We closed out the 2017 Nonprofit Leaders Series in December with a presentation from Mark VanderKlipp of NorthSky Nonprofit Network. His workshop, “Better Stories by Design: Crafting Narratives that Stick,” focused on the different ways our own personal stories, and the stories or our organizations, can be used to educate, entertain or inspire others.
Here’s what Huron Pines Environmental Education Coordinator, Emily Vogelgesang, had to say about the experience.
Why do you think storytelling is important for an organization?
Organizations in our communities are so versatile and get so much great work done; it’s important that the broader community knows who these organizations are and what they’re doing. It’s a way to connect our work to people’s lives and create even greater impact.
What was your biggest takeaway from the workshop?
The frameworks that Mark provided were a completely new approach for me. The new perspective allowed me to put a story on paper that I’ve been trying to tell for a while.
If you had to pass on one piece of wisdom you learned what would it be?
Storytelling is a process and can be a powerful tool when thoughtfully put together.
Here are a few of Mark’s recommended storytelling resources:
- BOOK: How to Deliver a TED Talk: Secrets of the World’s Most Inspiring Presentations, Jeremey Donovan
- VIDEO: Andrew Stanton: The clues to a great story
- VIDEO: The magical science of storytelling | David JP Phillips | TEDxStockholm
- VIDEO: Elizabeth Lindsey at TEDWomen 2010:Curating humanity’s heritage
You can find Mark’s upcoming workshops on the NorthSky Nonprofit Network website.
We had a great year of Nonprofit Leaders Series workshops in 2017. Thank you to Otsego County Community Foundation for helping us bring strong nonprofit leadership and training resources to our community and thank you to everyone who took time out to attend our workshops. We’re looking forward another great Nonprofit Leaders Series in 2018.