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AlumniCorps and former Peace Corps volunteer and marketing professional. Marci Alboher began by sharing her knowledge of encore and transitional careers. She explained that there are generally two types of people in the movement “leapers” and “planners.” Some people are meticulous about planning their encore career— attending classes, researching, conducting interviews— and others leap in where help is needed. She stressed that the nonprofit sector is the third largest sector in the United States and that opportunities to get involved and develop skills are abundant. Panelist Sharon Keld ’80 talked about her experience transitioning from the business world to nonprofits. Noting that her work in marketing felt unfulfilling, she described her journey toward the nonprofit sector, which included earning a certificate in nonprofit management studies and multiple assignments with Peace Corps and Peace Corps Response. After returning from the Peace Corps, where she put her marketing background to work doing business development with Moroccan artisans, Sharon volunteered in a variety of roles until joining the AlumniCorps staff. At the conclusion of the program, Judy Safian k’55 spoke about her father’s passion for AlumniCorps and Community Volunteers. Chet Safian ’55, was instrumental in starting the Project 55 Fellowship Program in New York and was its biggest champion for more than 20 years. Shortly before he passed away in April 2013 he began laying the groundwork for Community Volunteers to expand to New York. Judy noted that the Community Volunteers model was her father’s experience with AlumniCorps and she encouraged attendees to “get involved with Community Volunteers. It’s a great experience. It will expand your network and open your world in ways you never imagined. It changed my father’s life and it can change yours.” Following a question and answer period, representatives from Encore.org offered additional advice to those looking for nonprofit opportunities. AlumniCorps partner organizations were also on hand to talk about the projects available through Community Volunteers. In the coming months, AlumniCorps will be working to match interested participants to partner organizations for short-term, high-impact projects in New York. The event was organized by Program Leader Kef Kasdin ’85, New York lead volunteers Regina Lee ’85 and Scott Taylor ’75, and Program Director Rachel Benevento. The expansion of Community Volunteers is made possible by the Chet Safian Innovation Fund.
From left: Marci Alboher, Anne Tergesen ’86, Karen Ali ’78, and Sharon Keld ’80 during the panel discussion.
Guests make new connections during the networking reception.
The AlumniCorps Twitter feed was hacked! Okay, not really, but over the summer Emerging Leader Mariah Craven took over the AlumniCorps Twitter account to share some program insights. Check out a few of her tweets: @AlumniCorps Effective #leadership is situational, dependent on engaged followers, & adaptive over time. @AlumniCorps One of the most useful aspects of the Emerging Leaders program is that it has contextualized theories and practices; made them relevant. @AlumniCorps Our guest speakers are here! Today we’re hearing from Groundswell’s Elizabeth Lindsey and Pyper Davis from SEED Foundation. @AlumniCorps Today Emerging Leaders in DC are being hosted by @casefoundation. We’re talking about why #leadership is fluid. Follow us on Twitter @AlumniCorps or like the Princeton AlumniCorps Facebook page!
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