Wrapping a circle of care around Winnipeggers not only means helping people who rely on a strong social safety net, but also supporting those who hold up that net—the people helping people—as well.
That’s why United Way Winnipeg’s Learning Centre creates opportunities throughout the year for staff and volunteers from nonprofit organizations to connect, collaborate, and learn how to be even more effective in the essential work they do for our community.
“We take it very personally, our jobs,” said Haven Stumpf, Executive Director of Urban Circle Training Centre, who has attended a number of Learning Centre sessions over the years. “When you hear others with the same struggles, you’re thinking, ‘It’s not just me.’ It’s really important to hear that from other people.
“United Way Winnipeg is on the right track by having these workshops.”
Every year, the Learning Centre hosts a selection of facilitated workshops and seminars on a variety of topics, like board governance, human resources, government relations, and financial response development. United Way Winnipeg partners with subject matter experts in the field, who share timely, relevant knowledge on key nonprofit management practices.
The sessions are open for staff from any local not-for-profit organization to attend and are not limited to United Way Winnipeg’s network of agency partners. Learning Centre courses are offered at affordable rates.
“Nonprofit agencies are resourceful, efficient, and effective at creating positive and lasting change in the lives of individuals and families. This is only possible thanks to the talented staff and dedicated volunteers who work within challenging circumstances, pressing timelines, and extremely tight budgets,” said Jason Granger, Vice-President of Community Investment & Capacity Building. “We are grateful to coordinate these low-cost, quality learning opportunities, which are designed to build up the strength of the sector.”
"We are grateful to coordinate these low-cost, quality learning opportunities, which are designed to build up the strength of the sector.”
Facilitator Karine Lavasseur—an associate professor in the Political Studies department at University of Manitoba—has been guiding nonprofits to a deeper understanding of government relationships through her Learning Centre course for more than a decade.
She said it’s mutually beneficial for government and agency staff to speak a similar language when working toward solutions for such complex issues as homelessness, poverty, and hunger.
“It’s the volunteer sector that has a lot of expertise and insight: What is the exact nature of the problem? What solutions have worked in the past (or) not worked? What are their needs? Yet, sometimes that expertise and those insights aren’t always reflected and considered in public policy making,” said Lavasseur. “We want to build resources and skills within the volunteer sector to influence and co-create public policy.”
Andrea Rounce, who teaches with Lavasseur, said the professional development classes go beyond book learning and extend into brainstorming, idea sharing, and innovation. Attendees will take new knowledge back to their organizations so the whole staff can benefit from the workshops—not just the ones in the room.
“These kinds of sessions provide people with an opportunity to sit back and think about the work they’re doing . . . to think about how they might do some of their work differently,” she said. “They can take these ideas back and share with others. So they’re not just developing themselves—they’re sharing that knowledge.”
For Stumpf, she said she appreciates being able to learn along with her peers about current challenges in the city, and in the sector. Exploring new knowledge together is not only educational, but invaluable for her professional—and personal—well-being.
“There are just so many changes out there that I feel that I need to be current and be updated and to hear from others … some of their knowledge, whether that be ups or downs, negative or positive,” she said. “Hearing about all the good things and how (others) were able to maneuver around the struggles and achieve their goals . . . I think it’s critical.”
Want to learn more about upcoming Learning Centre workshops and sessions for you and your staff?
Reach out to Tamara Ingrilli at tingrilli@unitedwaywinnipeg.ca.
