This Is Not The End, But The Beginning

Working at Future for Kids has been a privilege and an honor. I went into this experience not fully sure how things were going to work. I had never worked for a nonprofit company or in a position that wasn’t sales, so I was a bit apprehensive as far as if I was going to be good enough for the company. I think one thing I am thankful for is the fact that I wasn’t fully sure what to expect, why you ask? Well I feel that because, I didn’t have any preconceived notions about Future for Kids, every time something happened I was in awe, I was excited and ready for anything. I feel that diving headfirst into the experience was something that gave me so much more, everything was an adventure. You know that saying, that ignorance is bliss? Well it only starts out as ignorance, but turns into a journey, when you having everything before you and all you know is that you are moving forward to a higher goal, everything can be an amazing and wonderful, you just have to look at it the right way. If you go into things like internships or even careers with all you weapons, strength, and knowledge in place, even if you fail it is still a learning experience that taught you a lesson you can use for years to come. I feel that as I am reaching the end of my time at Future for Kids I have found my groove here. I feel comfortable in the things I am doing and in the experience I have gained. Future for Kids didn’t just teach me about a business they taught me about community. When working in such a small company you have to have allies in every corner ready to help you when you need. Personal interactions are a huge part of being in the nonprofit community. Everyone is involved no matter how small the job, everyone stays in contact at all times, ready and prepared for changes and growth in the company. To me Future for Kids isn’t just a nonprofit company it is a family, a family that is there for each other and for the kids that we are striving for. Even working with the kids at our sites is a learning experience; it teaches you about compassion and shows you to have faith in what you do because it does matter. Those kids are the most amazing individuals, from day one they grabbed my heart and didn’t let go. I feel that the children we serve at our sites are the mortar that holds this company together, without them, what would we fight for. This has been such a rewarding experience, because in my heart and in my experience I know that the work I have done for the company has and will continue to be important. My work helped make a difference in these kids’ lives, and that is the most rewarding experience. My reason for being able to get up at 6:30am and come into work is because, it matters when I am there, it matters to the company, and it matters to the kids. We are a family that thrives off each other and helps propel each other forward. This experience has become such an important part of my life that I plan to continue to help with the company whenever I can, working with them on projects I have started during my time here. That way I can see the finished product and experience the feeling and the realization that I created something that is going to make a difference to a community. As my internship comes to an end so does our summer program for the kids, it pulls at my heart as I realize how much I am going to miss them. I am going to miss being a part of their lives and watching them as they build their confidence and hope. The one thing that makes it all ok is the realization that I was a part of a great experience for this sort time, that made an impact and a difference in the children’s live. I am not sure if nonprofit is the direction that I am heading, but I am so grateful for the lessons I have learned and the experience I have gained. This have been an amazing adventure that I will remember forever, I have faith that this experience will be an integral part of my future. Future for Kids has helped me grow and change giving me knowledge and strength in my abilities. I feel that this time at Future for Kids, more to the point the time at my internship site and knowledge I gain from being an intern period is something I think all college students should do and be a part of.

“A Spoon Full Of Sugar Helps The Medicine Go Down.” “Just Whistle While You Work.”

Improvement is something that everyone and everything needs it is the facts of life, no one is perfect, no matter what they say. But, everyone is unique, companies, people, and governments and sometimes the flaws work for them and don’t need to be changed. So here is how I would like to go about talking about improvements I think might help Future for Kids move smoother. One of the best things I learned from theater was how to give positive critiques, the best way to approach them is by stating the strengths first before stating things that might need improvement. Also we had to make sure our dialogue wasn’t self defeating, meaning when someone is giving you strengths and positive feedback and the but, or however is stated it takes away and nullifies all the good things you have said. So the best thing is to say and do is simple state now here are some areas I would like to see you work on. Now with that said and explained I am going to start by stating the things at Future for kids that are strengths and make them stand out from other nonprofit companies. Future for Kids may be a small company, but what they lack in size they make up for in passion. This company isn’t about the company it is about the kids we are working for, everyday there isn’t one decision that is made that isn’t concerned or question on how it will either positively or negatively affect the children. The Founder and the Executive Director put their hearts into every piece of work they do. Next, they are go getters nothing puts them down, they might get frustrated but, they never give up they are always striving to make the company better and more innovative. I called the Executive Director an energizer bunny and she got very worried thinking that was a bad thing. We had a good laugh and I explained to her that is was something amazing and something that made the company stand out; she is always one step ahead, ready for whatever comes at her and the company. For a company that consists of two to three people the feel and process of it is that of a bigger company. To me the way they come at things is a perfect way to handle a company. Now, on to a couple of things that I feel might help the company run a bit smooth and more efficient. First, I would like to state that these are minor things that I have noticed, but I feel they can be stronger; the bigger one I would like to talk about is communication within the office. Both the Founder and the Executive Director are strong communicators they are always in touch with board members and donors. With there only being two people it is hard sometimes to keep track of all the things each one of them takes care of. I think that maybe there should be once weekly meeting to give a low down of past, present, and future happenings of the company. This I feel would be beneficial because, sometime they get their wires crossed and think, he is doing that and she is doing this, when in fact he is doing this and she is doing that. See what I am getting at? They understand what is going on, but sometimes they get confused on the who and how. They in no means are major problem just some cross wiring that I feel with tighter communication can be handled and fixed with no problem. The next is one that plays along with the last, for me is organization. Again with such a small company things can get mixed up, I feel that a better filing and data control will help with that. Like with the last suggestion I feel that the weekly meetings can help greatly with this endeavor as well, it is a way to keep track of everything. You know that old saying, “a place for everything and everything in its place,” that is just a little hard to do at the office sometimes, partially sometimes because of communication. There are assumptions made sometimes between those in the office, things like people should just know that this is this or that is there, but it isn’t always that obvious. Now so both things are easily workable and one can help change the other. Meaning with tighter communication skills, being more organized will fall into place and with stronger organization, there can be better communication. So they are not problems or failures they are just areas that need some fine tuning, which as I said no one is perfect and everyone has ways they need to grow and change. Things are simple depending on how you look at it. You can make things seem horrible and impossible or you can see them as an opportunity for growth. It’s like saying the glass is half empty or half full, it is all in how you choose to look at it and approach it. So if you are going to do something go for gold, I have fallen in love with a quote that fit that idea and mind set, “There are many To-morrows, my Love, my Love, -There is only one To-day,” by Joaquin Miller. Life is what you make of it you just have realize that it’s not perfect and everything is subject to change, so go with the flow, everyone has something they have to work on.

Talking with Mrs. Madonna Bistany Executive Director at Future for Kids.

After I was able to shadow Mrs. Madonna Bistany Executive Director for Future for Kids and had a chance to discuss the day to day workings of her job, she was gracious enough to sit down with me again and talk about the why, who, what, and where of her life and job with future for kids. One of the major things that she told that I would like to share with everyone before jumping into the interview is, she adamantly declared that to be successful in not only life, but in your career you have to “Love what you do! Be passionate about it every moment,” to me that was something that was very moving and quit refreshing. When I think about my life and my future and the lives of others I always think that you have to have joy and passion in your life or what is the point of being here? As I grew up I watched my dad just go through the motions of his job there was no spirit in it. He went day to day doing a job he didn’t enjoy, than came home feeling so physically and mentally exhausted that he couldn’t even move some days. Why if we spend all the time we do learning about something, do we spend the rest of our lives miserable? It can’t be how life is, I want to go to work and feel inspired, and in the case of Mrs. Bistany that is exactly how she feels every day. Now after my little ramble let’s move on to the interview.

Rachel:
What types of challenges do you face?

Mrs. Bistany:
Keeping things fresh in the nonprofit area is the biggest struggle. To keep your company growing and thriving you always have to be thinking about bigger and better things that can draw in donors and volunteers. Also you have to keep everyone from the board members to the community engaged and focused on the plan that is best for the company. Also you always have to expect problems you can prepare for them, but sometimes you just have to face them as they come.

Rachel:
How you deal with deadlines?

Mrs. Bistany:
I am always trying to be down before the deadlines. I don’t like to have the last minute worries and rush. My motto is always better to be done early than late. The ability to be done early let you have more time for last minute problems that may arise. Also you have chance to make changes without feeling stressed or over whelmed.

Rachel:
What about your position do you like most?

Mrs. Bistany:
My favorite thing about this job and company is you have the ability to have it be what you make of it. The more work and passion you put into it the better and stronger it becomes. To me this job is so personally fulfilling and rewarding, you walk away knowing that you have helped make a difference in the children’s lives. You have put forth all your power and strength to create a well oiled machine that has the ability to change lives. And getting a chance to see the kids and how much they enjoy our programs is heartwarming and breathe taking.

Rachel:
What do you think you can do to help make things work smoother in the company?

Mrs. Bistany:
The ability to grow the company to appoint where we will have a full time staff is going to be an essential part of providing a greater opportunity to have smooth functioning company. It is hard to have to change interns and volunteers every semester, having to train and retrain people can be hard and be draining. To have interns is a blessing, but the ability to have a person constantly help and growing in their knowledge of the company is a very wonderful asset for a company.

Rachel:
What are your feelings about working with others?

Mrs. Bistany:
Team work is huge and integral part of nonprofit work being connect to everyone and the community is the way we can find support to help our company thrive. This is my favorite part of the job getting a chance to work with everyone and be a part of every aspect of the company. I love getting to work with our interns and show them how the world of nonprofit works, the ability to know that you have given them knowledge and passion for the nonprofit community is a wonderful and inspiring part of my job.

Rachel:
Do you find you enjoy working on group projects?

Mrs. Bistany:
The best work in my opinion is the work that comes from a team project. I love working on group projects you have so many ideas and available resources. The big part of being an executive director is have the final say in most if not all of the projects. So you have to work with everyone keeping up to date on the projects and making sure you understand the best way to achieve the goals of the company are.

Rachel:
What would you consider your ideal work environment?

Mrs. Bistany:
My ideal work environment is very much the environment we are in now. Having a small office with people enjoy what they do and are passionate about creating the best company we can, create good energy and that helps drive the company as a whole. I loved the individualities that comes together to create a larger being willing to go the extra mile for the company and the children is a wonderful thing to be a part of.

Rachel:
Is there anyone in a similar position that you look up to and respect?

Mrs. Bistany:
A lot of my friends are Executive Directors from other charities. We have an amazing opportunity to pull ideas and resources together to help one another grow and become more knowledgeable on growing events in the community. The ability to watch other people in your field is the greatest learning experience you can compare similarities and differences gauging which works best for you and your company. To surround yourself with people in your field that you have respect for helps you grow and reinforce your ideals.

Shadowing My Mentor. Life in an Executive Director's Shoes

I was grateful that I was able to shadow my supervisor Future for Kids Executive Director Mrs. Madonna Bistany. One thing I notice about the office is that everyone is always going and going just like the Energizer Bunny. Being a small company that consists mainly of the Founder Rod Smith and the Executive Director Madonna, with two part-time employees, and finally the ever faithful Interns ;) there is always something to be done and everyone has to step up and take charge especially Mrs. Bistany and Mr. Smith. So that being said it was mildly difficult to follow Mrs. Bistany through all of her daily duties. So I watched an observed but, I also took the time to engage her and ask her questions. So first, here is the day that I got to see, Mrs. Bistany arrived at the office at 8:45am hands full and already on a business call. After a very impressive juggling act, which consisted of trying to talk on the phone, open the door, and balancing her laptop, purse and coffee, I tried asking if she needed help but, she was all set and the door was open. First thing in the office she was finishing the first business call, logging on to her business files and email, responding to the most important emails, and then heading straight into another important call. Mrs. Bistany was going a mile a minute making sure that everything was in place before her upcoming meetings that day. Thankfully I had a chance to sit down and talk to her before the first meeting of the day. Realizing that there was more than meets the eye with Mr. Bistany and her job as Executive Director, I wanted to dig deeper and see what happens at the meetings and to my astonishment what work she continues to do at home. Mrs. Bistany was kind enough to give me the low down of a day in the life of an Executive Director. She informed me that her day starts even before she reaches the office, Mrs. Bistany straight after waking up in the morning logs into her emails checking for important updates, concerns, and question that need to be address directly. Then Mrs. Bistany double checks her calendar for the day making sure everything is set for the day and makes any last minutes changes that have come up. Still before even reaching the office she has to run important errands for the company. Mrs. Bistany continues to tell me that what I witnessed that morning was and is the regular occurrence for her, having to run around and juggling for the day’s events. She told me that the most important thing she needs to accomplish everyday is keeping in constant contact with everyone. She and Mr. Smith have daily meeting so as to keep track of the present and upcoming events, problems, and needs of the company and those involved with it. Mrs. Bistany has to keep in constant contact with Board Members currently on staff as well as those looking to become Board Members, she states that she is employed by the Board Members but, she is also has the final say in all decisions made by them about the company and its funding. Laughing Mrs. Bistany states that every day she has to be on her toes ready for anything and everything thrown her way, she states that the ability to multi-task is a very important skill that all Executive Directors need in their bag of tricks that helps keep the company growing and thriving. After having the chance to talk with Mrs. Bistany, she was right back in Energizer Bunny mode, she had another phone call and a last minute program meeting, before having to head off to her largest meeting of the day with a person possibly interested in making a donation to the company. Mrs. Bistany is always moving always going, ready for the next big project to be thrown her way. Long after I have left for the day you will still find Mrs. Bistany working hard and doing everything she can for the company she loves very deeply. Watching her made me realize that she isn’t just doing her job because it is required but, because she enjoys every moment. Even when times are hard she realizes that there is the bigger purpose that is designated for the children our company aims to serves and that is the greatest fulfillment to her. Her job isn’t just a duty it is an act that she does from not only her mind but, her heart as well.