ImmunE Boosting tips
Like learning about science? So do we. See why we chose these 12.
Check out our Immune Booster Facts (where the QR code on our card deck lands).
What are YOUR favorite immune boosting practices?
Discuss.
school leader Interview results
I. Successes To Be Inspired By:
We heard about hiking clubs, yoga, a violinist, regular therapy, wellness committees -- check out our five success areas of what other schools are doing for school staff wellness.
II. Challenges and Barriers to Learn From
Every school has barriers to wellness -- and looking at these themed challenges might feel familiar, yet all of them have solutions. We can shine a light on challenges and solve them together.
III. Recommendations to consider
Nonprofit Wellness has tools, tips and suggestions for how to overcome the challenges and barriers your school community may face in the coming year.
Who we interviewed
Nonprofit Wellness conducted the first phase of this study between March-June 2021. We utilized surveys and interviews to understand teacher wellness in all eight wards of Washington D.C. Most quotes are from 8 school leader interviews; some are from open-ended survey responses. All are confidential/anonymous.
Get in touch
Do you need help with your school wellness plans for SY 24-25? Let us know: office (at) nonprofit wellness (dot) org
nonprofit pilot results: we care for others, but not selves
Finding #1 We're not healthy
Finding #1 We're not healthy
Finding #1 We're not healthy
Our Pilot looked at how stress and wellness tools affect individuals, teams, and organizations. There are five findings and five recommendations in the Wellness Equity report.
FINDING #1
Participants judged themselves, overall, as having poor individual health. Most self-reported “some progress” over the six months of the Pilot.
Wellness was ranked on energy level, work-life balance, work satisfaction/commitment, productivity level, and physical fitness. The most significant improvements from the beginning of the pilot to the end were improved rankings with physical health and energy level, with increases averaging 12% and 11%, respectively.
Other Findings
Finding #1 We're not healthy
Finding #1 We're not healthy
2. Off-site individual benefits were great, and sometimes frustrating.
3. Of the individual benefits, the phone-based benefits were most accessible and popular.
4. On-site group benefits were unexpectedly appreciated (even with low rates of use).
5. Fostering a culture of wellness takes time and engagement by organizational leadership.
Who participated?
Finding #1 We're not healthy
Our first 60-person cohort involved the following 13 organizations:
The Advancement Project
Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance
First Focus
Florida House DC
Free Minds Book Club
German Marshall Fund of the U.S.
Justice Policy Institute
Nat'l Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice
Reading Partners DC
Tahirih Justice Center
UndocuBLACK
(2 unlisted organizations)
Our Pilot cohort was 82% female, 65% people of color, 52% lower-income, and 22% have an invisible disability or chronic illness.
Participant comments...
“We had an entire retreat framed around self care and our communication has gotten a lot better. And I think our staff team, the culture has always been really positive and friendly, and with our staff now, our director prioritizes communication, self care and work life balance...That message has gotten a lot stronger since the Pilot.” (RPDC)
"[Coaching over five months] ...really helped me think through a lot of personal challenges that were creating mental blocks for me in the workplace. And then we had some really solid, specific, actionable advice for challenges." (APALA)
"The group that did yoga together, we're talking about it all week and enjoyed it a lot. Given the political climate, women and people of color are experiencing a lot of stress, and I think that it’s negatively impacting our mental health." (NLIRJ)
"And, it's okay to take time for yourself, go to the gym, go do yoga, self care, it's extremely important ... The pilot was a phenomenal opportunity to gain access to some wellness training from top-notch institutions that I wouldn’t have been able to afford otherwise." (FMBC)
Five Recommendations
Five Recommendations
Spoiler Alert: here are the Five Recommendations of what nonprofits need:
1. Wellness Equity: those who suffer the most stress deserve the most resources
2. User-led design and inclusive structures for sustainability
3. Supporting high-stress nonprofit sectors, like K-12 education
4. Exploring the benefits of team health
5. Proactively devoting resources
a few "team" wellness ACTIVITIES we offered in the pilot...
Sweat together / stick together
The Pilot included workouts, like sweaty Pilates demonstrations with Ty Powell at FMBC. "Going through tough things together, it bonds you," says Ty. "You are tougher than you think."
Dance together
The Pilot included movement, like this salsa lesson with Baila4Life.org and TJC. We also offered "Movement Dialogues" with Kelly King and workshops with Joe's Movement Emporium.
Relax together
Travel together
The Pilot included "community acupuncture" where co-workers received hand/ear/foot treatments in small groups (like TAP)
Travel together
Travel together
It's not just the destination, it's also the journey. When your movement is mindful it is good for physical AND mental health. Capital Bikeshare donated memberships to some Pilot participants.
Be strong together
Meeting new friends and procuring new gear are nice side benefits of a workout habit. UnderArmour helped the Pilot with both. Thanks to UA and to Patagonia for hosting classes!
Let lessons sink in
"Corpse pose" is one of the most healing parts of yoga class, where cellular repair occurs and a quiet community is nurtured. Here the Latina Initiative staff experience deep rest in savasana after a bilingual yoga class.