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Nonprofit Wellness

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Help us support educators in the twin-demic

We are working with schools to bolster educators' immune systems and soothe their stress levels. We'll focus on DC but share our successes (and failures) freely nationwide via YouTube and social media. And of course we preach "Team-care" more than Self-care (which is never enough, especially for teachers). Please support our new nonprofit by giving a tax-deductible gift that goes directly to supporting school wellness. 

Contribute now

Our story

40 years of learning, two perspectives on burnout

Tyecia “Ty” Powell spent 15 years in schools, Susan Comfort spent 25 years at nonprofits. Both have seen too many of their colleagues — idealistic, intelligent people committed to changing the world — suffer a decline in physical and mental health, often burning out and ultimately leaving their jobs.


When Ty got into teaching, she didn’t realize how much she’d absorb her students’ trauma and relive her own. Despite her investment in a master’s degree, the stress and the happy hour culture drove her out of teaching and into yoga, Pilates, even managing a fitness studio. 


Susan was trained in grassroots organizing, acclimated to the pedal-to-the-metal schedule of political campaigns, and then immersed in the stress of the nonprofit fundraising hamster wheel. She raised $30+ million over the years, mostly for small environmental and education groups. She was also dealing with personal stressors related to bearing and breastfeeding two children, being a working LGBTQ parent, and going through a divorce. 


In 2017, related to the change in administration, Susan saw a plummet in already shaky nonprofit staff well-being in her 20-year adopted home of Washington, DC. While studying organizational development at Georgetown University, she developed a survey to assess the extent of the problem, and then a pilot program to address it at 12 nonprofits over six months. (See the results!)


Susan approached Ty (at the fitness studio) for a donation of classes and instructional time to the Pilot. Ty and Susan both marveled at the dual benefit they observed one fateful day: not only did the staff at the Free Minds Book Club enthusiastically participate in an in-office Pilates class, but they also bonded in a new, special way. The employees begged for another class, this time with their service population of citizens returning from the DC Jail, and the same thing happened — everyone had fun, together, through a shared experience (with music).


And that’s the light-bulb moment: Non-profit employees struggle to make the time for their own well-being, but they’re superstars at helping others. So why not turn their superpowers on co-workers in addition to constituents? When staff are afforded space, time, and institutional support to care for their wellness together, it nurtures their sorely needed self-care, sure. But through vulnerability and mutual accountability, it also improves team trust.


Now Ty and Susan, two native Baltimorean queer women, born a decade apart, have joined forces as co-founders of Nonprofit Wellness is a 501c3 with EIN 87-1866602. 

techsoup "E.D. chat" on team-care w/ susan

Susan Comfort led an "E.D. Chat" with our top Team-care  tools, answering questions with hundreds of Executive Director TechSoup members (10/26/21, 40 min). These tools are available for free on the "resources" tab, above.

Timeline

2015

While directing Playworks DC, Susan receives the Pentagon's “Spiritual Fitness Award” for developing a Brain Breaks lunchtime talk for U.S. Department of Defense civilian staff. This same year, Ty serves as an instructional coach and athletic director at DCPS's West Education Campus, which Playworks was serving, however Susan and Ty don't (yet) meet.

2016

Ty takes a sabbatical from education, becomes certified in Pilates, and starts directing a yoga studio.

2017

Everyone watches nonprofit stress accumulate post-election, and school stress accumulate with new shooting and lockdown drills. Susan fields a Nonprofit Burnout Survey in December, attracting 240 responses from over 100 groups across the country.

2018

Susan begins 8-month Georgetown certificate program on Organizational Development, using the survey responses to design a Nonprofit Pilot that evaluates self-care and team-care wellness interventions at 12 groups in DC. Susan is the only American invited to lead trainings at a TechSoup Europe conference in Romania. This is also the big year that Susan finally meets Ty, whose studio contributed classes to the Pilot. 

2019

Ty begins her dissertation, entitled "Whole Leaders Create Whole Schools," and helps adapt and expand Susan’s  Personal Stress Prescription and Stressor Scorecard tools for an educator audience. An anonymous grant supports publishing the “Wellness Equity Report” on the Nonprofit Pilot.

2020

The year started with two months of weekly webinars to build a YouTube channel, so when the pandemic hit, Susan and Ty were already experienced with online trainings. They expanded Zoom offerings with a growing team of diverse trainers and team-building wellness experiences. Nonprofit Wellness also was chosen for the CityBridge Education venture program, where Susan & Ty received support and mentorship to become official co-founders to scale their school-adjacent programming.

2021

Nonprofit Wellness completes the CityBridge program with a business plan to become a 501(c)3 and serve even more schools and nonprofits. They now support school & nonprofit wellness committees, receiving charitable financial contributions as well as in-kind tools for wellness gear.

Founding Board Members

Susan Comfort, RYT

Tyecia Powell, M.Ed.

Tyecia Powell, M.Ed.

Who Dat: Co-founder, bisexual/bilingual/bipedal whistler from Baltimore. Susan has 30 years of nonprofit and advocacy experience, which brought a lot of stress. Yoga class helped her cope.

Graduate of: Willow Street 400-hour Yoga Teacher Training

Also graduate of: UNC-Chapel Hill (Go Heels!) 

Fave hobby: creating alternative sidewalks

Fave dancing: Salsa, 5 Rhythms

Fave job: Bo Brooks crab house server

Fave mental health boost: Learning K-pop dances via YouTube w/ daughter

Fave exercise: Walking, preferably near water

Fave veggie: anything roasted

Fave 80s Icons: Michael, Janet, Prince, Madonna

Fave city: Bal'mer, hon

Four Tendencies Type: Obliger

Follow @comfortconsulting (IG)

www.nonprofitcomfort.com

meet susan

Tyecia Powell, M.Ed.

Tyecia Powell, M.Ed.

Tyecia Powell, M.Ed.

Who Dat: Co-founder, 17-year education veteran, pursuing Doctorate in Education, passionate about wellness for school leaders after experiencing her own burnout from the classroom and re-entry into schools.

Fave veggie:  broccoli

Fave dog: Bruce 

Fave new hobby:  writing a dissertation, "Whole Leaders Create Whole Schools"

Fave mental health boost: yoga class-- practice heals my mind and my body

Fave kid-show character: Josh from Blues Clues

Fave way to help people face limits: squats, the hot room, planks, yoga poses

Fave book: (impossible; too many!)

Fave school: Sojourner Truth Montessori PCS

Fave quotes: "Waves Will Come. Ride Them." "Show Love & Sow Love"

Four Tendencies Type: Questioner

Follow @tyeciapowell (IG) 

squat with ty

Daniel Medina, PhD, Board Treasurer

Daniel Medina, PhD, Board Treasurer

Daniel Medina, PhD, Board Treasurer

Who Dat: Civil (water) engineer from Bogota, Colombia; Passionate about environmental restoration, regenerative agriculture, and social equity impacts of climate change.

Fave school: Cornell University

Fave dancing: Cumbia

Fave faraway place: Tibet

Fave nature spot: Rocky Mountain National Park

Fave mental health boost: Transcendental meditation

Fave exercise: Yoga, mountain climbing

Fave veggie: Mashed sweet potatoes w/ maple syrup, cardamom, a splash of bourbon (almost no longer a veggie).

Fave fruit: Mangosteen

Fave charity activity: Playing the congas at Jammin4Water benefit (pic).

Fave quote: “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” -- Mary OIiver, The Summer Day

Terri Shuck, Board President

Daniel Medina, PhD, Board Treasurer

Daniel Medina, PhD, Board Treasurer

Who Dat: Yoga teacher, nonprofit leader, education strategist.

Most recently: 12 years as co-founder and executive director of the National Public Education Support Fund, a learning community of the 30+ leading national foundations focused on improving learning opportunities and outcomes for all students in the U.S. 

Where Terri & Susan met: League of Conservation Voters Education Fund (1997)

Where else Terri has worked: Institute for America’s Future, People for the American Way, and the Governmental Accountability Project

Graduate of: Georgetown University

Also graduate of: Willow Street Yoga Center teacher training; join Terri for Let Your Yoga Dance class on Saturday mornings

TRAINING TEAM

Joann Malone & Pat Smith

Joann Malone & Pat Smith

Joann Malone & Pat Smith

"I was diagnosed with severe arthritis in my hands, hips, knees and feet after a car accident in 1992. The pain interfered with sleep and increased to a place that I could not walk around the block. I had lived a very active life, so I wasn’t ready for immobility in my fifties. Today at 80, I live without pain, active, healthy, enjoying life, thanks to the practice of qigong." 


Read more from Joann & Pat


Joann Malone and Patrick Smith have been practicing regularly since 2005.They got certified in 2011 with their acupuncturist and teacher Nianzu Li, and have been teaching Qi Gong at the Takoma Park Recreation Department since 2013.  

Kevin O'Keefe

Joann Malone & Pat Smith

Joann Malone & Pat Smith

Kevin O'Keefe has taught tens of thousands of people to juggle, and now does it online, with simple plastic bags or scarves. Book his juggling workshop or make it a circus-themed year at your office (which some people say is a circus anyway). 


Kevin is the founder of www.CircusMinimus.com and co-creator of Circus Yoga. He is a mindful tennis player and lives in a tiny house in Vermont.

You can book Kevin for an online or in-person juggling training or Circus Minimus show, contract with him for a circus residency, or find him on Instagram @CircusMinimus

Leslie Gray Streeter

Joann Malone & Pat Smith

Leslie Gray Streeter


Leslie created a skill-shop entitled "Grief with Grace" specifically for workplaces grappling with widespread pandemic-related grief. Let us know if you're interested in bringing it (online) to your team.


Leslie is the author of Black Widow: A Sad-Funny Journey through Grief for People Who Normally Avoid Books with Words Like "Journey" in the Title.


She was an entertainment columnist for the Palm Beach Post for years until returning to her hometown of Baltimore with her son, Brooks (and re-connecting with her elementary school friend, Susan). You can find her freshest thoughts on Twitter @lesliestreeter 

Davis Priest

Lynne Streeter Childress

Leslie Gray Streeter

A sophomore at University of Vermont, Davis is an art history major who respects the ancient art of upcycling and co-designs our Mindful Art series.


Davis has perfected the art of Earthalopes, the mindful transformation of discarded paper products into artistic, usable envelopes. 


She trains kids and adults alike on making cards, envelopes, and simple origami while focusing on positive presence and mindful moments. 


Follow @earthalopes on Instagram

Ricardo Loaiza

Lynne Streeter Childress

Lynne Streeter Childress

Hailing from Colombia, Ricardo and his partner Elba Garcia have taught, choreographed, and performed at hundreds of events. 


 In 2008, Ricardo founded the After School Dance Fund, which supports public school dance clubs and produces the annual MCPS Latin Dance Competition at the Music Center at Strathmore.


 A graduate of the Nonprofit Management program at Georgetown, Ricardo worked with the Kennedy Center’s “ArtsEdge” to develop an instructional series, “5(ish) Minute Latin Dance Lessons” and he received Montgomery County’s "Community Award for Excellence in the Arts & Humanities.” 

Lynne Streeter Childress

Lynne Streeter Childress

Lynne Streeter Childress

Founder of Building Better People Productions, Lynne developed a session called “Improv for Teamwork” for nonprofit and school staff. 


Lynne specializes in social emotional learning and educational theatre, and applies these skills to help build trust between co-workers. She works with kids of all ages (including "adults"). 


She coaches, instructs and directs all over the world -- lately, mostly online. Glimpses of her life are on Instagram -- DM her your favorite karaoke song.

Gabby Lubin, M.Ed.

Gabby Lubin, M.Ed.

Gabby Lubin, M.Ed.

Who Dat, Fitness entrepreneur, former Early Childhood Educator, completed master's program at Harvard, supports educators with fitness & mindfulness

Fave veggie: Asparagus

Fave work job: supporting others, children or adults, in their physical and mental growth

Fave school: Bowdoin College

Fave new hobby: Spin at home 

Fave workout: Any Spark by Gabby class: https://www.sparkbygabby.com/

Fave foods: plantains & smoothies  (not together)

Fun fact: named a "2020 Fitness Influencer" in Washingtonian mag; now lives in Chicago

Four Tendencies Type: Thought she was Upholder but is truly a REBEL
Follow @sparkbygabby (IG) 

our GWU-MPH PRACTICUM COHORT #3

Diana Aguilera

Karen Yanoshik

Karen Yanoshik

Who dat: New Yorker, Public Policy and MPH graduate student, passionate about immigrant issues, education, wellness, and health education. 

Fave college: Queens College 
Favorite Fruit: Mangos (so good!) 

Favorite Future Goal: Study Portuguese 
Favorite Exercises: ride bicycle, zumba, dance

Fave Mental Health Boost: organize stuff and hike  

Fave Job: Assistant to the Deputy Director

Fave food: Pupusas 

Fave place: San Miguel City 

Fave show to rewatch:  Bones

Fave hobby:  writing fiction stories

Fave quote:  “Nothing is absolute. Everything changes, everything moves, everything revolves, everything flies and goes away.” Frida Kahlo 

Immune Booster #10: Move with Music

Karen Yanoshik

Karen Yanoshik

Karen Yanoshik

Who Dat: George Washington University MPH student residing in Atlanta. Pursuing a career that impacts population health through attention to mental health, nutrition, and physical activity. 

Most Recently: Ran a small travel company offering cultural group tours. 

Fave Spot: Block Island, RI

Fave Mental Health Boost: Walking my King Charles Cavaliers, listening to a podcast.

Fave Podcasts: The Daily, Crime Junkies, Even the Rich

Fave Veggie: Roast broccolini w/ garlic, olive oil, lemon.

Fave Charity: International OCD Foundation

Graduate of: Smith College

Favorite Quote: “Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.”  - Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Caley Gormley

Karen Yanoshik

Caley Gormley

Who dat:  

GWU Master of Public Health Student, passionate about health policy and helping underserved populations.  


Fave movie: Just Go With It 

Fave Place: Emerald Isle, NC

Fave exercise: Weightlifting 

Fave activity: Baking and walking my dogs, Nugget and River 

Fave Show: Grey’s Anatomy


Fave Quote:

 “Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.” 

- Babe Ruth 

STAY IN TOUch! (we don't send much)

team pix

    The Peace of Wild Things

    Listen...

    When despair for the world grows in me

    and I wake in the night at the least sound

    in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,

    I go and lie down where the wood drake

    rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.

    I come into the peace of wild things

    who do not tax their lives with forethought

    of grief. I come into the presence of still water.

    And I feel above me the day-blind stars

    waiting with their light. For a time

    I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.


    -- Wendell Berry

    stay in touch

    Questions, Comments, Resources, Great Jokes

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    “The greatest wealth is health.” – Virgil

    NonprofitWellness.org

    7009 Aspen Avenue, Takoma Park, Maryland 20912, United States

    susan@nonprofitwellness.org

    TEACHERS say what? some ONLINE TRAINING reviews:

    INTERACTIVITY

    "That was an awesome wellness session! I enjoyed the poll shares and chat shares and it was nice to do breakout groups-- that was way less awkward than a big  group." (teacher at DC public charter school)

    CONCRETE STRATEGIES

    "This was my favorite of the wellness sessions we've had because it was so specific and helpful in giving concrete strategies. I appreciated the background information on what burn out looks and feels like and the opportunity to assess where we were at." (teacher, DC public charter school)

    IMMUNE BOOSTING & MINDFULNESS

    "They gave us a list of 15 bite size things that I could add to my life to boost my immune system/improve my health that I am excited to implement. I particularly enjoyed the 2 minute meditation that allowed me to be in a space of mindfulness after a long day." (teacher, DC public charter school)

    CLASSROOM PERFORMANCE

    "I thoroughly enjoyed this session because it's imperative to ensure this area of your life is in tip to shape, since it affects how well your performance is in the classroom. You want to be the best you possible every day!" (teacher, DC public charter school)

    Help us support educators in the twin-demic

    We are working with schools to bolster educators' immune systems and soothe their stress levels. We'll focus on DC but share our successes (and failures) freely nationwide via YouTube and social media. And of course we preach "Team-care" more than Self-care (which is never enough, especially for teachers). Please support our new nonprofit by giving a tax-deductible gift that supports school wellness  in this challenging  year. 

    Contribute now

    This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.


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