Showing posts with label non-profit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label non-profit. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Professional Resume'




Skills & Abilities


• intensive training in servant-leadership and flat leadership techniques
• professional visual artist, photographer, and artistic/design consultant
• accredited career development, art, English and MS software instructor
• interactive work with special needs groups including homeless populations,
at-risk students, abused children, (ex-)offenders, adult students, and underserved populations
• extensive grant-writing/evaluation/research/management experience
• 20+ years of volunteer management, public service, project creation and management
• excellent communication/public speaking skills
• experience in all aspects of non-profit administration and operation, and board service and development
• professional experience in economic development, membership management, and governmental/political/community activism

Experience



Director - Works In Progress Louisiana
Shreveport, LA

May 2014 - present
Responsible for all functions of nonprofit agency which provides business development workshops/project funding grants to creative professionals in 26 North Louisiana parishes

Nonprofit Consultant
Northwest Louisiana

June 2011 - present
Research, write and manage grants and databases for various nonprofit clients and creative professionals; use Constant Contact, SAGE, Excel, Access, ServicePoint, WIX and other MS/web-based/database programs; train grant writing and database personnel; assist nonprofit organizations with 501(c)3 applications, Articles of Incorporation, bylaws, board selection, etc.; acquired $500,000.00+ in grant funding from various sources including the State of Louisiana DHH/OPH, Beaird Foundation, Caddo Parish Commission, Blue Cross/Blue Shield Foundation of Louisiana, Gamma Mu Foundation, Grayson Foundation, R.Q. Terrell Charitable Trust, Caesars Foundation, MAC AIDS Foundation, Elton John AIDS Foundation, U.S. Office of Personnel Management Combined Federal Campaign (OPM CFC), Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundations, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, et al

Director of Serving Ministries - First United Methodist Church
Shreveport, LA

June 2005 – October 2010
Responsible for leading a large mission ministry that created/implemented community outreach programs including ex-offender services, homeless outreach, and prison ministry/education programs; assisted people in need of various types of emergency assistance; managed FUMC Community Grants Program, community volunteer education and training, and internship program; significantly increased church’s local missions budget; hosted annual outreach events for people in need, e.g.: Christmas Love Feast, Operation Stand Down;  served as liaison between church and community non-profits/agencies, and represented the church at local/national mission-related events; presented educational seminars about serving/outreach to various civic/religious/non-profit groups, and published numerous articles re: community outreach and social justice concerns

President - West Edge Artists’ Co-op
Shreveport, LA

June 2005 – October 2010
Founded, organized, and managed a regional nonprofit arts organization; directed operations at art gallery in downtown arts district, worked with film industry to provide services for set designers and artistic directors; curated art exhibits at local businesses; consulted/collaborated with other arts agencies on local/state level

Instructor - Career Technical College
Shreveport, LA

June 2004 - July 2005
Taught Computer Education, Career Development, English and Composition/Writing; coordinated with staff & management re: lesson plans, teaching goals, and other aspects of proprietary college; reported grades, student progress and provided student advancement recommendations; consulted students on specific academic/career goals

Art Instructor - Shreveport Regional Arts Council
Shreveport, LA

August 2003 - January 2005
Taught comprehensive art lessons to elementary public school students; responsible for reporting detailed data to Shreveport Regional Arts Council for state/federal grants

Database Administrator - Volunteers for Youth Justice/CASA
Shreveport, LA

October 2001 - October 2003
Implemented/maintained new database for CASA program; instructed case management staff in use of database; interviewed and screened new volunteer case managers; wrote grants for various VYJ programs; hosted events for donors/board members, and assisted with collecting donations for high-risk foster children; consulted with administration on new/existing program development; created arts-based juvenile diversion program; worked with adjudicated children in the anger-management program

Education



Centenary College – B.A., Art and Visual culture - 2004
Louisiana Tech University – 1988 - 1990

Community
Service


·         Former Commissioner - Shreveport Mayor’s Women’s Commission (2015)
·         Member – National Association of Professional Women
·         President – N.O.W. Shreveport/Bossier (2013 – 2015)
·         Former Board Member - Meadows Museum of Art at Centenary College
·         Advisory Board Member – Highland Cultural District
·         Founding Board Member - Noel UMC Community Arts Program
·         Former Commissioner – Louisiana Governor’s Women’s Commission (2005)
·         Contributing Writer – HenryHarbor.com, ForwardNow.com, et al
·         Juror/Curator/Critic – Shreveport Art Club, Bossier Arts Council, et al
·         Louisiana Civil Law Notary (1998)
·         Contributor – Louisiana Coalition for Reproductive Freedom, Forum for Equality Louisiana, various political campaigns
·         Community Supporter/Organizer - Shreveport Opera, Baylor University Kappa Omega Tau Fraternity, Meadows Museum of Art, Philadelphia Center HIV/AIDS Resource Center, MLK Health Center, Holy Angels Residential Facility, ACLU,  Shreveport House Concert Series, Renzi Education and Arts Center, Montessori School of Shreveport, YWCA, Volunteers of America, Multicultural Center of the South, ACS Gender Studies Conference, Northwest Louisiana Art Gallery, Betty and Leonard Phillips Deaf Action Center, Community Renewal International

Sunday, October 7, 2012

The 10 Most Dangerous Religious Right Organizations

Source: Church & State Magazine / By Simon Brown
October 2, 2012
Links added by DBE
 
 
The movement known as the Religious Right is the number-one threat to church-state separation in America. This collection of organizations is well funded and well organized; it uses its massive annual revenue and grassroots troops to undermine the wall of separation in communities nationwide.
 
Americans United staff members have carefully researched this movement, and here are the 10 Religious Right groups that pose the greatest challenges to church-state separation.
 
Most of these organizations are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the tax code, but the financial data includes some affiliated 501(c)(4) lobbying organizations operating alongside the main organizations. The figures come from official IRS filings or other reliable sources.

1. Jerry Falwell Ministries/ ­Liberty University/Liberty Counsel

Revenue: $522,784,095

Although Jerry Falwell, a Religious Right icon and founder of the Moral Majority, died in 2007, his empire is going strong thanks mostly to Liberty University, a Lynchburg, Va., school now run by his son, Jerry Falwell Jr. Following in his father’s footsteps, Falwell Jr. regularly meddles in partisan politics – from local contests to presidential races. This year, he invited Republican White House hopeful Mitt Romney to give Liberty’s commencement address, introducing him as “the next president of the United States.” A second Falwell son, Jonathan, is pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church, a mega-church in Lynchburg. Liberty Counsel is a Religious Right legal outfit founded by Mat Staver that is now based at Liberty University, where it launches lawsuits undermining church-state separation and encourages pastors to get involved in partisan political activity.

2. Pat Robertson Empire

Revenue: $434,971,231

Known for his years of involvement in far-right politics, TV preacher Pat Robertson has forged a vast Religious Right empire anchored by the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN). Robertson also runs Regent University and  a right-wing legal group, the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ). (Attorney Jay Sekulow heads ACLJ, as well as his own quasi-independent legal outfit, Christian Advocates Serving Evangelism.) CBN, which brings in the bulk of Robertson’s revenue, broadcasts far-right religious and political invective laced with attacks on church-state separation, a concept Robertson has called a “myth” and a “lie of the left.” His “700 Club” TV program is a powerful forum for the promotion of right-wing ideology and favored politicians. Robertson has been welcomed into the halls of government. The current governor of Virginia, Bob McDonnell, is a Regent U. graduate.

3. Focus on the Family (includes its 501(c)(4) political affiliate CitizenLink)

Revenue: $104,463,950

Fundamentalist Christian James Dobson founded Focus on the Family to offer “biblical” solutions to family problems. Dobson, a child psychologist by training, soon branched out into the dissemination of hardcore right-wing politics with an international reach. Dobson has been a major player in the halls of power in Washington, D.C., and Focus-aligned “family policy councils” pressure lawmakers and influence legislation in 36 states. In fact, the Colorado-based organization frequently plays a key role in fighting gay rights and restricting abortion at the state level. Jim Daly is now president of Focus; Dobson left the organization in 2010 but remains active on the political scene.
  
4. Alliance Defending Freedom (formerly Alliance Defense Fund)

Revenue: $35,145,644 

The ADF may have changed its name, but it still promotes a familiar Religious Right agenda. The Arizona-based organization, which was founded by far-right TV and radio preachers, attacks church-state separation, blasts gay rights, assails reproductive freedom and seeks to saturate the public schools with its narrow version of fundamentalism. In recent years, the ADF, headed by Ed Meese acolyte Alan Sears, has worked aggressively to overturn a federal law that bars tax-exempt churches and other nonprofits from intervening in partisan elections. The group says church-state separation is not in the Constitution and calls the church-state wall “fictitious.”

5. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Lobbying Expenditures: $26,662,111 

The USCCB for years has lobbied in Washington, D.C., to make the hierarchy’s ultra-conservative stands on reproductive rights, marriage, school vouchers and other public policies the law for all to follow. This year, the USCCB escalated its efforts in the “culture war” arena, forming the Ad Hoc Committee on Religious Liberty. Led by Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori, the committee seeks to reduce Americans’ access to birth control, block efforts to expand marriage equality and ensure federal funding of church-affiliated social services, even if the services fail to meet government requirements. American Catholics often disagree with the hierarchy’s stance on social issues, but the bishops’ clout in Washington, D.C., and the state legisla­tures is undeniable.

6. American Family Association

Revenue: $17,955,438

Founded by the Rev. Donald Wildmon, the Tupelo, Miss.-based AFA once focused on battling “indecent” television shows. When that failed, the group branched out to advocate for standard Religious Right issues such as opposing gay rights, promoting religion in public schools and banning abortion. In recent years, AFA staffer Bryan Fischer has become notorious for making inflammatory statements. Fischer has asserted that Adolf Hitler invented church-state separation and has proposed kidnapping children being raised by same-sex couples. The AFA, designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, frequently announces boycotts of companies that don’t give in to its demands. The organization says it operates nearly 200 radio stations nationwide.

7. Family Research Council

Revenue: $14,840,036 (includes 501­(c)(4) affiliate FRC Action)

This group, an offshoot of Focus on the Family, is headed by GOP operative and ex-Louisiana legislator Tony Perkins. It is now the leading Religious Right organization in Washington. Every year, FRC Action sponsors a “Values Voter Summit” to promote far-right politicians and rally Religious Right forces nationwide. The 2012 edition hosted many top Republican politicians and drew about 2,000 attendees. The organization frequently assails public education, political progressives, reproductive justice and the church-state wall and seeks to form a far-right coalition with the Tea Party. FRC is also known to engage in harsh gay bashing and has been designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

8. Concerned Women for America

Revenue: $10,352,628 (includes 501­(c)­(4) affiliate CWA Legislative Action Committee)

Founded to counter feminism, Con­cerned Women for America (CWA) claims to be “the nation’s largest public policy women’s organization.” Its mission is to “bring Biblical principles into all levels of public policy.” CWA was organized by Tim and Beverly LaHaye in 1979 to oppose the Equal Rights Amendment, and when that issue faded, it moved on to other Religious Right agenda items. The group attacks public schools for allegedly promoting “secular humanism” and supports the teaching of creationism in science classes. It also vehemently opposes abortion and gay rights.

9. Faith & Freedom Coalition

Revenue: $5,494,640

This 501(c)(4) advocacy group was founded by former Christian Coalition executive director Ralph Reed. He formed the organization after his run for lieutenant governor in Georgia was derailed because of his ties to disgraced casino lobbyist Jack Abramoff. In just three years of operation it already boasts more than 500,000 members and claims affiliates in 30 states. Reed is infamous for exaggerating his organizations’ clout, but his latest group is certainly making political waves. In 2012, it hosted forums for GOP presidential hopefuls in four states. Faith & Freedom Coalition claims to have budgeted $10 million in 2012 to lure conservative religious voters to the polls.

10. Council for National Policy

Revenue: $1,976,747

The Council for National Policy exists to do just one thing: organize meetings of right-wing operatives, Religious Right leaders and wealthy business interests at posh hotels around the country to share ideas, plot strategy and vet GOP presidential candidates. Membership is by invitation only, and the group seeks no media attention. Despite its small size and shadowy operations, the CNP – founded by Religious Right godfather Tim LaHaye – wields a great deal of influence, showing that even organizations with modest budgets can have a significant impact. U.S. Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.), after his now-infamous “legitimate rape” comment, showed up at the next CNP meeting to ensure ongoing financial support as he runs for the U.S. Senate. Heritage Foundation Vice President Becky Norton Dunlop currently serves as CNP president, with Phyllis Schlafly and FRC’s Tony Perkins also taking leadership roles.