Alanna Kwoka

Surgeon General Vivek Murthy talks about the need for a "whole-of-society approach" to advancing social connection. We've tried to heed that call in our work at Einhorn Collaborative, supporting a broader range of efforts that engage actors across sectors. That includes: Projects like Team Up to enlist large national civic organizations with a presence in local communities to help people build connection across difference through service. Research groups like Building H to measure the impact of products on consumers’ health and urge companies to do better to improve social connection and other health outcomes. Initiatives like Human Connections AI to bring together social connection experts with technologists to puzzle through how AI companions can be designed to enhance and not degrade human relationships. Another project that has helped us explore a facet of the whole-of-society approach is the Connective Tissue Framework, which puts forward a range of recommendations for how government – especially at the local level – can create the structural conditions and everyday opportunities for people to experience healthy connection. I've learned a lot from Sam Pressler, lead author of Connective Tissue. In this piece, I asked Sam to share more about the story behind the framework and a few highlights. https://lnkd.in/esayJU3b

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Reading an internal Seattle Children's memo today, I was struck by a rec to use sick time for mental health. Which really, I shouldn't be -- physical health *always* includes mental health. But it's still something we don't talk about enough in American workplaces. Knowing that I can take time off to focus on my mental health without any stigma is amazing. Whether it's taking a day to recharge, attending therapy, or simply practicing self-care, I feel supported and understood. #MentalHealthMatters #WorkplaceWellbeing #SupportEachOther

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I published an op-ed in the San Francisco Chronicle! In it, I advocate for more societal and public support for young parents, specifically lower-income families experiencing material hardship. The research and data are clear: this is the best investment we can make to strengthen our communities and our collective healthy, equitable future. In case it's behind a paywall for most folks, I'll share below the opening anecdote from the op-ed where I reflect on real-life lessons learned as an early childhood teacher working with low-income families. If any of this resonates, I'd love to hear from you and share more! --- On my first day as an early childhood teacher, my co-teacher pointed out a rash forming on one of the toddlers in our class. She knew from decades of experience that the rash was a reaction to a particular diaper brand. Later that day, my co-teacher had me translate in Spanish about the rash and the need to change diaper brands to the child’s mom. The mother sighed and looked down, replying in Spanish, “I need to wait until next Friday.” Before the mom could look up, my co-teacher had already packed her a sleeve of different diapers from our reserves, giving the mom a reassuring pat on the shoulders. My co-teacher, who doesn’t speak Spanish, had at least understood “próximo Viernes” (next Friday) and knew what it meant — she had to wait until her next paycheck to buy new diapers. Decades of experience, indeed. Years after my first day as a teacher, I’m now a parent, and sure enough, my son got a rash because of a particular diaper brand. My wife and I are privileged enough that we didn’t have to think twice — let alone wait until payday — to get different diapers until the rash cleared up. That, as a minimum, is something I wish for all parents. As my first co-teacher taught me, caring for children means caring for their parents, too. That’s one lesson we all can start putting into practice better.

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The population of adults aged 50 and older experiencing homelessness is growing swiftly. According to a report by the UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative, older adults encounter serious health and safety hazards. 91% of older homeless individuals in California lost their most recent stable housing within the state, and 48% became homeless for the first time after turning 50. These individuals frequently endure extended periods of homelessness, along with substantial health issues and past traumas. To learn more about the challenges faced and policy recommendations to support older adults, read the full report: https://lnkd.in/gtsvjKkw

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An Antidote to Nihilism: 3 Reasons Why Working at a Nonprofit Matters In the harsh reality of lack of funding, I’ve been dipping into a pool of existential crisis for a couple of months now, wondering on & off about the sense in running large social impact projects like portraitX. I know for a fact that youth learnt to build healthy relationships, break stereotypes, and promote consent online and off through 5 years of research. I also see the magical art that was created - strong messages of peace and equality. I guess I just need to dig deeper and free myself from feeling useless. What is the antidote? Mahatma Gandhi says, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." I tend to agree, so I’m launching myself back to solid ground. RESET. I am reminding myself loudly of why @raisondart's work as a non profit is essential. I might even print it out and stick it on my wall as a more effective “live, love, laugh” Here are my encapsulated 3 reasons why nonprofits matters. We: 1. Go beyond the Individual: Ultimately, it’s not about me. The collective is always stronger and we can’t address “wicked” problems like sexual violence without drawing together (that’s an art pun btw ;) 2. Strengthen society: Nonprofits tackle overlooked or polarized issues. We fill the gaps necessary to build stronger, connected communities 3. Create a ripple effect: Each time we do a workshop it touches someone’s life with the good stuff like empathy and understanding, which will for sure be paid forward. Supporting portraitX now is key to continue the impact. Funding loss? It's a challenge, but also a chance for innovation I think. Will you join us? Support our portraitX fundraiser! Link to register or donate here: https://lnkd.in/etnkr2eE Empower youth. Strengthen communities. Together, we make a difference. #SocialImpact #NonprofitLife #ArtForChange #SupportYouth #portraitX #RaisondArt

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Leeze’s new blog is on system solutions to support minors experiencing homelessness and housing instability. Hint: they are all cross-system and/or multidisciplinary approaches that put the power back in the hands of youth themselves. These approaches all also accept referrals/clients under ALL definitions of homelessness including at risk and unstably housed populations. You can’t effectively serve minors if you’re excluding unstably housed youth and youth at risk of imminently losing their housing. We get asked all the time how to best support minors. Check it out 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼

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If you've appreciated Crappy Funding Practices, here's an opportunity to get involved. As Vu Le summarized: "Behind these posts on LinkedIn are teams of volunteers spending hours communicating with folks who nominate funders, vetting submissions, crafting the call-outs, engaging with social media, developing list of resources, planning meetings and organizing, etc. It’s a lot of work and right now all volunteer-run. We need more people involved. So, if you’re interested in helping out, please join a special meeting we’re hosting on May 14th at 10am PT / 1 pm ET, where we’ll update you on what’s been going on, and present the different options for you to plug into." Registration is required: https://lnkd.in/ea3igpms

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In today’s fast-paced, information-driven world, businesses and the media need each other more than ever. Journalists are critical in shaping narratives, building trust, and creating connections between organizations and the communities they serve. For businesses, this partnership is not just about visibility—it’s about telling authentic stories that resonate, inspire, and drive meaningful change. As someone deeply committed to designing impactful programs and collaborations, I believe we are in a unique moment when businesses and the media can collaborate to build trust, amplify voices, and create lasting impact. How are you leveraging media relationships to share your organization’s story?

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LinkedIn community, After 2.5 years building partnerships with high-impact nonprofits and innovating corporate giving at an early-stage fintech company, I’m announcing that I’m officially open to in-person, remote, and hybrid full-time job opportunities after a company-wide reorg.  I feel lucky to have been able to work at Beam. I was daring enough to bet on a fantastic idea early on in my career, bold enough to take on the risks and volatility that naturally come with working at a fledgling company, and eager to take on all the challenges that came with being one of the first 25 hires—fine tuning processes, contributing to foundational strategy, and iterating on solutions to all types of problems. In my time at Beam, I: - Identified, researched, and vetted hundreds of nonprofit organizations and made tailored partnership recommendations that integrated brands’ DNA - Onboarded and owned relationships with 100+ nonprofits  - Developed copy for a mobile app available for download, as well as for Beam integrations across over 100 ecomm sites - Led a project that helped decrease the launch time of Beam’s integration on our partners’ sites by 25-50%, getting revenue live quicker and easier - Surveyed 150 nonprofits, developed insights, and strategized implications for the product roadmap in line with the needs of the organizations we help serve - Collaborated closely with the sales team to secure household names as clients  - Successfully navigated regulatory changes that radically altered both the landscape of nonprofit giving and my own team’s workflows Above all, I had a hand in building something that hasn’t been done before, took pride in the trust I built and cultivated with partners, and had a blast doing so with the best team, Davianna and Cecilia. I am so happy with how far we’ve come as a company since I joined, and I am even more excited about what this next chapter has in store for me. I’m looking for roles where I can put my verbal acuity, communication, and partnership-building skills to use, whether in SaaS, policy, philanthropy, media, entertainment, or at a brand. If you’re looking for someone with a tireless work ethic, a self-starter who thrives in work environments of all sizes, embraces ambiguity, and maintains a good sense of humor while doing so—here she is :)  Even if you aren’t aware of any concrete opportunities and just want to chat, I welcome those conversations also. Hit my line! Please feel free to share widely, any and all leads are welcome and greatly appreciated. Thank you so much— Esther

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"Reclaim Our Names" is a project that provides crucial support for Idahoans who are seeking a legal name change. From empowering trans people to secure their affirming names to helping survivors re-establish their identities after divorce and beyond, we’re raising funds to make the legal name change process accessible to folks across the state.   This project is taking place during Idaho Gives Week (Monday, April 29 to Thursday, May 2)—only 4 days!   And unlike many organizations that participate in Idaho Gives Week, the The Idaho Coalition Against Sexual & Domestic Violence is not using donations to support regular operating. 100% of donations will directly support costs (such as filing fees, essential records, mandatory notices, etc.) for individuals who are getting their name changed.   The Idaho Coalition is set up for early donations, so folks can donate now instead of waiting until next week! (https://lnkd.in/gKJrX-a9) The Idaho Coalition will match your donation, so if you give $50, that amount will be matched by another $50. Your contribution to this project has double the impact. All donations are considered charitable and tax-deductible. Each donation enters people in a raffle to win prizes: (r)affle items include: $100 at Craig’s Tattoo, Caldwell $20 at Broadcast Coffee, Boise $100 at Edward’s Greenhouse, Boise $100 at Amano Restaurante, Caldwell 3 books at Rediscovered Books $95 at Mullet Proof $275 at Cat Photography  & more. Donate HERE >>> https://lnkd.in/gKJrX-a9

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so important...

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Sounds like an amazing #vacancy to work on the intersection of systemic #riskassessment and #nature. I love their explicit wording: "ASRA is founded on a set of principles including non-human sanctity. Incorporating nature into #riskanalysis is not merely a matter of #environmental #stewardship or human self-preservation. #Naturecentric approaches attribute intrinsic value to all living organisms and ecosystems, independent of their utility to humans. This perspective recognizes the #interconnectedness of all life forms and the importance of preserving the integrity and health of other #species and #ecosystems for their own sake, and not just as a resource for humans. This approach involves evaluating the impacts of human activities on #biodiversity, #habitat #connectivity, and #ecological #processes."

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This critical report begins with a solid example of the bias neurodivergent folks face in the neuro-typical career funnel. We have to study AI and ND to innovate in favor of NeuroX: "For example, many jobs use automated employment decision tools as part of their hiring process. These can include resume screeners and video interview tools that use algorithms to analyze things like vocal cadence or eye movements. These tools can unfairly screen disabled applicants from jobs by, for example, flagging the unusual eye movement of a blind or low-vision individual and removing them from the applicant pool as a result. " **Or someone who avoids eye contact**. #neuroxnj

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We've had a recent study done on my org-- and the research is pretty mind-blowing: "In short, the researchers found that homelessness decreased 47% in District 10 between 2011 and 2022 but increased by more than 50% across the rest of the city during the same time period. Had Open Door Legal not existed in District 10, the researchers estimated homelessness would have risen there by about 20%." read more!: https://lnkd.in/eJdt6V3x

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Need help including LGBTQIA+ people in your mission? This week’s “Sincerely, Queers” blog discusses just how you can accomplish just that and start increasing your revenue. 5-minute read here: https://lnkd.in/gDdAQ_GU #LGBT #LGBTQ #Donors #Nonprofit #Fundraising

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There is much to take from this concise and rich piece from Deepak Bhargava. Not surprisingly, this little section stood out to me: "Rational, fact-based arguments aren’t moving politicians or the public. A vast policy and research infrastructure operates on the premise that decision makers use evidence to shape agendas and laws. While some policymakers remain part of the “reality-based community,” their numbers are shrinking. Similarly, rational arguments aren’t gaining purchase with our fellow citizens. The assumption that people weigh evidence about whose policies will most benefit them, for example, is not supported by, well, the evidence." It seemed, prior to the Trump presidency, progressives were finally coming around on this point, with more attention to insights from applied psychology and other disciplines that taught us emotions are the drivers of actions and stories shape emotions - fact-based or not. With the Trump presidency, it seemed we backslid into a fever-pitch defense of facts, attributable to the reality-bending that is a day in the life of Trump. We fell for the trap of fact, where the opposition had no interest in the concept but merely used the frame to shape reality. We brought a knife to a gunfight. Facts are essential, and we should hold truth as a core value and deploy strategies and tactics that win hearts and minds.

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As we know, without additional information or guidance, many coastal donors tend to fund locally or in geographies they are familiar with. Grateful to Inside Philanthropy for recognizing The Just Trust as one of the key organizations funding and partnering with criminal justice leaders in the South, one of the most under-resourced areas for philanthropy and investment in our issue area. This is how to develop solutions that can work in all 50 states and political contexts. Full article here: https://lnkd.in/g_ky4VKz

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Overcoming Fundraising Challenges: A Personal Reflection Fundraising has been one of the most rewarding yet challenging aspects of my journey as the founder of **Kinda Childcare.org**. Our mission to support vulnerable children is one I hold dear, but turning that vision into reality requires resources—and that’s where the uphill battle begins. Securing funds for a grassroots initiative in a competitive landscape has tested my resilience and creativity. I’ve written countless proposals, made emotional pitches, and connected with individuals and organizations who share our passion. While there have been wins that inspire hope, there are also moments of rejection and uncertainty that demand perseverance. I’ve realized that fundraising is not just about money; it’s about building trust and forming relationships. It’s about showing potential supporters the incredible impact they can make. This journey has pushed me to embrace vulnerability and share our story authentically. As we look to expand and sustain our programs, I’m reaching out to my LinkedIn community. If you believe in creating a brighter future for children through access to education and care, I would love to connect. Together, we can overcome these challenges and continue to change lives. Let’s build something extraordinary—one step at a time. #Fundraising #Childcare #Impact

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