Connection and Community

Chapter Leadership Brief

By Jill Scibilia, CFRE, AFP-NYC President-Elect
Vice President, Development
Phelps Hospital Northwell Health

Last week I had the pleasure of participating in a ZOOM coffee hour with AFP NYC’s IDEA Committee. 

If you don’t yet know what IDEA is -- it stands for: Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access.  It is a key value of AFP International and our New York City Chapter.  I have the honor of serving on our local committee.

The first portion of our ZOOM call was about connection and community.  We did not cover any business during this segment—this was by design.  We were each invited to share how we were coping and managing our current “new normal” of work—and how we are taking care of ourselves.

When it was my turn to share, I had to admit that I was not taking the best care of myself.  I have been laser-focused on my hospital’s response to the crisis, to championing our front-line healthcare heroes and to securing support for them.  It has been a marathon and a sprint all at once.  I am honored to serve my hospital and I love my job.  I also know that to do my best work, I need to take better care of myself.  This community and the connection I felt to them gave me permission to admit this to them and to admit it to myself. Thank you.

Back to IDEA…I am proud to say that the New York City chapter of AFP is committed to leading the fundraising sector in achieving inclusion, diversity, equity and access.  Each AFP-NYC committee is playing a key role in this. If you are not yet serving on one of our committees, I encourage you to become engaged and join our community.     

I believe that the world will be a better place when all of us have the opportunity to engage and realize our full potential. We know this is not the current state of the world, nor is it the current state of the fundraising sector.  However, each one of us has an opportunity (dare I say responsibility) to work towards this ideal. Imagine for a moment how different the world could look when more of us…all of us have the opportunity to reach our full potential. 

So, how am I doing?  Better….I spent last weekend gardening, which is a balm for my soul, and I started planning a victory garden.  I intend to spend most of Memorial Day Weekend doing exactly the same.

Thank you for all you do to make the world a better place.  Wishing you and yours a Happy Memorial Day Weekend.   For all those who have served or who are remembering loved ones who served, thank you for your service and sacrifice.