ESC Honors and Gives Thanks to Consultants and Fellows at Virtual Celebration of Service

While the COVID-19 global pandemic prevented the staff, consultants and fellows of Empower Success Corps (ESC) from gathering in-person for the annual Celebration of Service, nearly 100 members of the ESC family participated in a virtual program held via Zoom on June 1st. “We can’t be together in person this year,” said Bonnie Clendenning, Board Chair of ESC as she welcomed guests. “But, we are proud to be able to honor a year of accomplishments, recognize special members of our community for particular contributions, and find inspiration in the dialogue between our keynote speakers Beth Chandler and Julie Crockford.”

Julie Crockford, President of ESC provided an update on the status of the organization. Crockford spoke about how ESC is a “learning community” that embraces action to make a difference while working together as a team. In the FY19, ESC consultants contributed $2.5 million of donated services while serving over one hundred and twenty nonprofits. Crockford talked about moving ESC’s work to a virtual environment and how staff, consultants and fellows are “zooming into the future.” 

Crockford then spoke with Beth Chandler for the keynote conversation on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, a subject at the top of many people’s minds following the killing of George Floyd by a Minnesota police officer. Chandler is the President and CEO of YW Boston, an organization that aims to eliminate racism and empower women, while promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.

Crockford spoke of the importance of ESC consultants bringing an understanding of race and equity issues when working with clients. “This is a time of learning: it begins with those of us who are white understanding white privilege. Starting there allows our learning to sit on a firm foundation rather than mere sand. Our learnings about race and equity will also enumer the vocabulary of diversity, equity and inclusion.” Chandler said there is a misconception of racism fueled by stereotypes: racism is something that isn’t always seen, but something that is systemic with roots in white privilege.

Crockford outlined steps ESC is taking to ensure that the issues of race, equity and inclusion are visible and addressed. She is focusing ESC on the importance of diversity, and how it allows for a diversity of thought and perspective when working with a nonprofit. In addition to the required core courses to become an ESC consultant or fellow, courses on race equity and organizational change will be strongly encouraged for experienced ESC consultants and fellows. 

In the next segment of the Celebration of Service, awards were presented to honor the work of ESC’s consultants.

Lynn Post, the Interim Director of Consulting and Director ESC Northern New England, presented the Caleb Loring, Jr. Award to Charlie Arsenault of Westborough, MA for consulting excellence. Arsenault joined ESC in 2018, and worked on projects for the Mistletoe Foundation, the Neponset River Watershed Association and the Global Warming Action Coalition. “Charlie’s leadership, experience and willingness to serve epitomizes the meaning of this award,” said Post.

Upon receiving the award, Arsenault remarked, “My driving force over the last three years can be summed up into three Ps — pursuing passion and purpose. And very specifically in conservation.” He thanked ESC for putting together great teams as well as the consultants he worked with on various projects. While his initial project that he worked on wasn’t directly focused on conservation, he was able to discover a newfound appreciation for environmental issues associated with watersheds.

Nurys Camargo, the Founder and Board Chair of the Chica Project, presented the Ezra Merrill Founder’s Award to Martha Sloan Felch. This award recognizes an individual for exceptional contribution to ESC and the nonprofit community. In her work with ESC, Martha has consulted on projects with the Chica Project, Housing Families, Inc., Open Table, and Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers, to name a few. Camargo described Felch as a “mentor, coach, friend and auntie to Chica Project” because of her attention to detail, assertiveness, transparency and cultural competency.

“I am a generalist. I find joy and satisfaction in working with all strategic issues facing the sector by bringing my business lens, open mind and seasoned sense of best practices to this passionately mission focused sector to facilitate solutions,” said Sloan Felch of her work with ESC. 

Donna Morelle, Director of ESC Fellowships presented the Edmund V. Marshall Project of the Year to the Roger Williams Park Conservancy Project. This award is presented to a team of consultants: Dr. Eugene Mihaly, Lorraine Hynes, Victoria Wicks, and Mary Tafuri Ross. Hynes accepted the award on behalf of the team. The team conducted interviews with city and state officials, donors, and stakeholders from nonprofits in Providence. Morelle remarked that this project in particular “was one with high-profile stakeholders in Rhode Island and we needed an experienced team to guide it successfully.”

Accepting the award on behalf of the team was Lorraine Hynes. “This was a special project as it is a way for ESC to continue the services and awareness of ESC in the Rhode Island area,” said Hynes.  

Julie concluded the program by thanking the consultants and fellows. “You are the lifeblood of this operation called ESC. We wouldn’t exist without you. We would have no purpose in life without you. We couldn’t help the clients that we help without you.”