Growing Together: Volunteer Power, Staff Well-Being, and Community Connection
On Monday, April 28, 2025, nonprofit leaders, board members, and staff from across the Lehigh Valley came together at Northampton Community College’s Fowler Center for a morning of learning, networking, and inspiration. The “Growing Together: Volunteer Power, Staff Well-Being, and Community Connection” workshop brought key capacity builders—LINC, United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, and Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley—into one dynamic, collaborative space.
A Morning of Connection and Learning
The morning kicked off with lively networking over coffee and breakfast, setting a tone of collaboration and energy. Attendees had the opportunity to meet peers across the sector, exchange ideas, and build new partnerships—all essential elements of growing nonprofit capacity.
Following the networking session, the event shifted into a series of insightful presentations, each tailored to meet the real needs of nonprofit organizations seeking to build stronger teams, more inclusive environments, and sustainable impact.
Highlights from the Presentations
LINC: Building Inclusive Workplaces
Krissi Echevarria, Manager of Inclusion and Community Engagement at LINC, led an engaging session focused on creating inclusive workplaces that foster employee retention and belonging. She introduced LINC’s Inclusion Community initiative, encouraging organizations to collaborate across sectors and strengthen practices that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. Attendees left with actionable ideas for embedding inclusion into the fabric of their organizations.
United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley: Supporting Staff and Scaling Impact
Missy Wise, Assistant Director of United Way Training Initiatives, addressed one of today’s most pressing challenges—compassion fatigue and secondary trauma among nonprofit staff and volunteers. She offered practical strategies for cultivating resilience, hope, and well-being within nonprofit teams.
Jennifer Nicolosi, Director of Service-Learning Programs, followed with a session on building nonprofit capacity through AmeriCorps VISTA programs. She shared valuable tips on leveraging volunteers to sustainably scale impact and strengthen organizational infrastructure.
Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley: Harnessing Volunteer Power
Karen Smith, CEO of the Volunteer Center, wrapped up the workshop with an inspiring presentation on volunteer engagement. She outlined essential strategies for recruiting, retaining, and celebrating volunteers, emphasizing how critical volunteer support is to nonprofit missions. Karen also highlighted additional resources available to nonprofits seeking to expand their volunteer base.
A Step Forward for Nonprofit Growth
This event underscored the collective spirit and resilience of the Lehigh Valley’s nonprofit community. Whether organizations came seeking strategies for staff well-being, diversity and inclusion, or volunteer engagement, each participant left with fresh ideas, new tools, and a sense of community strength.
Special thanks to LINC, United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, and the Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley for their leadership, and to Northampton Community College’s Fowler Center for hosting this important gathering.
Together, we are building a stronger, more connected, and more resilient nonprofit sector.
Stay tuned for more capacity-building opportunities in the months ahead!
