332. It's Time to Prioritize Mental Health in the Nonprofit Sector - Nneka Allen, Eleanor Wells, Aila Malik, and Jean Pierre-Louis

Mental Health Week

Oct 7

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This episode is part of our Mental Health Week series. Explore all the episodes, find resources + more at weareforgood.com/mentalhealth.

Overview

We're warming up for Mental Health Week next week, and we wanted to set the tone with a powerful mental health conversation we powered at the Virtuous Summit. Join Nneka Allen, Eleanor Wells, Aila Malik and Jean Pierre-Louis for a robust discussion about Why it’s time to Prioritize Mental Health & Well-Being in the Nonprofit Sector. You’re not alone. Join us in community and feel seen, inspired and ready to take steps toward healing on Friday's podcast episode moderated by Jon and Becky. Tune in ✌️

Today’s Guest Panelists

Nneka Allen, Principal + Founder, The Empathy Agency

Eleanor Wells, Co-Founder, Cohort4Care

Aila Malik, Founder and CEO, Venture Leadership Consulting

Jean Pierre-Louis, Founder, President + CEO, capracare

“We can’t do it alone. We have to have each other. We were built for community.”

— Eleanor Wells, Co-Founder, Cohort4Care

Episode Transcript

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Episode Highlights

Introducing the panelists (1:00)

Compassion fatigue and burnout in the nonprofit sector (3:35)
Importance of leaders celebrating wins (8:40)
Racism is a mental health issue (12:25)
Need for space to grieve (25:15)
Prioritizing mental health as a nonprofit leader
Letting team members take care of themselves, but also respond to crises (40:45)
Power of community and healing (45:25)

Powerful quotes

“We need to grieve as a community, we need to bind together and work together to get through this. This is not a one step one person process.” -Eleanor
”In order to get to grieve, we have to tell the truth. “ -Nneka

“I think that grieving though human condition and such a release. It’s, in a sense, a luxury. It's, in a sense, a privilege sometimes, because when you are in the midst of survival, it's difficult to make space for grief to then have the energy to continue to thrive and survive.” -Aila

“Hope is an incredible superpower for wellness and for resilience.” -Aila

“You cannot begin to heal until you feel safe. And so for all of you who are listening right now and tuning in, my question to you is how are you making your organization safe?” -Becky

“We need to become people focused. Not just the people we serve, but also the people who help us serve those people.” -Nneka

“We have to make time for play. During this traumatic time you cannot be all about the work and forget that we are still human beings. What is it that you do that you enjoy? Is it some good food? Let's have some good food. Some music? Let's have some music.” -Jean

“We can't do it alone. We have to have each other. We were built for community.” -Eleanor