Collective Sparks: Building a Culture of Wellness, Connection, and Growth

Collective Sparks:
Collective Sparks is a new pilot series from Rotary Charities designed to create space for practical learning, shared reflection, and local connection among nonprofit leaders and staff.

These sessions are built around a simple idea: some of the most valuable learning is already happening within our community. Each quarterly gathering highlights a real example of experimentation in practice and invites participants into an open, facilitated conversation to explore what it might mean for their own work.

Session Two: Building a Culture of Wellness, Connection, and Growth
Mission-driven work asks a lot of people. Heavy workloads, emotional demands, changing priorities, and limited resources can contribute to burnout and make it difficult for nonprofit staff to sustain the work they care about.

What does it look like to build a workplace culture that supports people through the demands of mission-driven work?

Join us for the next Collective Sparks, featuring Gina Aranki, outgoing ED from Child & Family Services of Northwestern Michigan (CFS). Gina will share CFS’ journey from thinking about employee wellness as a set of benefits and programs to thinking more broadly about the workplace conditions that help people thrive.

Through examples from CFS’ own experience, we'll explore how flexibility and accountability, opportunities for growth, connection, and tangible support can become part of an organization's culture, not just its benefits package. CFS will also share what they've learned along the way and questions they're still wrestling with.

Together, we'll reflect on questions many organizations are navigating:

• How can we support staff wellbeing when resources are limited?
• How do we balance flexibility, choice, and accountability?
• How do we create connection across teams and hybrid workplaces?
• What practical wellness benefits really move the needle?
• How do we know when workplace culture is actually improving?

Come ready to learn from CFS' experience, share what's working (or challenging) in your own organization, and explore ideas you might adapt to your own workplace.

What to expect:

• A local case study grounded in real experience
• Time for questions, reflection, and discussion
• Opportunities to connect with peers across organizations

Who should attend:
This session may be especially relevant for executive directors, HR and operations leaders, and board members interested in staff wellbeing or organizational sustainability and culture.

Details:

• Date and time: Thursday, October 15 | 10 am - 12 pm; doors at 9:30 am
• Location: NMC Timothy J. Nelson Innovation Center, room 106/107
• Light refreshments and beverages provided
• Please refrain from wearing strong perfumes or fragrances.

Event Photography: Photos may be taken by staff or a representative of Rotary Charities. These photos may be used in digital or print or shared across our communications channels. If you prefer not to have your photo used for these purposes, please let us know when you RSVP.

Accommodations: Rotary Charities is committed to creating inclusive spaces where everyone feels welcome. If you plan to attend this gathering and need to request a reasonable accommodation, please let us know when you RSVP.