rooted. | issue 1 NEXT STEPS FORWARD
EVOLVING THE COMMUNITY AMBASSADOR ECOSYSTEM
By: DeAmon Harges Founder, The Learning Tree
The creation of the Ambassador Leadership Team was initiated to cultivate and sustain collaboration between The Indianapolis Foundation (TIF) and the communities in Marion County that are often overlooked when developing solutions. This team is responsible for leading and stewarding the ideas, actions, and processes of the collective team of Ambassadors. The full Ambassador team, including those on the leadership team, continues to represent community members who are eager to contribute to solving challenges. Since inception, every Ambassador has been invited into the collective because they are already making a difference in their community. Our growth began at the request of TIF and the community’s call to see more evidence of change. In the past five years, the team has not only expanded but also strengthened our impact. Together, we established guiding principles, formalized practices, and now, embracing a higher level of collective strategy development. With this in mind, we have evolved into a more intentional model where seasoned Ambassadors use their strengths and talents to create a leadership container. Their role is to support and help develop the gifts of the Ambassadors as they continue to serve their community. This change will involve helping the Ambassadors tell the stories of their acts of agency, build strategies that align with the strategic pillars of TIF and continue advocating for their communities. The Leadership Team will also directly support the nurturing of the relationship between The Indianapolis Foundation and the full team of Ambassadors. This team meets bimonthly to strategize, create meeting agendas and coordinate collaborations. Ambassador Leadership Team Members: DeAmon Harges, Founder/CEO, The Learning Tree (TLT) Gifts: Gifted listener, motivator and connector with an ability to friend-raise in ways that cultivate mutuality. Role: Center the mission of a beloved community using an abundant framework. Hold the accountability of the team to our mission, values and practices. Eric “Wildstyle” Paschall, Co-Founder of The Learning Tree (TLT), Riverside Ambassador Gifts: Wildstyle’s instincts for capturing and illustrating the value of communities acting in agency. He has a large social capital base that he can mobilize with the ambassadors. Role: 1. Manage and nurture the relationship between TLT, the Ambassadors and TIF. He will work with Leigh Evans and DeAmon Harges to cultivate deep relationships that strengthen communities in Marion county. 2. Facilitate meetings and alongside other leaders come up with agendas for our by weekly meetings. 3. Collaborating with Le’Deana Brown on story strategy and infusion into TIF’s communication channels. Beatrice Beverly, Founder of Genesys Solutions, Co-Founder of Stop The Violence Indianapolis, Martindale-Brightwood Ambassador Gifts: Beatrice is a born leader. She is a versatile visionary that believes in and cares for some of our most vulnerable populations. She helps people imagine new possibilities via meaningful connections. Role: 1. Act as the point person for data analysis – Beatrice will work with TIF, Director of Learning and Evaluation. Beatrice will help ensure data is collectively gathered through the work of the Ambassadors and NEVI. She will also support building a data framework to be shared TLT and TIF. 2. Supports Ambassador team operations - Beatrice will help create the culture with the team of Ambassadors. She will work directly with TLT consultants to develop a strategic plan for stronger collective impact. Annie Smith, Retired from United Way of Central Indiana, Far Eastside Ambassador Gifts: Annie is a deep listener and can listen to understand what brings people joy. She is great at guiding people to find their paths. Role: 1. Cultivate community healing by listening and coaching Ambassadors to use their gifts. 2. Development and oversight of the onboarding process for new ambassadors 3. Develop Ambassador team building exercises. Le’Deana Brown, Founder of Midwest Leak Magazine, Crooked Creek Ambassador Gifts: Le’Deana’s gifts include bringing people together using social entrepreneurship. She is a deep listener and pays attention to impactful narratives. She is great at seeing and capturing what’s important. Role: 1. Manage, capture, curate and disseminate Ambassador stories as well as the residents of their communities. 2. Act as the point person to work with the TIF ‘s Sr. Director of Communications and Community Engagement to
collaborate on a shared narrative between the Ambassadors and TIF. 3. Train and support Ambassadors storytelling skills and use of technology. 4. Capture stories related to TIF’s Strategic Pillars.
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