The focus of our work with nonprofit organizations has been growth since our inception in 2001.

“Growth:…the unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level.”

–Wordnet, Princeton University

McAlpine Consulting for Growth has listened to individuals at nonprofit organizations as they speak about their fears, hopes and dreams for the sustainability of their important work. We have been inspired by how hard people are working under tremendous stress in order to accomplish great things – changing the difficult conditions in the lives of individuals and communities – to make the world a better place for all of us.

Lessons learned from our clients include the following:

• Tell your story through visuals, whether it is a documentary about a doula on the westside of Chicago, or using pictures to encourage first time visits to a clinic that works with adults with Down syndrome
• Look for the win-win situations, like advocating with larger institutions to help pay for program expenses of mutual clients, or seeking an alliance with another nonprofit organization
• Take the time to plan well and let the process unfold at it’s own pace, especially if it is a community garden for school-age youth because you might end up with a fun bird hotel next to the compost pile

As the year unfolded, we also watched world events and were saddened by the level of violence and despair that continues because as a culture we have yet to embrace true social change: continuous acts of advocacy to change society in a positive way. We are grateful to our clients who allow us to participate in furthering social change work on behalf of these diverse communities: adults with Down syndrome; low-income families in North Lawndale; sexual assault survivors; low-income pregnant women and their families across the United States; women and girls in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin; school-age youth; gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth; lesbian, bisexual and transgender women; Illinois citizens; Illinois schools; nonprofit organizations in metropolitan Chicago; and community gardeners in Chicago’s low-income communities.

Listed below are four stories of organizations we have worked with to both give you a sense of the kind of work that we do at McAlpine Consulting for Growth as well as highlight important work happening in communities around Chicago. Please send us your stories – we will update you on our activities and share lessons learned from those of you making social change.

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Policy Advocacy for Chicago Health Connection (CHC)
www.chicagohealthconnection.org

McAlpine Consulting for Growth has worked with CHC since August 2002, providing policy advocacy to establish federal funding for community-based doula programs in the United States. Our work this year took us to Seattle, Cleveland and Washington D.C. to promote the community-based doula program and showcase the exciting new documentary “A Doula Story,” directed by Danny Alpert of the Kindling Group, which portrays the work of one doula, Loretha Weisinger, with pregnant teenagers at Marillac House in the East Garfield Park neighborhood on Chicago’s westside.

There are currently 25 doula programs in 7 states, with 15 programs in development. CHC has promoted child and maternal health since 1986. This organization develops community leadership to support mothers and babies, and works with agencies around the country to train and employ community health workers. CHC also advocates for sustainable funding streams for community-based programs in maternal and child health.

"Laura’s expertise and skill in policy and advocacy work has been invaluable to our growing national doula replication efforts. Her superb organization, easy availability and professionalism make it simple to integrate her role as a consultant into the ongoing work of our agency. The existing relationships she brings to our work and the ones she has helped us cultivate have pushed our advocacy agenda forward. Without a doubt, we would not have achieved our current level of progress in the policy arena without Laura’s thorough planning, strategic advice, and supportive presence."

– Rachel Abramson, Executive Director, Chicago Health Connection

“A Doula Story” event at the National Press Club, Washington D.C., October 17, 2005. Pictured from the left are Sonya Childress, Active Voice; Pat Paluzzi, Healthy Teen Network; Rachel Abramson, Chicago Health Connection; Danny Alpert, Kindling Group; and Laura McAlpine.

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Leadership Coaching for Korean American Women in Need (KAN-WIN)
www.kanwin.org

McAlpine Consulting provided leadership coaching and staff training to KAN-WIN in 2004. KAN-WIN is a community organization established in 1990, committed to building safe and healthy communities. KAN-WIN provides comprehensive services to women and children affected by domestic violence and sexual assault with a special focus on the Korean American community, and works within the larger community towards women’s empowerment and social change.

"McAlpine Consulting facilitated the training with utmost professionalism and cultural sensitivity. During our training sessions, McAlpine Consulting demonstrated great knowledge of nonprofit organizations, their needs and presenting issues."

– Kyungnan Yu, Executive Director, Korean American Women in Need (KAN-WIN)

Organizational Development for NeighborSpace
www.neighbor-space.org


El Yunque Community Garden, 1459 N. Artesian, Chicago

NeighborSpace is Chicago's only nonprofit organization that protects community-established gardens and parks by acquiring the land on the community's behalf. McAlpine Consulting began working with NeighborSpace in 2004 to develop technical assistance services for community gardens in crisis. Our first project together was to support an elderly community gardener in the West Town neighborhood, who after seeing his long-term fellow gardeners leave the community due to gentrification, had to deal with the insensitivity of new residents who complained about his “messy” garden. We worked to bring together other community members to educate them on new trends in community gardens and find ways for community gardens in close proximity to support each other. NeighborSpace's vision is a Chicago where all neighborhoods have thriving community established and managed gardens and parks that positively contribute to the quality of life, are supported by the community as community assets, and are enjoyed by all--including future generations.

McAlpine Consulting has been working with NeighborSpace for more than a year and has provided us with much needed guidance and technical assistance in a newly established program area. Their knowledge of the nonprofit sector, grounded sensibility for working with diverse community groups and nonprofit partners, and tremendous skills at mediation and facilitation has taken NeighborSpace to a new level of understanding effective community partnerships and stewardship of protected land.

– Mary Jo Schnell, Executive Director, NeighborSpace

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Event Planning for Office on Women's Health,
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
www.womenshealth.wisc.edu

In 2004 and 2005, McAlpine Consulting for Growth provided event planning services for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Office on Women's Health (OWH) in Region V and Region VI. OWH coordinates the efforts of all the DHHS agencies and offices involved in women's health. This office works to improve the health and well-being of women and girls in the United States through its innovative programs, by educating health professionals, and motivating behavior change in consumers through the dissemination of health information.
The W.O.W. Great Lakes Challenge

We initially worked with Region V on the Women Out Walking (W.O.W) event in 2004. The W.O.W. Great Lakes Challenge is a 12-week walking challenge during which teams of women and girls progress along a virtual course, without ever needing to leave their hometown. All registered participants received a pedometer and walking log to track their daily steps, with weekly e-mails updating them on their progress along a course from Minneapolis to Cleveland, providing motivational messages and factoids about walking, health and fitness. In 2005, in addition to the Great Lakes Challenge, we also provided event planning services for Region VI for the Sun Belt Challenge, across five states, covering distances from the bayous of Louisiana to the deserts of New Mexico -- all without leaving home. Women Out Walking begins each year on Mother’s Day to kick off National Women’s Health Week.

The OWH Region V office is responsible for activities in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. The OWH Region VI office is responsible for activities in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.

"McAlpine Consulting for Growth was instrumental in making Women Out Walking a success. They are ideal for projects that need detail, organization and efficiency. Staff are skilled at communicating necessary information, responding quickly and most importantly having a great sense of humor – all critical ingredients when working with a large institution like the federal government!"

– Michelle Hoersch, Regional Women’s Health Coordinator for Region V, Office on Women’s Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

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