MACC Conversations

Finding Your Resilience Through Mindfulness

Tune in to hear from MACC program manager, Laurel Hansen, joined by Drake Powe, professional public speaker, meditation instructor, life coach, and stress reduction consultant, as they talk about handling stress and staying healthy, especially in busy jobs like nonprofits. Drake shares how meditation has helped him feel better and manage stress. They talk about simple ways to calm down, like changing how you think and getting support from others. The 2025 MACC Summit is coming up fast and Drake's session will provide a space where people can learn easy tricks to feel better and work better with others. It explains how noticing our feelings can stop stress from getting worse. Some helpful tips include deep breathing, sitting up straight, and drinking water. Leaders should use these ideas too, so workplaces feel supportive and happy. Staying strong means paying attention to good moments, staying mindful, and using small habits to make life better at work and home. Listen today!

How Mindfulness Can Create a More Just Society

Tune in to hear from meditation facilitator and co-founder of Black Zen, Jasmine Johnson and MACC's Program Manager, Laurel Hansen to discuss how mindfulness uplifts the BIPOC community and fosters a more just society. She explores meditation’s role in reducing stress, enhancing empathy, and even decreasing prejudice. As she prepares to lead a mindfulness session at MACC Summit 2025, Jasmine shares practical strategies for integrating mindfulness into workplaces and managing the pressures of human services work. She also offers insight into Black Zen’s future and its mission to expand its impact. Tune in for an inspiring conversation on mindfulness as a tool for personal and social change.

PVLI: Black Leadership in Action

Tune in to listen to Executive Director of V3 Sports, Malik Rucker, as he sits down with MACC's Communication's Specialist, Mya Corbin. Malik discusses growing up in North Minneapolis, and how his journey began in the community spaces that shaped him—entering into a position where he oversees an organization that offers a sense of community for others. He'll go into why there's value in Boards investing and preparing for Black leaders to both welcome them and help them feel supported in their position. In this episode, we dive into his transition from athlete to nonprofit leader, from his early career at Big Brothers Big Sisters to becoming the first employee and now Executive Director of V3 Sports. Listen Now!

PVLI: Education and Representation

Tune in to hear from host, Mya Corbin who is joined by Kendrick Walton, a Policy Entrepreneur Fellow from The Forum. Kendrick shares his experience as a teacher, debate coach, and supporter of fair justice. They talk about why it's important to have leaders who reflect the community and how Black women bring valuable ideas to nonprofits. Kendrick also shares what he's learned from working with Black women leaders and how their ideas can solve problems in new ways.

PVLI: Diversity Increasing Visibility in the Workplace

In this episode, host Mya Corbin, MACC's Communications Specialist, speaks with Tanika Fears, Assistant to the President at Neighborhood House, about her journey from administrative assistant to executive leadership. They discuss the challenges of navigating predominantly white workspaces, the isolation that can come with it, and the importance of diversity in the workplace. Tanika shares how Black women's lived experiences offer valuable perspectives for client and community engagement. Together, they emphasize why representation matters and the need to see people who look like us in leadership roles. Stay tuned for Tanika’s insightful closing remarks.

Empathy and Development in Leadership

In this episode, Laurel Hansen, MACC's program manager, talks with Jaralyn Roberts, Leadership Development Director at The Forum, about her journey to finding the right career fit and stepping into leadership. Jaralyn shares how being authentic, especially as a Black woman in leadership, has shaped her approach to work. She highlights the importance of building meaningful relationships and ensuring employees feel supported. They discuss staying connected as a leader while maintaining a human-centered focus. Jaralyn also emphasizes the need for leaders to prioritize self-care.

PVLI: Focusing on Inclusion Over Diversity

Tune into our first installation, this Black History Month, with MACC member, Hamm Clinic's Executive Director, Maisha Giles! Maisha goes into what it means to be supported in the workplace and how that feeds into her making a lasting impact at her organization. She highlights the importance of policies in place to receive black leaders and more specifically lack women who are stepping into leadership positions, and focusing on inclusion and not just diversity.
 
Tune into this special podcast episode all the other installments coming out this Black History Month!

New Thinking About Compensation Equity

Tune in to hear from Vega Mala, Mala Nagarajan, of Vega Mala Consulting, and Laurel Hansen, MACC Program Manager as they talk about wages and benefits. Mala’s company helps organizations treat their employees fairly and improve workplace practices. They talk about the importance of fair pay, a "thriving wage," and how it affects hiring, promotions, and job satisfaction. Mala suggests tools like budgeting rules to figure out what this wage should be. Employers can also help workers by offering financial advice, fair pay practices, and better retirement savings plans. Listen in on this conversation to hear all about clear polices for employers to show that they value their employees.

Community Partnerships for Filling Open Positions

Tune in to hear from Chamille Edmonds, Program Manager of DARTS, and MACC's Senior Human Resources Consultant, Diane Seep, joining Laurel Hansen, MACC Program Manager as they talk through challenges in retaining employees in the workforce, finding the right candidates, and pinpointing those community connections. They discuss the importance of networking and employers recruiting with new methods in mind. This podcast emphasizes the idea of pursing partnerships to benefit everyone.

New Approaches Around Pay Equity and Succession Planning:

Tune into hear from Executive Director of Avenues for Youth, Katherine Meerse, and Program Manager, Laurel Hansen, putting a magnifying glass on pay equity in regards to youth experiencing homelessness. Katherine goes into Avenues wage equity journey and implementing new practices like succession planning. They discuss the importance of laying the foundation for new hires to come into a position with a standard for what their position will entail. They highlight the importance of uplifting and investing in your workforce and considering why adequate pay is essential for our whole workforce.