Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Your Voice Matters: Reflecting on 2011 Listening Sessions

Sometimes the most meaningful and humbling human encounters we have with each other is when we pause and step away from the distractions of emails, smart phones and our “to do” list, to listen to the heartfelt concerns of others that can only be experienced in conversations together. In 2011, the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina hosted four Listening Sessions across the state with over 200 community members representing nearly 100 organizations participating. Each person present lent their unique voice and perspective to the challenges and opportunities families experiencing poverty currently face. 

In April, Foundation board and staff listened first-hand to more than 20 college students from Claflin University in Orangeburg, some of whom were first generation college students and participants in the federal TRIO program. These students shared some of the struggles they faced in completing high school, their dreams for their future, the importance of positive role models and the many steps of faith they took in order to pursue higher education. One young adult shared, “It’s not how much you have; it’s what you do with what you have.” We also met with committed community advocates and leaders working each day to address poverty in their community.

In celebration of Father’s Day, the Foundation partnered with the South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families, in June, to hear the perspectives of fathers from each of the six fatherhood programs throughout the state. Becoming a father was transformational, as one father expressed the sentiments of all the fathers in the room, “My kids inspire, uplift and motivate me to be a better man and father.” The fathers shared from their heart life circumstances before joining the fatherhood program, how they were able to move forward with the support of fatherhood program staff and the many ways hope has been rebirthed in their lives. 

 In July, Foundation representatives met with community service providers and homeless individuals and families to hear from those experiencing poverty and homelessness in Greenville. The Foundation heard multiple stories of the importance of treating all individuals with dignity and respect, as one individual shared, “There is more to me than my present circumstances.” All of the families desired to keep their family unit together, were working to overcome the multiple barriers faced in order to move ahead and relayed how having people who truly cared about their well-being made the biggest difference in their life. 

In October, Women Religious in South Carolina gathered for a Listening Session, as part of the Foundation’s Collaboration for Ministry Initiative, which assists and supports Sisters in their efforts to meet the needs of the poor and underserved members of society. The Sisters reflected upon their journeys, past and present, and the future dreams they hold for their ministries. One Sister emphasized, “Start with a dream and worry about the money later. God always gives you what you need.” Their stories illustrated the many ways they acted in faith, serving as bridge builders and anchors of faith to community members.

Given the high levels of poverty in South Carolina, there is a lot of work ahead for the Foundation to achieve its vision for all families in South Carolina to have the resources they need to live out of poverty. Throughout each Listening Sessions, we are reminded of the importance of continuing our work by listening to the voices individuals of directly impacted by the issues we care deeply about. They know what is most needed to support their journey. When we stop to listen, we often hear the answers to some of our most pressing challenges today. Let us continue to listen, their voices matter.

Read the full summary of the 2011 Listening Sessions.


Stephanie Cooper-Lewter is the senior director of research for the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Easter Greetings

The Lord is Risen.


May the glory of the Lord’s miracle
strengthen your faith
and renew your hope.
May you rejoice
in the triumph of the Lord,
and may your life be blessed
with His love
on Easter and always.



"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead," -1 Peter 1:3

Thursday, April 5, 2012

The Importance of Your Reputation

How important is an organization’s reputation in today’s competitive marketplace? It is not an exact science but it is incessantly important and there is no denying it. An organization’s reputation is everything. It is fundamental to every fabric of an organization’s ability to be successful. It is crucial to recruiting board members, raising money and delivering services; once your reputation is tainted, it is very hard to recover.

So the question becomes, “how do you protect your reputation?” Here are some key principles I believe are valuable and will give you something to reflect on.
  • Mission first. No matter what you do, always have the mission of the organization at the forefront of every decision. Ask yourself the question, “how does this affect the mission?”
  • Be transparent. You should be an open book and be willing to share information, including financial information freely
  • Communicate the good work you are doing. Other people will benefit from the knowledge of your work and gain a positive impression because of it.
  • Build strong ambassadors. You can’t do it alone. Whether it is a board member or other volunteers, your network will expand and your reputation will improve because others are also singing your praises to the community.
  • Listen to your clients. It helps fulfill your goals by incorporating certain expectations and suggestions that clients have of you. They are your most important stakeholders.
  • Learn from your mistakes. We all make them and we can all do a better job because we have learned a valuable lesson from them.
  • Be passionate. If you don’t show enthusiasm, how can anyone else get enthused?
  • Be honest and forthright. There is no better way to protect your reputation than truth and honesty.
  • Quality is essential. Whether it is a letter, a brochure, a presentation, a newsletter or something else, the quality must always be exemplary.
  • Look and act professional. People associate you with the organization you represent. How you look and what you say is paramount to your organization’s reputation.
  • Be respectful and patient. No matter how stressed and overwhelmed you are, take the time to engage others in conversations and discussions. Be open to dialogue and never be in too big of a hurry to talk or share.
Organizational success is harder to find today than ever before. There are a lot of reasons for today’s level of parody. It is our work environment, competition, economy and a saturated market that can significantly impact nonprofit organizations. A competitive advantage can be achieved by using some of these simple principles. Your reputation may be your greatest asset. You must protect it and nurture it. Not once in awhile, but every day. If you can do that, then it will add to your success and help bring others along to insure future successes. It may not be a check from a donor but it is just as important.


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