Reframe Conference Learnings
Mountain T.O.P. was a founding member of the Reframe Association, now called the Coalition for Home Repair. Each year, the Coalition hosts a conference that offers guest speakers and breakout sessions that help nonprofits learn more about advocacy, home repair, volunteer management, fundraising, organizational development, and marketing. We are proud to be part of a national network of organizations dedicated to the repair and rehabilitation of homes across the country. As you can see, our staff learned a lot!
From Jacey
The impact this year’s Reframe conference made on me is immeasurable. I went last year, but because of being new in my role and only having experienced Fall AIM, I was not able to fully comprehend the knowledge and advice each speaker was giving out. This year, I was able to understand the knowledge and apply it to not only our AIM programs, but YSM, Day Camp, Summer Plus, and Summer Staff, too! One of the biggest takeaways from this conference for me was how important organizational development is and how it affects every single aspect of your non-profit; from staffing capacity to your mission statement, it is crucial to make sure all of the small values align so that the big values can come to fruition. I am so thankful I got to go this year and am so grateful for the opportunity!
From Annabel
One of my favorite aspects of The Coalition for Home Repair’s annual conference is the community. It was my third time attending and I got to catch up with some of the amazing and passionate people I’ve been collaborating with since Reframe last year. The welcoming environment created every year opens the door for problem-solving conversations and questions.
In one of the sessions, I learned more about the history, codes, and new funding opportunities for manufactured homes and trailers. In Mountain T.O.P.’s service area, there’s an abundance of trailers and often not many solutions to common repair and weatherization problems. Now I feel more confident in our ability to address repairs and seek out grants to help cover the cost that the majority of homeowners can’t afford. I also learned a lot from the session on pest extermination: the best way to find out how many and what kind of pests you’re dealing with, as well as how to safely remove them to keep a home healthy.
From Jane
Going to the Reframe Conference hosted by the Coalition for Home Repair was invaluably informative and loads of fun! I often chose sessions that were fundraising-specific or organizationally beneficial. One of the sessions I attended was led by a Memphian leader who previously was the executive director of Service Over Self. I have always admired this camp/organization for its diverse programs and its impact on my hometown, so gaining wisdom from Phillip Walkley felt like a full-circle moment. Another session that I felt had an immense impact on me was Melanie Campbell’s session on the potential impact that LinkedIn can have on a marketing strategy. Both of these sessions highlight the unexpected knowledge that I gained from Reframe, not only for my specific job but for Mountain T.O.P. as a whole. I am excited to employ these strategies, tips, and tricks for things I encounter day to day such as grant writing and donor acquisition!