Empowering Communities: Building Sustainable Change with A-Nya Badger | Nonprofit411 Podcast

Sarah Barton hosts A-Nya Badger, Community Democracy Coordinator at Fairshake Environmental Legal Services, to explore the power of community-driven nonprofit initiatives. A-Nya shares her experiences in fostering equitable change, emphasizing the importance of centering community voices, building genuine relationships, and creating sustainable projects. She provides practical insights for nonprofits on how to align their goals with the needs of the communities they serve while ensuring long-term impact and resilience.

Key Takeaways

• Community-centered approaches are crucial for sustainable change. Listening to and following the lead of community members ensures projects address their true priorities.
• Building trust and fostering genuine relationships with communities is essential to avoid being perceived as an outsider imposing solutions.
• Sustainability requires planning for long-term impact, such as skill-building and creating enduring funding sources, rather than relying on short-term grants.
• Reciprocity strengthens partnerships—nonprofits should find ways to give back to the community partners and stakeholders supporting their initiatives.
• Strong administrative foundations are vital to ensure nonprofits stay organized and compliant, enabling them to focus on impactful work.

Resources

• Fairshake Environmental Legal Services: fairshake-els.org
• A-Nya Badger: abadger@fairshake-els.org
• Grant Writing Proposal Guide: nonprofit411.info/grantproposal

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