Each week we try to bring you a collection of links that highlight political news that impact nonprofits, helpful links for nonprofit professionals, the importance of sharing stories, and something positive to end your week. These are links from over the last two weeks that you may have missed!
Helpful Nonprofit Links
- We often highlight Cyndi Suarez’s writing at NPQ in this space. Last week’s article about the importance of generating inclusive narratives that compel values-aligned action in addition to deconstructing exclusionary narratives.
- Maddie Grant from Socialfish explains how the GDPR in the EU may impact nonprofit organizations.
“Nonprofits working with donors, volunteers, beneficiaries, members or grantees from the EU will need to adjust the way they communicate with, market to, and collect information…”
- There has been a lot in the news about data over the last few weeks. Christina Wells from Omatic Software shares, via a blog post published on Guidestar, the need for strong data collection. Casey Johnston from the Outline explains why it is impossible to track data once it’s out in the universe.
- Many nonprofits, especially those oriented towards progressive causes, have to deal with trolls. M+R’s social squad released a tool for social media and community managers to help individuals manage their trolls.
- Has your organization dipped into restricted private funding? If so, you may want to read this piece from John MacIntosh from NPQ.
- When was the last time you reviewed your strategic plan? Have you asked if it is actually strategic? Or a plan? Graham Kenny writes about these challenging questions for HBR.
Political News
- Maria Sacchetti from the Washington Post writes about the Justice Department’s decision to end a legal-advice program for immigrants in detention.
- Elizabeth Shogren from Reveal details how the National Park Service has deleted every mention of humans’ role in causing climate change in drafts of a sea level rise and storm surge report. And click here to view a follow-up report on how House and Senate Democrats have asked the Interior Department to investigate whether the National Park Service violated its scientific integrity policy.
- Anthony Smith from Mic explains that at the end of President Donald Trump’s first year in office, more than 700 workers had fled from the Environmental Protection Agency. Smith speaks with Mustafa Ali about Ali’s reasons for leaving the EPA. (Editorial recommendation from Justin – If you or the organization you work for are interested in environmental justice, I highly recommend following Mustafa Ali on Twitter.)
“I left the Environmental Protection Agency because I saw actions that were being moved forward by the Trump administration that I knew would have devastating effects in the communities that I care about,” Ali, the EPA’s former senior adviser for environmental justice and community revitalization, told Mic. “They’re putting people’s lives in danger. They’re going to make more folks sick, and unfortunately more folks are going to die.”
- This article from Alex Daniels from the Chronicle of Philanthropy highlights the ways that nonprofits and foundations are focusing on advocacy and ways to help connect the people they serve to the political process.
- Kevin Mahnken from the nonprofit the 74 discusses why a recent American Progress report that shows that high school graduation requirements in 46 states are not aligned with entry requirements at public universities.
- Romina Ruiz-Goiriena from Splinter explains how increased rates of depression and suicide have followed Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. To help those in need, please consider supporting P.E.C.E.S. (Programa de Educación Comunal de Entrega y Servicio).
Sharing Stories
- The ACLU Campaign for Smart Justice and Brooklyn Defender Services, created a video series to illustrate how prosecutors can single-handedly transform the broken American criminal justice system. Click here to watch the videos featuring DeRay McKesson (civil rights activist), Nina Morrison (The Innocence Project), Baratunde Thurston (Author and Comedian), Adam Foss (a former prosecutor), Scott Hechinger (Brooklyn Defender Services), John Pfaff (professor and author of Locked In), Josie Duffy-Rice (Fair Punishment Project), and Brandon Buskey (ACLU).
- America’s Promise shares the voices and stories of students at Thurgood Marshall Academy in Washington, D.C. The students discuss gun violence, safety in schools, and racial inequity.
“Gun violence is an issue that needs to be dealt with, and no matter how hard we have to march, no matter how long it takes, this generation will fight until we get a change,” she continued. “We’re a powerful generation. We’re smart, we’re creative, and we will find ways to get the job done.”
Something Fun
- Sometimes you are envious of someone else’s car.
Photo Credit: Still from The Power of Prosecutors: An Overview