Lauren Geerdes’ Post

One of the most fulfilling parts of my profession as a community relations practitioner is the opportunity to work closely with First Nation communities and foster meaningful relationships with industry stakeholders. During my recent visit to a remote northern community, I had the privilege of supporting a First Nation client on their negotiations with a mining company on a brownfield operation. Our focus was on facilitating information sharing to strengthen relationships. We delved into crucial discussions on equitable benefit sharing, trust, and the importance of honouring commitments in resource development. Doing community relations is such a unique profession. When I'm asked about what I do, it's often hard to describe, but it's about wearing many hats, including: ·      Spending many hours in the car and on the plane. ·      Coordinating travel and logistics between various people and parties. ·      Developing meeting materials, including presentations, posters, fact sheets, and anticipated Q&As and messaging, and collaborating with clients to ensure the tone/strategy is aligned with their goals.  ·      Putting together meeting summaries and action items to record meeting outcomes and track commitments made. ·      Printing and stapling community handouts. ·      Facility coordination and support. ·      Discussing the project with community members. ·      Understanding and answering complex questions about resource development legacy issues. ·      Lots of laughter and good-natured teasing. Embracing positive and negative input, views, and opinions from community stakeholders and leaders is not just a part of the job; it guides our work. Their views remind us of our purpose—supporting collaborative, trusting and actionable relationships between communities and industry, ensuring that the outcome aligns with their vision for the future.

Co-operatives are owned by their members. Our Co-op National Members' Council represents our member-owners not just in influencing strategy and holding the Board to account but crucially, acts as a collective Guardian of our Co-op's values and principles. Co-ops are fundamentally different, they are special and have the opportunity to influence change for the better. Being an elected representative of member-owners is a rewarding role, and one that requires dedication, time and continuous learning. 🫶🏼If you care about co-operatives, 💙If you have the desire to see our Co-op and the co-operative movement succeed ♻️If you want to be part of creating value for our members, economically, socially and democratically, 🫂If you care about making a difference to society then this link will tell you more. 👇🏼

Unlock the potential of meaningful volunteer roles with these three essential tips! Discover valuable insights and guidance in the article "Three Tips to Help You Develop Meaningful Volunteer Roles" by Rob Jackson Consulting. Read the full article here: #VolunteerRoles #VolunteerManagement #MeaningfulImpact #VolunteerSuccess

Merit America just posted a Director of Regional Partnerships - Bay Area to join our Development team! This is a brand-new role to the organization, and although we are 💻remote first, this person needs to reside in the Bay Area 😎 Here's the gist (and shout out to Chelsea for drafting these key points!): 🔹 You'll be our on-the-ground hero: Building relationships with key funders, community partners, and anyone else who can help us make a real impact in the Bay Area. 🔹You'll flex your strategic muscles: Developing a rock-solid expansion plan, managing projects like a pro, and helping us create a playbook for future growth. 🔹You'll be the voice of Merit America: Charming donors, captivating audiences, and spreading the word about our mission to create family-sustaining careers. Bonus points if you: 🔹Know the Bay Area workforce development scene like the back of your hand. 🔹Have a track record of raising (and keeping!) 7-figure gifts. 🔹Can juggle multiple projects while maintaining your sanity (and sense of humor). 🔹Are a champion for DEIJ and believe everyone deserves a chance to thrive. 📝 Application: https://lnkd.in/e4453Vxm 🎬 Job Trailer: https://lnkd.in/etDqbCzm Please note - I am not the hiring manager nor the recruiter for this role, and while I wish I could personally respond to every inquiry about this role, unfortunately, I don't currently have the capacity to do so ❤️ 💡 There are three application questions - I will share them in the comments if you want to start working on them before you submit your application! #MeritAmerica #JoinMeritAmerica #NonprofitJobs #BayAreaJobs #WorkforceDevelopment #CommunityPartnerships #DevelopmentJobs #Hiring

Excited to embark on a new journey! After a year of exploring life beyond the corporate world, I’ve found my new home. Ready to dive in, network, and grow with my amazing colleagues. Here’s to sharing knowledge, fostering connections, and embracing this next chapter together! 🌟 #NewBeginnings #CareerGrowth #ProfessionalDevelopment #Networking #Teamwork”

Approachability, flexibility, clarity, welcoming and supportive staff! The relationship a volunteer leader has with the volunteers on our teams matters more than we realize, and goes beyond volunteer and staff supervisor.  Take the time to introduce volunteers to others, and communicate about the important work they’ll be doing, it makes them feel like part of the team and builds a foundation of belonging and connection.  “I had a casual, low-key interview process and did not need a resume for any of the roles.  This made it very approachable after years away from a structured work environment.  Being given a job description, a clear outline of duties, and training, with friendly/accessible staff available for ongoing support is essential. Spending time at the office made me feel like part of a team.  Even staff who did not work with me regularly or directly made me feel welcome.  My immediate supervisors being welcoming, supportive, and helpful went a long way towards making it a positive experience getting oriented and figuring out new positions.  Being flexible and understanding about volunteers’ schedules made it easier to fit volunteering into my life,” Deb added. Ready to talk about improving your communication with volunteers? Connect with me at anna@risingtidevolunteersolutions.com #volunteers #supportiveenvironment #volunteerleaders #communication

Community engagement is a two-way street. Conversations only work when both sides are listening and being heard. Our first Community Outreach Principle to start improving your public communication: ❌ Remove Assumptions: Don't assume you know what someone values, feels, or wants without having a restriction-free conversation. Be honest - has someone surprised you recently and challenged your assumptions? #CommunityOutreach #TheVidaAgency #SeattleAgency #MulticulturalMarketing #CommunityConversations

Embracing Community Outreach with Rarekind 🌟   As a Recruitment Coordinator, I'm all about the impact of community outreach.   Why is it crucial? Community engagement helps unearth diverse talent and contributes to the growth of both individuals and the community.   Nurturing Talent at the Grassroots: Connecting with local schools and organisations opens doors to undiscovered potential, enriching our talent pool.   Building Trust and Credibility: Active participation in community initiatives builds trust, not just with candidates but also with the broader community.   Enhancing Employer Brand: Community involvement showcases our company culture, attracting top talent and boosting our employer brand.   Creating a Reciprocal Relationship: Supporting community causes fosters a reciprocal relationship, enriching both the community and our network.   Personal and Professional Growth: Community outreach offers personal and professional growth, expanding networks and refining communication skills.   Let's champion community outreach and ensure we are giving a #Rarekind experience.   How has community engagement shaped your recruitment journey?   #Recruitment #CommunityOutreach #westernsydney #tradeandindustrial #bolddiggers #uncommonlygood #network 

Discover the dos and don'ts of preparing a wrap-up report for public transit involvement. 🚊 In this new three-part blog series, follow Adrienne Hamilton’s journey to get a client-side view of successful project planning, launching, and reporting of a public involvement initiative for transport. Learn how to create positive project outcomes with your online community engagement platform of choice. This final instalment will focus on the best tips to develop and share your public transportation engagement report. #Transport #CommunityEngagement #Transportation

Discover the steps to finding volunteer opportunities that align with your needs and interests in the informative article " Set Yourself Up for Volunteer Success: How to Find Volunteer Opportunities That Match Your Needs!" Learn valuable tips and strategies for identifying and selecting the right volunteer opportunities that will allow you to make a meaningful impact. Read the full article here: #VolunteerSuccess #VolunteerOpportunities #FindingVolunteerRoles #ImpactfulVolunteering #CommunityEngagement