Online Trainings Keep the Community Informed During Quarantine
Since March, a lot has changed in our work life and in our communities. Quarantine has changed our work habits and the way we communicate is very tech-dependent. Gone (for now) are the days of in-person meetings and group trainings. As this “new normal’ progressed, Granite United Way recognized the need for more professional development opportunities.
In April, Aimee Kereage, Director of Community Impact in the Southern Region, took charge and developed a robust schedule of free educational offerings. The online trainings were originally geared towards the Manchester area Youth Enrichment Partnership (YEP), but news of the opportunities quickly spread, and participants from across NH and Windsor County, VT logged on to the trainings.
The series kicked off on April 14th with an overview by Franklin Covey of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. “It was important to launch the series with an overview of 7 Habits,” says Kereage, “It is the inspiration behind the successful Leader in Me initiative and a celebration of the great work that has been happening in the Manchester schools.”
For the next ten weeks, Granite United Way offered online trainings that included a range of topics that touch the lives of young people. Session topics included: the Choose Love movement, media for educators, warning signs and supports for children suffering child abuse, implicit bias, educational rights, being trauma-informed with youth, LGBTQ youth, foundations of zero suicide, and a panel of community partners. Based on the online registrations, the series offered over 2,100 hours of training.
Amber Johnston, Director of Community Education and Volunteer Services at the Upper Valley Haven, attended the Implicit Bias training and commented, “It was my first zoom training and I was impressed by the ease with which I was able to connect to the information being presented. The presenter was incredibly knowledgeable about the material and used interactive techniques to engage the participants.”
“It felt great to be able to offer our local agency partners these free training opportunities.” Said Elizabeth Craib, Director of Community Impact in the Upper Valley, “The COVID 19 crisis upended so many things in our community, it was great to be able to bring nonprofit professionals together around these important topics.”
**Granite United Way is currently developing a small media library of these trainings for those who weren’t able to attend.