See What I Mean LLC

🌈 We stand with our LGBTQIA2S+ family, friends, and community members to celebrate joy while continuing to advocate for LGBTQIA2S+ rights. Let’s continue building a world where everyone is proud of who they are and proud of who they love.

SWIM is making waves beyond the pool! 🌊 Our Swim team dove into volunteering at Junior Achievement North for Biztown last week. The smiles and inspiration the kids received from this experiential learning experience made us excited to continue supporting Junior Achievement USA and the local JA Areas.

This week's quote comes from our book, "Activating Moments for Change: A guide to unlocking the full potential of organizations and networks."

SWIM works with networks trying to solve some of society's most wicked problems. In these networks you can't move things with power, you have to create movements with influence.

Learn more about our book here: https://buff.ly/3yVPFz6

We had a great time discussing budgeting your leadership influence at the Quad Cities Community Foundation . We had meaningful and lively discussions about roles, budget, and tools for influence.

Thanks to all who joined us and a big thanks to the Quad Cities Community Foundation for hosting us and creating a welcoming space for learning and sharing.

Looking to host a workshop with your team or network. Fill out this discovery form and see what SWIM has to offer. https://buff.ly/3KCsblf

"Reimagined Networks," explores the relationship between food pantries and food banks, examining how they collaborate to prioritize the needs of neighbors and transform the charitable food experience. Here are a few words from Jenna on her project, "The goal of the prototype is to inspire food bank leaders to reimagine their partnerships with food pantries. The data story is a space for food banks to reflect on their current relationships with food pantries and explore new ways to partner that celebrate the strengths of food pantries, support the growth of food pantries, and prioritize the needs of neighbors facing hunger."

🎉 We are thrilled to celebrate Jenna's capstone prototype completed in her Data Analytics & Visualization MPS program from the Maryland Institute College of Art.

The prototype includes data from See What I Mean's network assessment and pulls recommendations from our new book, Activating Change, a guide to unlocking the full potential of organizations and networks.

👉 Check out Jenna's prototype (desktop version) here: https://buff.ly/4aO37ma

👉 Learn more about SWIM's Network Assessment: https://buff.ly/3KqTQWb

👉 Learn more in our new book: https://buff.ly/3yVPFz6

At SWIM, we've mastered the art of inquiry, recognizing questions as vital for progress. Open-ended inquiries drive rich dialogue and understanding, replacing generic prompts with thought-provoking endings to presentations.

What are your favorite mission centric questions to ask?

Read more about it here:
https://buff.ly/3WcbYu3

Thanks to the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa for having us. We love engaging with so many great nonprofit leaders in the Cedar Valley.

What we're thinking about:

'If anybody's listening, we just want a place to go.'

We've been deeply touched by this piece from The New York Times, shedding light on the experiences of those who are unhoused. The quote above resonated particularly strongly.

In our work with the City of Alexandria, Virginia we had the chance to talk with many unhoused individuals, and their stories were really unimaginable in such a wealthy country. Let's keep listening and working towards creating spaces of compassion and support for all.

Read more about it here:

Opinion | Criminalizing Homelessness Won’t Make It Go Away Hundreds of thousands of people are homeless. This filmmaker wants you to see them.

This week's quote is from Stacy.

Our founder, Stacy, chose this quote that holds a special place in her heart. It reminds her not to fall into the chasm of half-hearted effort. Hard things take hard work. Plus, Stacy's family loves Star Wars! May the force be with us all.

Unlocking Meeting Success: Open Dialogue & Creativity

Enhance your meetings with inclusive environments, innovative tools, and structured strategies for engagement.

What strategies do you use with your team? Share your answers on the comments below!

Iowa Connections - Join us for a Workshop:
"Better Together: Optimizing Board and Staff Roles for Mission Acceleration"

🗓️ June 5th, 3-5pm
📍 Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa - Community Room
🎙️ Facilitated by Dr. Van Gorp, SWIM founder

Learn how to strengthen the partnership between your board and staff! This interactive session will provide tools for clearer roles and effective collaboration. Don't miss out—bring your board and join the dialogue!

Free, but registration is required.
Click here to sign up:

SWIM has been proud to support the Alliant Energy Foundation's Rural Hunger Initiative, and it is great to see their investments paying off at the Food Bank of Iowa . Check out their update post, and be on the lookout for a report on how the effort came to fruition.

Spreading Hope and Nourishing Young Minds 🍎📚... - Food Bank of Iowa | Facebook https://buff.ly/3KliUOi

This week's QOTW is from Malena

Malena has always liked this quote from Maya Angelou for life and evaluation because once you have knowledge of how things are really going, then you should make shifts to ensure continued and/or bigger success.

Thank you for sharing this with us Malena!

📖 What we're reading: We've been moved by this piece from NPR detailing the growing credit card debt crisis. Credit card delinquencies have returned to pre-pandemic levels, despite rising wages and a low unemployment rate. In our research projects we often find the numbers on the surface don't tell the whole story, and we work to uncover what is underlying the issues through direct contact with the people being impacted. This approach helps us understand the human side of economic challenges like those highlighted in the NPR article.

Read more about it here: https://buff.ly/3yoxGkI

📣 We're excited to partner with the Quad Cities Community Foundation's Center for Nonprofit Excellence which will host a workshop led by Stacy. Join us to learn about Budgeting Your Leadership Influence.

During this session, participants will:

- Identify key areas of influence, authority, and opportunity
- Reflect on effective strategies for budgeting influence
- Strategically apply influence while avoiding behaviors that may diminish it
- Explore the dynamics of influence within the framework of inclusion and equity

👉 Check out more information here: https://buff.ly/3UUSqs9

Looking forward to seeing you there!

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This week’s QOTW Wednesday is from Kelsey-

In this season of new beginnings, I find myself reflecting on the beauty and wonder in nature. I invite you to dwell in possibility with me and Emily.

Jordan and Jenna were excited and surprised to see Michael McKee receive the John Van Hengel Award at this year's Feeding America National Conference. We were surprised because Michael is one of those leaders who works diligently to serve his community while never seeking out recognition.

Feeding America describes the award as one that “honors the ideals of the late John van Hengel, who developed the concept of food banking in the 1960s. It recognizes an executive of a partner food bank for excellence in leadership, local impact and national influence, and entrepreneurial spirit in the area of hunger relief.” We can’t think of a leader more well-deserving. Our conversations with Michael are always about taking the food bank to the next level when it comes to focusing on the needs of neighbors and empowering his team to do their best work.

Congratulations, Michael McKee! We are proud to work in partnership with you and the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank !

Meet our SWIM Intern, Kenny Sarasati!

Kenny is a recent graduate from the Carlson School of Management - University of Minnesota. Kenny studied Management Information Systems and minored in Business Analytics. Kenny's journey through the Carlson School of Management was marked by a relentless pursuit of knowledge and a passion for leveraging technology to solve complex business problems. Her coursework delved deep into the realms of data analysis, programming languages, and strategic management. But it wasn't just academics that shaped Kenny's skills; she actively sought out internships and extracurricular projects to hone her craft.

Welcome to the SWIM Team Kenny! We are excited to have you here.

🎉 A big congratulations to Jenna who earned her master’s degree in Data Analytics and Visualization from the Maryland Institute College of Art. Join us in celebrating Jenna and this tremendous accomplishment!

We're thrilled to announce that our client, Northern Illinois Food Bank (NIFB), has been honored for their exceptional work in revolutionizing food assistance!

Read about Northern Illinois Food Bank's launch of the Order Ahead program that won them this honor in the link.

https://buff.ly/4atJRu9

This week's QOTW is from Jordan Vernoy.

Often when I am looking for inspiration, I turn to reading fictional worlds painted by authors like Octavia Butler or Haruki Murakami. This quote from Murakami’s Kafka on the Shore reminds me that most of my new ideas come from mistakes I made. When we can recognize that a mindset we hold or a policy we implement is getting in the way of our goals, courage allows us to say we were wrong and change.

SWIM Intern, Kenny Sarasati, has been reading through SWIM materials, joining team and client meetings, and learning all about our work with our clients.

She summarized what she has been learning about being a successful meeting facilitator in this graphic, and we think she is catching on pretty quick!

Better Together Workshop: Optimizing nonprofit board and staff roles Join us at our June 5 Board Fundamentals to hear from Stacy about creating stronger board/staff partnerships. If you are having problems viewing this email, click here to view as webpage. Better Toget

QOTW Wednesday

On Wednesdays, we will be featuring a Quote of the Week (QOTW) that deeply resonates with each member of our team. Stay tuned for inspirational and thought-provoking messages that will uplift and motivate us throughout the week.

The QOTW is from Kenny, our SWIM Intern. Here is what Kenny had to say about the quote:

I remember the final days of my graduation last year when our school's Dean delivered a speech on courage and overcoming fear. Since then, whenever I embark on something new or unconventional, I always remind myself to be courageous and confront my fears. It takes courage to lead a life unbounded by fear.

Have courage to live a life full of fear.

Meet SWIM's new Project Manager, Kelsey Kleinheinz!

Kelsey is an analytical thinker with a passion for simplifying the complex. With over 12 years in the financial services industry, Kelsey is well-versed in managing complex projects and meeting unique needs. Her approach is grounded in empathy, optimism, and a drive to learn. Kelsey thrives in dynamic environments where innovation and collaboration are paramount.

Welcome to the team, Kelsey. We are so glad to have you here with us!

What is something that you are proud of? That was our opening question to an exciting Monday meeting.

Happy start of the week to all! It's a joy to announce that, for the first time since welcoming our new Project Manager and Intern, we were able to gather everyone for our weekly Monday meeting!

Our opening question was all about starting things off on a positive note and making sure everyone felt included right from the start.

Feel free to answer the question below in the comments section. We would love to read about what you are proud of!

Spring is for new beginnings and new ideas.

At SWIM we help leaders listen to their stakeholders to spot what new ideas are building momentum like a wave about to come ashore. We provide tips, tools, and moments for leaders to encourage others to paddle out and catch the wave.

If you're seeking to spot the next wave for your organization or network, identifying where momentum aligns with mission, don't hesitate to reach out and arrange a discovery call with us. Let's navigate these currents together.

https://buff.ly/4aXYvKX

We take our work seriously, but sometimes a less serious question reveals nuances that traditional questions do not reveal. For example, we often ask “if your network was a movie, what’s showing?”

In one case, while the Lickert scale questions showed positive relationships we had to dig a little deeper when movies like The Godfather, Kindergarten Cop and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom made the list!

If your network was a movie, what's showing? Let us know in the comments.

What comes first, questioning or listening?

https://buff.ly/3UxNLwZ

We know it's not Halloween, but the only person who should ask "Any Questions?" at the end of a presentation is David S. Pumpkins.

Imagine yourself sitting in a board meeting. You’ve just received a presentation detailing a recent evaluation and changes to your organization’s premier program. The session comes to a close and the speaker asks, “any questions?” Uh oh. You know that engaged board members should ask questions. But, you just learned so much. All of the questions you can think of are about the practical implementation details of the proposal. The first question that jumps to mind “is that going to be offered on Tuesdays?” is probably not the kind of question that the team needs.

So, what do strategic questions sound like for Board Members? Learn more in this blog.

https://buff.ly/3WcbYu3