Written by Jennifer Tkach
We all know the gist of a non-profit organization. We have a basic understanding, we might understand that it operates without concern of earning a profit, it exists or was created for an intimate mission and a purpose, and within it exists a sense of structure, a community fostered by workers and holders of different positions; we’re here to focus on the latter of the three.
Inspired 2 Uplift is a non-profit organization that follows the aforementioned ideas associated with non-profits. Founded by three newfound high school graduates, Inspired 2 Uplift was created with the intention of bridging the gap between high school students, and students with disabilities. The three founders, Adian Gibbons, Ali Azhar, and Farzan Ustad, close friends turned business associates, actively noticed a continued sense of disconnect between students and students with disabilities. This separation drew them closer together, and when combined, the three would trial and error the project into the organization that it is today. As per the website, the mission of Inspired 2 Uplift is to raise awareness about students with disabilities, while providing them with necessary support and resources. The organization actively acts as an advocate for disability-related causes, doing so through specifically curated services and programs. The mission statement further asserts that the organization has the prominent belief that youth are the ones with important roles in terms of accomplishing change. That being said, a majority, if not all, of the organization's workers and volunteers consist of youth themselves, ranging from high school freshman, to university seniors. This displays their belief being actively practiced, seeing as the organization is providing youth with opportunities to participate in the change they are responsible for establishing. From directorial positions, to blog and grant writers, to founders, we can begin to take a behind the scenes look into the mechanics of Inspired 2 Uplift.
As most non-profits, we need people who are at the head of certain departments, whether that be Director of Finance, Director of Human Resources, or in Harsh Patel’s case, Director of Outreach. Harsh’s role in the non-profit includes coordinating the external team, doing so while ensuring their work is efficient and productive. Oftentimes, he directs and hosts weekly meetings, communicating between different departments and channels to ensure utmost understanding and clear communication between all. His responsibilities lie amongst maintaining a whole team of other volunteers, something which needs balance with time management, meeting deadlines or time crunches, and maintaining a cohesive flow for all. Harsh himself discusses that through this work, he had gained many beneficial skills, ranging from great communication skills, to understanding how to work under a strict time limit.
Director of Chapter Affairs Virginia Uhi, has a similar experience in terms of responsibilities, as well as a gain of newfound skills. This position ensures Virginia oversees all of the chapter operations. An important aspect of the non-profit is its Buddy Program, which has trained buddies that are partnered up with students, and collaborating one-on-one with one another throughout the school year. Each of these programs exists at different learning locations, including high schools; those are titled chapters. Virginia’s responsibilities include providing guidance plans and activities, setting up weekly meetings between chapter presidents and other related volunteers, and compiling different resources as a means of supporting the growth of the chapter. Virginia talks about how this volunteer experience has presented her with many transversal skills, specifically managing and engaging with volunteer activities, putting her in a position to provide solidified feedback or advice on how the events should play out, as well as creating and executing strategies that benefit the activities and chapters altogether. She discusses the importance of establishing professional boundaries within the team environment, and finding the balance between being comfortable and being appropriate, a mindset developed through her position at Inspired 2 Uplift.
Stepping away from the directorial positions, we can take a look into the world of writing, more specifically, the writing within the Inspired 2 Uplift. Jennifer Tkach is a grant writer and one of the blog writers of the non-profit, with her responsibilities including conducting research and interviews, crafting engaging and informative content, as well as creating pieces which resonate with the target audience. She often engages with different team members, ranging from the finance department for grant writing processes, to collaborating with the aforementioned volunteers to obtain content for her pieces. Jennifer discusses the challenges balancing her responsibilities with the organization, to studying and keeping up with university responsibilities. Through her role at Inspired 2 Uplift, she acquired the skills to find this balance, as well as recognizing how to identify work that needs priority, and how to work under strict timelines while continuing that aforementioned balance. As a passionate writer, Inspired 2 Uplift provided Jennifer with the opportunity to pursue her passion in a professional setting, while simultaneously contributing to the important mission of the non-profit. This organization recognizes the importance of giving aspiring youth the opportunity to enact a change, pursue roles and responsibilities that will last them long past their volunteer experience, something they can carry into their professional and work lives, as well as personal.
Although each and every one of the volunteers plays an essential role in the organization, the founder and CEO certainly harnesses its own and essential importance. Aidan Gibbons responsibilities as a co-founder and CEO consist of management of the executive team, which includes of department heads from all sides, and acting as a leader for cultivating a strategic vision for the organization. Aidan discusses the fact that he is legally blind, yet forbidding that from affecting his vision for I2U, but rather allowing it to shape his leadership demeanor in an intimate and meaningful way. Aidan demonstrates a constant commitment to the core mission and values of the organization, with emphasis on inclusivity. As CEO, he practices setting long-term goals and plans as a means of ensuring the organization continuously empowers and spreads awareness about youth with disabilities, doing so while overseeing all major decisions made by the non-profit. Aidan talks about how his priority lies with ensuring the foundation of I2U is secure and sound, accomplishing this by establishing goals that will cement the foundation. An example of one of these goals includes launching an ambassador program, which provides further resources for the chapters, as well as significantly expand the social media reach and presence of I2U. Pursuing this path for the last two years has taught Aidan many things, and arguably the most important being the quality of consistency and leading by example. Holding a position of such authority results in maintaining a significant amount of leadership, meaning one needs to lead by example, which includes making sure all questions do not go unanswered, as well as creating a sense of trust and visible commitment between himself and the team. He makes it a habit to be the first to address all team members, through both greetings and communication, and building a sense of effective and open communication, coinciding this with energy and passion, emotions which transpire throughout the entirety of the organization. Aidan acknowledges that although the organization has a long way to go, it is a core part of his mission as CEO, but more importantly, as an aspiring youth with a passion for initiating change.
An organization is always so much more than what you see from the surface; it is people with faces and names, and it is their dedicated time and hard work. Understanding the background and exploring the unseen mechanics which result in the organization’s functions truly allows for a deepened sense of appreciation and respect to formulate. By getting to know just a few important individuals apart of Inspired 2 Uplift, and reading about their responsibilities, one can begin to align themselves with the passion which exists between the volunteers. Seeing youth making a difference and pursuing something that is greater than just them alone can enact inspiration beyond belief, it can enact inspiration in you. Through reading about the journey and experiences of each individual, you may find yourself hoping to follow a path alike, to contribute to a greater cause, to join our organization. If you find yourself in this position, join our team through the Inspired 2 Uplift website, and be the change that you hope to see. Our journey began with three high school students with a fierce passion, but yours could start with us today.
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