Greater MN has kicked off the fall with several activities. First, thank you to Second Harvest Heartland for inviting MAVA to present at their Regional Hunger Connections meetings. Myself, along with MAVA staff members Polly Roach and Jenna Egan, shared information from MAVA's research on trends in volunteerism at four gatherings of SHH partners and affiliates. It's great to connect with volunteer leaders around the around the state and learn how they are engaging neighbors to help neighbors.
MAVA completed several grant applications in September for programs around Greater MN. We are currently working to set up Youth Volunteer Leadership programs in high schools around the state. If you would like MAVA to work with schools in your area on this program, please let me know. We have received funding to support this work in several locations, and would like to get your school involved in this innovative initiative.
MAVA and HandsOn Twin Cities are continuing to develop targeted opportunities for Greater MN organizations to participate in the Service Enterprise Initiative through the development of an online training component. A Service Enterprise is an organization that strategically leverages volunteers to achieve operational efficiency and greater social impact. Service Enterprises are among the top 11 percent of nonprofits in the country in volunteer management and organizational performance. If you would like to learn more about being recognized as a Service Enterprise or options for Greater Minnesota organizations to participate in the Service Enterprise process, including partial scholarships for enrollment fees, please let me know by emailing jvreeland@mavanetwork.org.
Hope you are looking forward to the first signs of winter – they may be here soon.