In the Business of Transformation

“Many managers and executives are voicing their fears that the talent they have is not the talent they need,” states Jean B. Leslie, manager of product development research at the Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro, N.C. “Businesses, government agencies, nonprofits and educational organizations need leaders who can effectively navigate complex, changing situations and get the job done. The questions that need to be asked at the organizational level are: who do we have, what do they need to do and are they equipped to do it?”  The Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina has taken on the task of answering these questions.

Current leadership skill gaps, as well as fears of gaps for the future, present opportunities and creative space to examine positive leadership and the processes by which strong, authentic and highly-skilled leaders are developed. It is critical that a new generation of positive leaders is prepared to lead in the 21st century and beyond. To facilitate this, we must provide leaders with the knowledge and skills needed to fill the leadership gaps for current leaders and to diminish fears regarding what emerging leaders are able to offer for the future.

 In the fall of 2010, a partnership with the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina’s Carolina Academy for Nonprofits and Columbia College was formed. As a result of the partnership, a graduate level Nonprofit Leadership Training Certificate program was developed and implemented. Following the inaugural year of the certificate program, a Nonprofit Leadership Development Program was created. Both leadership programs were designed for nonprofit leaders who were recognized as having great potential and who were ready to enhance their knowledge, skills and framework to lead nonprofit organizations in an ever-changing and diverse society.

Now after three cohorts of leadership certificate graduates and one cohort of leadership development graduates, The Foundation’s Carolina Academy for Nonprofits has become a leader in courageously charting a course of leadership education for nonprofit organizations in South Carolina. To date, 30 nonprofit leaders have emerged with greater knowledge, more confidence and increased capacity to lead in his/her organization. One graduate stated,

My experience as an Academy student has equipped me with an array of information, tools, and knowledge. I have gained a deepened understanding of, and appreciation for, interacting with agency stakeholders including co-workers, staff, administrators/board members, funders and other external partners. Establishing a set of best practices that can be used to improve agency processes has supported my goal of enhancing project design, implementation and partnerships. Most importantly, my Academy participation helped me to find my voice, and valuing the significance it brings. As a result, my passion has been reignited to improve the lives of my constituency.

As we begin our 2012-2013 cohorts of students, we do so with a certainty that we are doing our part to continue to answer the questions, “who do we have, what do they need to do and are they equipped to do it?” We are in the business of transformation and we are doing it one leader at a time.

Katrina Spigner is the senior program officer at the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina

Feast of St. Augustine

Today, August 28, is the Feast Day of St. Augustine, Bishop of Hippo in North Africa and one of the doctors of the Church. St. Augustine overcame strong heresies, practiced great poverty and supported the poor, preached very often and prayed with great fervor.

In 1851 four Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine (CSA) Sisters embarked on a two week voyage from France to Cleveland, Ohio. This began 156 years of service by hundreds of dynamic religious women responding to unmet needs of people in Ohio and South Carolina. Long before the American workplace widely accepted women in professional roles, these Sisters were directing major health care institutions, teaching in schools and developing new programs to provide needed human services. The first CSAs in America served as the first public health nurses in Cleveland, Ohio. Led by a mission to continue Christ’s healing ministry, the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine have built a legacy of caring that continues today.

The health and human service ministries of the CSA Congregation are now overseen by the Sisters of Charity Health System. The Health System embodies the values and philosophy of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine and their mission to continue the healing ministry of Jesus Christ. The Health System provides oversight, leadership and strategic direction to more than 20 ministries in Ohio and South Carolina. In South Carolina there are five ministries: Providence Hospital, Providence Hospital Northeast, South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families, Healthy Learners and Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina.

The Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina continues the mission of the Sisters by strategically using resources to reduce poverty through action, advocacy and leadership.

St. Augustine's Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy. Amen.

In Catholicism,  Feast Days, or Holy Days, are days which are celebrated in commemoration of the sacred events recorded in the history of our redemption, in memory of the Virgin Mother of Christ, or of His apostles, martyrs and saints, by special services and rest from work.  Catholic saints are holy people and human people who lived extraordinary lives. Each saint the Church honors responded to God's invitation to use his or her unique gifts. God calls each one of us to be a saint. 


(This was post originally appeared on the Foundation's blog in August 2010.)

Looking at Poverty Differently

One often wonders about how to best serve the poor and marginalized in our communities. We wonder whether we are maximizing our resources to have lasting results. Recently, I met “Toxic Charity” author Robert Lupton at a meeting in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Lupton shed tremendous light on some of the concerns around serving the poor.  

At the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina, we recognize a distinct separation between generational poverty and situational poverty, and how we address them both. We view generational poverty as chronic, with many variables that have caused a person to live in poverty, including family structure, community structure, educational attainment, access to health care, life skills, culture, value and attitudes. We view situational poverty as crisis poverty. A person is without food, clothing or shelter or in need of medical attention now but has no health insurance coverage.  These two distinctions are very apparent and both are worthy of the Foundation’s attention and resources. In the Foundation’s case, more than 85% of our grant funding goes to addressing generational poverty. We feel we have greater impact in South Carolina addressing generational poverty, but we also realize that situational and crisis poverty exists and needs support.

Lupton explained the dilemma faced with providing services through our government, churches and nonprofit organizations. Lupton believes, and I agree, that we often apply crisis tactics to chronic problems, even when the situation is clearly persistent. Applying crisis intervention to a chronic issue can be harmful to a person or a family and it fosters dependency, which perpetuates poverty. This is why people who are poor remain poor.

The question becomes “what can we do differently?” Lupton feels the most important factor missing in most service programs for the poor is that the recipient has no “skin in the game.” You give them something the first time and they appreciate it. You give them something a second time and they anticipate it. You give them something a third time and they expect it. You give it a fourth time and they depend on it. If you really look closely at a person in poverty, odds are that they would much rather be a partner or participant than a charity case.  That is why free clothes closets are not good but thrift stores work. That is why free food banks foster dependency but inexpensive food co-ops allow the person to become a customer.

A lot of organizations are trying very hard to do the right thing for others. This is in no way to criticize the good intentions that organizations have or the work that they do. This is about looking at those we want to help, differently. This is about respecting the client and building their ability to be self sufficient. As Lupton said, “We never do for someone else what they are capable of doing for themselves.”

Communities and organizations dealing with issues around poverty must be willing to shift. The United States gives away more food, money and services than any other country in the world. But rather than just giving it away, can we find new ways to partner or help individuals become more independent? If so, they will become respected and confident consumers with a greater sense of self worth. It will also create an environment where individuals are no longer viewed as “charity” and where chronic issues are addressed more strategically and more collegially.

These kinds of changes will have a positive impact on the entire community. I invite you to read Lupton’s book, “Toxic Charity: HowChurches and Charities Hurt Those They Help (And How to Reverse It).” It will change the way you look at those you are trying to help. It sure makes sense to me. 

Tom Keith is the president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina

Note: Learn how one Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina grantee puts Lupton's thoughts into practice. Reverend Bill Stanfield, co-founder and chief executive officer of the Metanoia Community Development Corporation of North Charleston, shared a first-hand example of how to build a strong community using the strengths of the community rather than the deficiencies.