Caroline Dowd-Higgins’ Post

🎄 The holidays can be exciting and overwhelming for kids. Here are some simple tips from our recent monthly column to help children enjoy the season without the stress: 1️⃣ Prepare them for upcoming events. 2️⃣ Focus on the joy of giving, not just receiving. 3️⃣ Teach them to give back to the community. ↪️https://loom.ly/_oJczug

THE POWER OF VOLUNTEER TEAMS IN COMMUNITY PROJECTS Volunteer teams play a vital role in driving community projects, transforming compassion into action. 1 Peter 4:10 encourages, "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms." Mobilizing volunteers harnesses the power of collective effort, significantly enhancing community transformation initiatives. Volunteers bring passion, energy, and diverse skills to projects, making it possible to reach more people and accomplish more goals. Their selfless service is a testament to God's love in action, inspiring others to get involved and contribute. By organizing and supporting volunteer teams effectively, we can create a powerful force for good, capable of addressing a wide range of community needs and bringing about lasting change. Volunteers not only meet immediate needs but also build stronger, more connected communities through their dedication and service. Will you volunteer?

Growing up in a community of single mothers, homelessness and chronic housing instability were constants in my life. Though I wasn't a foster child myself, my mother and aunts hailed from foster backgrounds, and so instability was a regular occurrence. Fast forward to 2024, serving and uplifting unhoused youth becomes my mission. The spaces God places me are on purpose, for a purpose. 🙏🏾 Youth homelessness is a super complex issue. Shelters are overcrowded, transitional housing is few, and affordable housing - don’t get me started. According to NCSL: 👉🏾 Each year, 1.5 million children and adolescents flee home due to family conflicts, abuse, or neglect, finding themselves homeless. 👉🏾 Over 250,000 children enter foster care annually, with more than 23,000 aging out each year. These youths face heightened risks of homelessness due to various factors, including unstable placements, histories of running away, and time spent in institutional settings. At Pour Over Love, the youth we serve encounter challenges unique to Atlanta, such as the prevalence of sex trafficking and the increasing presence of gangs and initiations. We're dedicated to empowering our youth through a comprehensive approach: expanding our resources to encompass career development, on-the-job training, mentorship, and networking opportunities, we aim to facilitate successful transitions. Our goal is ambitious yet attainable: within our 12-month cohorts, we strive to secure stable housing and meaningful careers for each individual, setting the stage for sustainable lifestyles. 🤝 Will you help me in transitioning the lives of Atlanta’s at-risk youth? Whatever form your contribution takes (financial, mentorship, reposting), know that it is invaluable to us. Your support enables us to continue our vital work, impacting lives and reshaping futures, and we greatly appreciate your contributions. https://lnkd.in/eSi-eTg4 #nonprofit #supporttheyouth #fundraising #impactdriven #homelessness #careerdevelopment #jobtraining #mentorship #affordablehousing #employment

In addition to Marcy's Keynote, Inspire, Connect, SHINE ON!, don't miss Marcy in the LAST session of the day, Ask for Anything Artfully. Major gifts are critical to building your resilience, fueling your big vision, and partnering with your donors so they can be significant and part of lifting-up the community. What if you had a specific 3-sentence recipe to ask for anything – from the appointment to a million dollars? What EXACTLY do you say? Get crystal CLEAR on how to write and speak an ask. AND apply this formula to ask for anything! You may rock at creating a great relationship, but the results come from clear asks confidently delivered. Sing, have fun and learn how to do it with Marcy.

"It takes a village to raise responsible children.'' That's why I accepted the invitation of Feyikemi Zion Olujere to speak to boys between 8 - 16 years last Saturday. I enjoyed speaking at The Teens Breakfast Meeting organised by The Ambassadors Teens Network, at Redemption City, a.k.a Redemption Camp. Our conversation was on the topic: "Young Men As Saviours." The crux of my message was that it's not too early for the boys to become responsible and start adding value to the world. I encouraged the boys to: 📍Discover their purpose 📍Develop their gifts, and 📍Deploy their gifts to serve people, solve problems and bring succour to people. Beyond your professional endeavours, be intentional about giving back to the younger generation. That's one way to make the world a better place. How do you give back to the younger generation? Please share in the comments section.

"Kindness has the power to transform lives, and it starts with one simple act. Today, I’m reaching out to ask for your kindness to help children who need it most. At our orphanage, we care for fifty-five incredible children, and every day brings its challenges—especially when it comes to feeding and supporting them. But with your help, we can do more than just provide for their basic needs. We can offer them hope, education, and a future full of possibilities. No act of kindness is too small. Together, we can stand as a community, united by compassion, and make a lasting impact on these children’s lives. Let’s show the world what kindness can do. 💙 #KindnessInAction #SupportTheChildren #FromStreetToHome #MakeADifference"

Blessings friends! In my personal practice, I've been thinking a lot about gift awareness, and it's importance in community development. Gift awareness is the starting point of gift economics. It is a recognition of our indebtedness to others (fellow humans, animals, plants, cosmic forces). I wrote a letter to my readers on The Sufi Gardener and I would like to share it with you all. It is a call to cultivate gift awareness in all that we do: careers, crafts, vocations, volunteering, education, etc. You can read my letter here: https://lnkd.in/emTcwjJ9

New here and wondering what exactly IS a Community Foundation? Watch https://lnkd.in/exdDdAYT for a quick overview of how we help people just like you impact communities through giving!

Gratitude for Community When we actively appreciate our communities, we cultivate a deeper connection and promote a culture of kindness and collaboration. 1. Think About the Good Reflect on how your community has helped and supported you. 2. Say Thank You Show appreciation with kind words, notes, or small gestures. 3. Help Out Volunteer, assist a neighbor, or contribute to a local event. 4. Share Kindness Highlight good deeds or support local businesses with a compliment or review. 5. Get Involved Attend community events and stay connected with those around you.

Every gesture of kindness creates a ripple with no logical end. Imagine the waves we can create together. By supporting community empowerment, we’re not just helping one person; we’re uplifting entire communities. Let’s weave a tapestry of compassion and change, one thread at a time. #CommunityLove #EmpowerChange