Returning from an absence always presents its challenges. This week, my isolation period ended so I was able to get back to work and continue with my project of writing the program operations manual. I began my week by reevaluating the feedback I received during the conversations I held with full-time employees. I made note of what the main concerns were between sessions. Within any organization, confusion over hierarchy, decision-making authority, and the division of responsibility often emerges. As a growing organization adjusting to an ever changing world, a few employees mentioned this issue. 

To help support the operations of Local Matters, I began drafting the staffing section of the operations manual. The goal of this section is to provide clear information on what each person on the programming does and who a specific role reports to on the team. I attached a chart of the organization’s structure followed by a current staff directory. In my previous experiences, I have found that making contact information widely available makes organizational communication more effective. Moreover, outlining the hierarchy of the organization helps promote understanding of where a person’s role fits in with the mission. To further supplement this, I included a detailed description of each role on the programming team. I hope that this aspect of the manual will help address the feedback given by staff members. Next week, I will use research from a survey I developed to draft the next section of the manual. 

This week, I also attended another enriching Fellows Learning Session. The session analyzed concepts of leadership and helped build a greater understanding of careers in the non-profit sector. I enjoyed hearing from Mrs. Ruth Lomax on what a career in development entails and how this intersects with social justice. I am looking forward to the engaging conversations of these sessions next week.