Asides

January 18, 2021

Dear Friends,
Today as we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. we are reminded of his words – “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

MWNN is proud to join in collaboration with Leadership MetroWest as we begin a series of virtual conversations that will create opportunities for dialogue about the things that matter and how we move from words to action.
This series of facilitated candid conversations will create a space for you to:

• recognize why engaging in dialogue is valuable, even if difficult
• reflect on where you are in your personal antiracism journey
• share and hear differing perspectives and experiences
• build and clarify a shared language for discussions
• answer the question…”What can I do?”

 Programs in the series will help you:

• comprehend the history of racism and process traumatic current events
• assess where your organization is in identifying and addressing racism
• challenge assumptions and call out bias
• engage in being an effective ally and advocate for equity and justice    
• initiate actions to propel good intentions to meaningful impact  

These conversations are all in the context of “what can we do?” and how can we sustain our efforts to be effective antiracist leaders in our MetroWest organizations, institutions, businesses, nonprofits, and communities.

Join us for any or all of the six-monthly programs*, featuring different guest facilitators. Registration is FREE. Future conversations in the series will be responsive to the needs expressed by participants. We look forward to learning with you.

Anna C. Cross Ed.D
Executive Director

January 11, 2021

Dear friends,
It seems like a contradiction to wish you all a Happy New Year in light of the seriousness of the moment we find ourselves in but – we do – enthusiastically and with full hearts. We wish you all peace, joy, and good health in 2021. We remain optimistic, hopeful, and determined.

The nonprofit sector in MetroWest met the challenges of 2020 head-on and there is no doubt we will persevere as colleagues, community supporters, leaders, and neighbors in 2021. You can count on us to be right beside you.

MWNN will be focused on programming and opportunities that address our four core values: connecting, collaborating, strengthening, and taking action.

• We will continue our monthly Lunch and Learn series with the help of trusted guides who can deepen our understanding of the issues that impact our work.
• We will continue our monthly Lone Rangers gatherings to provide a welcoming space for nonprofit leaders to come together and support one another.
• We will continue to find and build strategic collaborations that leverage our collective resources and strengthen our collective capacity.
• And most exciting of all, we will take action on our commitment to nurturing next-generation leaders by launching the first MetroWest Nonprofit Network/Framingham State University Certificate in Nonprofit Management for Practitioners in Fall 2021. (Cohort 1 recruitment will begin in Spring 2021)

We have so much work to do as communities and leaders, but we are confident that one step at a time, we will find ourselves on the path of justice and peace. Thank you for joining us on this amazing journey. Happy New Year!

Anna C. Cross Ed.D
Executive Director