September 6, 2018              

Alpena, MI—The Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan (CFNEM) has announced the second session of the Regional Nonprofit Leaders Series. “Better Stories by Design – Crafting Narratives that Stick” will be held on Tuesday, October 2 in Alpena.  This workshop will introduce attendees to the different ways stories can be used to educate, entertain and inspire others. The session mixes instruction, collaboration and individual work time to help nonprofits begin to create the best story for their organization.

“We are very excited to bring a storytelling workshop to the nonprofits in our area,” said CFNEM Executive Director Patrick Heraghty. “Having just released our first “Passion with a Purpose: Community Foundation Storybook”, we are very aware of how a good story can help others relate to, and understand what an organization does. This workshop will be a great addition to the toolkit for any nonprofit communications staff, volunteer, or anyone who ever speaks on behalf of a nonprofit.”

“Better Stories by Design” will be facilitated by Mark VanderKlipp (left), a past president for 13 years of a world-class environmental graphic design firm where he was the lead strategist for diverse healthcare, higher education, civic, corporate, trails and tourism institutions throughout North America. Mark has worked as a design resource to the Youth Homelessness Demonstration Project, and a strategic consultant to SEEDS, Groundwork and the Housing Partnership, among other non-profit clients.

The Regional Nonprofit Leaders Series is being offered in northeast Michigan through a partnership between the Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan, Huron Pines, and the Otsego County Community Foundation. Heraghty says a follow-up session later in the series will complement the “Better Stories by Design” workshop.

“We are committed to supporting local nonprofits in capacity-building and professional development as part of our strategic plan, and as a philanthropic leader in our region,” said Heraghty. “Providing opportunities like this workshop, and the ‘Board Basics’ session offered earlier this year, is meant to bring more training opportunities to northeast Michigan.”

The “Better Stories by Design” workshop in Alpena is from 9am-12pm at the Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library in the Judith A. Stillion Conference Room. Pre-registration is required. Tickets are $20 per person and can be reserved at  huronpines.org/events/#better or by calling Huron Pines at (989) 448-2293. Space is limited, so early registration is recommended.

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