show up. It allows those who wish to dedicate their life to social justice, to do so and to do so in such a way that doesn’t sacrifice their minds, bodies, and spirits.
Nexus staff enjoying a wellness cruise on the St. Croix River.
Nexus’ Wellness Program is unique in its approach, being both flexible and responsive to the personal wellness practices of the staff. Nexus’ Wellness Program is a human based approach that reinforces the importance of self-care. Since wellness practices look different for everyone, Nexus staff decide the activities that are suitable to their mental, physical and/or spiritual needs and interests. Nexus’ Wellness Program includes a $250 wellness stipend every six months and two paid wellness hours per week which are blocked off on calendars and used for activities defined by individual staff. In addition, Nexus staff participates in a collective wellness activity such as group meditation instruction, a boat cruise, a trip to the Como Conservatory, and a self-defense class led by a Nexus staff member. The group time provides a space for Nexus staff to engage and experience each other while strengthening relationships.
We believe that our wellness practices are necessary. As an organization led by people of color and working in communities of color, we know the toll this work can take on our minds, bodies, and spirits. At Nexus, we welcome the whole person into the work and believe that our passion and dedication to the work should be valued. We believe a person can step away from their work to take care of them self and their work is better for it when they return. Allocating financial resources for wellness reinforces the value we place on the mental, physical, and spiritual wellness of the staff.
Unfortunately, too many nonprofits overwork their staff and send the message that taking time off, taking care of oneself and/or your family, means you’re not fully committed to the work. Foundations, too, can create and/or perpetuate this culture by refusing to pay adequate overhead, asking for “efficiencies” in staffing, and looking for long-term change in short-term grant cycles. The result? Burnout – a loss of dedicated, passionate and compassionate individuals who are no longer able to contribute their skills and expertise to the work.
Repa’s sabbatical was an important time for the organization and a wonderful opportunity for us to reflect on how we are sustaining ourselves in this work. We encourage other organizations to think deeply about how they’re taking care of themselves while working to advance social justice throughout our communities.
Nexus Community Partners seeks a part time Finance and HR Associate (20 hours a week).
Nexus Community Partners is a nonprofit organization dedicated to building community wealth & power and advancing racial equity in the Twin Cities. Nexus is an intermediary whose mission is to “build more engaged and powerful communities of color by supporting community-building initiatives and foster social and human capital.” Nexus is all about building community through relationships: between community-based organizations, the public sector, and other nonprofits and funders. We work to make sure that communities of color are at the forefront of making decisions that impact them and that they have the power and tools to generate and maintain wealth.
The major activities that Nexus engages in are:
Systems Change: As an intermediary, we bridge partnerships between other funders, partners in the public sector, and community partners (such as neighborhood organizations and small nonprofits) to develop more equitable systems in areas like transit planning, philanthropy, and public health.
Capacity Building Support: As a funder, we strengthen the power of on-the-ground organizations in communities of color through financial support and technical assistance. We help these organizations build their leadership and organizational infrastructure, develop programs, implement community engagement strategies, improve their fundraising, and more.
Building Leaders: We provide leadership development opportunities for people of color interested in influencing public policy and developing community wealth through cooperative economics.
Position Responsibilities
Nexus’ Administrative team is responsible for ensuring that the operations of the organization run effectively and in a manner reflective of our values.
Finance:
Manage the Accounts Payable process including processing invoices and check requests, recording monthly automatic payments, processing monthly employee expense reports, recording monthly credit card and debit reports, printing checks, and mailing payments.
Assist with Accounts Receivable including recording and preparing deposits of checks received via mail, record electronic deposits, record grants received, and assist with Nexus’ invoices.
Assist with the annual audit by preparing electronic and paper files in accordance with Nexus’ financial policies and working with the Director of Finance and HR.
Assist the Director of Finance and HR in the areas of budgeting, financial reporting, and expense analysis.
HR:
Assist with the hiring process including the posting of new positions, managing incoming resumes and inquires, printing resumes for review committees, responding via email to all applicants, and assist with onboarding.
Assist with administering PTO including following up with Nexus staff and updating the tracking spreadsheet.
Assist with benefits administration as needed.
Assist the Director of Finance and HR in the areas of the Wellness program, organizing staff learning opportunities, and the staff review process.
Organizational:
Develop community awareness of Nexus and be a positive, dynamic presence for Nexus.
Function effectively as a leader, team member, and problem solver in order to ensure that the goals and objectives of Nexus are met.
Provide support as needed for other projects, such as the broader evaluation and communication for Nexus.
Help build organizational capacity, including strategizing around organizational or program development, developing documentation, supporting communications, and participating in professional development trainings.
Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
Associate’s degree preferred and/or 2-3 years relevant experience in nonprofit and/or community work.
Must be detail oriented.
Proficient in Microsoft Excel, required.
Experience working in QuickBooks and/or QuickBooks for Nonprofits a plus.
Experience working in A/P and/or A/R a plus.
Curiosity and a willingness to learn.
Ability to self-motivate and self-direct; organize own work, set priorities and meet critical deadlines.
Flexibility regarding work assignments and ability to respond positively to changing demands and priorities.
Understands and embraces efforts that promote racial, social and economic equity and asset-based community change.
Capacity to work cross-culturally to achieve understanding and results. Ability to establish and maintain trust readily with a diverse set of partners.
Ability to work in a team environment.
Demonstrated experience in exercising a high level of discretion and integrity in carrying out financial and HR support duties of a confidential nature.
You need to be able to both see possibility and ask hard questions with respect and discretion.
Excellent oral and written communications skills.
The ideal candidate would be able to start October 2017.
Salary range: $17.00 – $21.00/hour (plus limited benefits as a part time employee)
The position will remain open until filled.
Qualified candidates should send a resume and cover letter via email to:
The Finance and HR Associate will report to the Director of Finance and HR.
Nexus offers competitive compensation commensurate with experience and a highly participatory, mutually supportive workplace. We are committed to the personal and professional growth of all staff.
“Art and farming join forces this fall when the Hmong American Farmers Association and a trio of Twin Cities artists add a new staple to the CSA produce box: art.”
Check out how Nexus’ partner, the Hmong American Farmers Association (HAFA), is getting creative this Thanksgiving by adding Hmong arts and culture to their community supported agricultural (CSA) share. Read the full MPR story here.
Listen to HAFA’s executive director and Nexus board member, Pakou Hang, talk about how community wealth building is grounded in cultural practices.
The Community Engagement Institute invites you to the next Engaged Learning Series: Community Engagement through a Healing Lens on Thursday, September 28th from 9-11am. Register here!
FINANCE AND HR ASSOCIATE
Nexus Community Partners seeks a part time Finance and HR Associate (20 hours a week).
Nexus Community Partners is a community-building intermediary whose mission is to “build more engaged and powerful communities of color by supporting community-building initiatives and foster social and human capital.”
Position Responsibilities
Finance
Manage the Accounts Payable process including processing invoices and check requests, recording monthly automatic payments, processing monthly employee expense reports, recording monthly credit card and debit reports, printing checks, and mailing payments.
Assist with Accounts Receivable including recording and preparing deposits of checks received via mail, record electronic deposits, record grants received, and assist with Nexus’ invoices.
Assist with the annual audit by preparing electronic and paper files in accordance with Nexus’ financial policies and working with the Director of Finance and HR.
Assist the Director of Finance and HR in the areas of budgeting, financial reporting, and expense analysis.
HR
Assist with the hiring process including the posting of new positions, managing incoming resumes and inquires, printing resumes for review committees, responding via email to all applicants, and assist with onboarding.
Assist with administering PTO including following up with Nexus staff and updating the tracking spreadsheet.
Assist with benefits administration as needed.
Assist the Director of Finance and HR in the areas of the Wellness program, organizing staff learning opportunities, and the staff review process.
Organizational
Develop community awareness of Nexus and be a positive, dynamic presence for Nexus.
Function effectively as a leader, team member, and problem solver in order to ensure that the goals and objectives of Nexus are met.
Provide support as needed for other projects, such as the broader evaluation and communication for Nexus.
Help build organizational capacity, including strategizing around organizational or program development, developing documentation, supporting communications, and participating in professional development trainings.
Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
Associate’s degree preferred and/or 2-3 years relevant experience in nonprofit and/or community work.
Must be detail oriented.
Proficient in Microsoft Excel, required.
Experience working in QuickBooks and/or QuickBooks for Nonprofits a plus.
Experience working in A/P and/or A/R a plus.
Curiosity and a willingness to learn.
Ability to self-motivate and self-direct; organize own work, set priorities and meet critical deadlines.
Flexibility regarding work assignments and ability to respond positively to changing demands and priorities.
Understands and embraces efforts that promote racial, social and economic equity and asset-based community change.
Capacity to work cross-culturally to achieve understanding and results. Ability to establish and maintain trust readily with a diverse set of partners.
Ability to work in a team environment.
Demonstrated experience in exercising a high level of discretion and integrity in carrying out financial and HR support duties of a confidential nature.
You need to be able to both see possibility and ask hard questions with respect and discretion.
Excellent oral and written communications skills.
The ideal candidate would be able to start October 2017.
Nexus offers competitive compensation commensurate with experience and a highly participatory, mutually supportive workplace. We are committed to the personal and professional growth of all staff.
Salary range: $17.00 – $21.00/hour (plus limited benefits as a part time employee)
The Finance and HR Associate will report to the Director of Finance and HR.
Qualified candidates should send a resume and cover letter via email by September 18, 2017 to:
We are happy to announce the opening of our fall 2017 North Star Black Cooperative Fellowship Applications today August 15. Application’s for the fellowship closes on Friday, September 15. Our Fall fellowship begins November 2 and ends on April 19. Please visit our North Star Black Cooperative Fellowship page to learn more and for the application. If you have any questions please reach out to Danielle Mkali dmkali@nexuscp.org or 651-289-7031
Nexus, along with the four other partners of the Leaders of Color Collaborative (Coalition of Asian American Leaders, Hope Community, Native American Community Development Institute and Voices for Racial Justice) have been in conversation for a few years about training leaders for community and systems change. As we shared our stories and ideas for a new narrative around why leadership development looks different for communities of color and indigenous communities (POCI), we came to a collective agreement that we were often sending leaders into toxic spaces and began to discuss the work of healing ourselves and healing our communities. We began to meet with elders and a few local healers. This conversation turned into the need for some kind of action when we realized that, while we had been talking about this for years, many of us were struggling with how to set this up. We knew that we wanted to hear from those who are already doing healing work. We were fortunate to hire someone with a background in healing justice work, Susan Raffo, and asked her to interview POCI healers in our community about what it means to build healing work as part of our organizational infrastructure. This report is the result of those conversations. They represent a conversation with 23 healers representing multiple communities, generations and approaches to healing. We asked them what we need to do to support collective healing. We asked them about infrastructure. We asked them about culture. And we asked them to give us concrete steps for change. Read the report
FINANCE AND HR ASSOCIATE