Upcoming Workshops

We are working on organizing the 2024 series. Please check back for topics, dates and registration information.

Scroll down to find access to videos of past workshops.

2023 Workshops

Friday January 20, 2023 | 12:30-2:30pm | Offered in-person at 3 Belden Avenue, Norwalk, CT and online.

A new approach to work in the new year: Managing stress and avoiding burnout by setting work boundaries.

The last three years have left us tired, overworked, and confused about work boundaries. This workshop will address today's work dynamics, challenges and trends that might affect how we interact with work. In this interactive workshop you will learn:

• Working remotely vs. commuting to the office. Who can do that? Is remote work worth the hype? 
• The Great Resignation vs. The Great Regret. How these trends affected those who left and those who stayed at their jobs?
• The number one misconception of "life-work" balance
• To say no, first, you need to have clarity
• Set up your schedule to allow for rest, relaxation, and recharge
• Maintain your newfound boundaries

Friday February 17, 2023 | 12:30-2:30pm | Offered in-person at 3 Belden Avenue, Norwalk, CT and online.

Self-care for helpers. Understand compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, and the lead reasons for helpers’ burnout.

Those who dedicate their lives to helping others often forget to help themselves and become depleted because they fail to recharge. We have all heard of self-care and the importance of putting the oxygen mask on first. But who has time for that when so many need us? In this workshop, we will share a realistic approach to self-care for those who care for others. 

• A brief history and myths about self-care
• What you need to know about compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, and the lead reasons for helpers’ burnout
• Alignment Activities: The wheel of life & values assessment
• Self-care activities
• Integration of practices that benefit the mind, the body & the spirit

Friday March 24, 2023 | 12:30-2:30pm | Offered in-person at 3 Belden Avenue, Norwalk, CT and online.

Building a better organizational culture.

The importance of trust, communication, and alignment.

Organizational cultures are formed by values, attitudes, and beliefs influencing how teams behave and perceive the workplace. The first step to intentionally creating a healthy organizational culture is to identify what attitudes can poison it and take an active approach to eliminate those influences. In this interactive workshop, you will learn:

• Signs and symptoms of a toxic organization culture
• Reasons why people do not align with organization values and how to keep them accountable
• The four pillars of trust 
• How to build alignment in your organization

Friday April 28, 2023 | 12:30-2:30pm | Offered in-person at 3 Belden Avenue, Norwalk, CT and online.

Conflict management and effective communication at work.

We all wish colleagues could get along and be friends, but conflicts at work are bound to happen because everyone is different. In this workshop, you will learn about the primary sources of interpersonal conflict and communications tips that are essential to help you manage conflict at work. 

• The causes of conflict in the workplace
• The importance of trust in the workplace
• The “Do and Don’ts” of conflict resolution
• Communication tips for managing conflict at work

Friday May 19, 2023 | 12:30-2:30pm | Offered online only.

Transitioning from worker to manager. What you should know before you make the move.

Our current culture teaches us that the only way to grow professionally is to climb the organizational ladder. Nevertheless, not everyone is born to be a manager, and once in the role, new managers hardly receive the support they need to be their best selves in the new position. In this interactive workshop, you will learn:

• The wrong reasons people get promoted
• The disconnect between leadership advice and real-life management
• How moving up the leadership ladder requires a paradigm shift
• What to ask your employer before accepting a promotion

Friday June 23, 2023 | 12:30-2:30pm | Offered in-person at 3 Belden Avenue, Norwalk, CT and online.

How to manage and empower your team while keeping them accountable.

Leadership development literature often fails to recognize that managing people can be difficult. Even when teams make their best effort, different work styles and personalities can create misalignment and lack of productivity. In this interactive workshop, you will learn:

• The importance of the providing feedback often 
• Coaching tools to start practicing today
• How to keep everyone accountable with the right kind of supervision
• Factors that contribute to employees’ lack of engagement

Friday July 21, 2023 | 12:30-2:30pm | Offered in-person at 3 Belden Avenue, Norwalk, CT and online.

Outstanding performance reviews for employees and supervisors.

Conducting performance reviews once a year can be exhausting and time-consuming. Although they are formal opportunities to review a period of time and set goals for the next period ahead, performance conversations should be happening throughout the year. This approach can save a lot of work and surprises. In this interactive workshop, you will learn:

• A look at performance review models
• Making a plan to keep communication going throughout the year
• Collecting meaningful information for the performance review
• Tips for employees to prepare for their yearly performance review
• Tips for supervisors to prepare for their yearly performance review

Friday September 15, 2023 | 12:30-2:30pm | Offered in-person at 3 Belden Avenue, Norwalk, CT and online.

This workshop is appropriate for all staff levels including junior staff, mid-management, and anyone new to the non-profit industry.

The nonprofit cycle.

Many people join the non-profit industry because they care about a social issue, but rarely have had the opportunity to holistically learn about this sector. Although the goal of the work is to do good for others, there are high standards that non-profits need to observe and operational tasks to know about, such as; setting budgets, purchasing insurance, board governance (bylaws, meetings, agendas and minutes), and fundraising. But what does it all mean, and why should it matter to you?

In this interactive workshop, you will learn:

• The historical origin of charities and volunteer-based organizations.
• Non-profits 101. Understand the difference between other sectors and the non-profit model.
• Non-profit structure and life cycle stages.
• How you can contribute to your non-profit’s mission.

Friday October 20, 2023 | 12:30-2:30pm | Offered in-person at 3 Belden Avenue, Norwalk, CT and online.

This workshop is appropriate for all staff levels including junior staff, mid-management, and anyone new to the nonprofit industry.

The role of the nonprofit board.

The nonprofit board can be a bit of a mystery for many working in the non-profit industry. Who are these volunteers, and what is their role in the organization? Why does this group have a say in how nonprofits operate even though they are not directly involved with programs? As an employee, how am I connected to the board, and how am I independent? These are all questions that deserve clarification in order to successfully manage a nonprofit board of directors.

In this interactive workshop, you will learn:

• The role of the nonprofit board of directors
• The many hats of the board, committees, and their purpose.
• Boundaries between a nonprofit’s board and its staff.
• Board of directors in governance and fundraising.

Friday November 17, 2023 | 12:30-2:30pm | Offered in-person at 3 Belden Avenue, Norwalk, CT and online.

Serving immigrants. A focused BIPOC training with a special focus on the immigrant experience.

As a service provider, you know that understanding the needs and contributions of the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) community is critical to helping those you serve. Yet, in most Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) trainings, the immigrant population and their unique needs and contributions are hardly addressed. In this interactive workshop, you will learn:

• Immigrant trends in our area.
• DEI and the immigrant experience. Barriers for and contributions of this community.
• Cultural competency and working with immigrants.
• Reasons why it is a good idea to support this sector.