The past year has brought a global pandemic, political unrest, and a more concerted effort to combat systemic racism. Put together, it has created new challenges for leaders in the non-profit sector. Ann Arbor-based "Career Directions" is dedicated to coaching leaders and organization teams and, it too, has found new challenges to overcome. On "Washtenaw United," WEMU's David Fair explores challenges and solutions with Career Directions executive coach/principal, David Gruner.
WEMU has partnered with the United Way of Washtenaw County to explore the people, organizations, and institutions creating opportunity and equity in our area. And, as part of this ongoing series, you’ll also hear from the people benefiting and growing from the investments being made in the areas of our community where there are gaps in available services. It is a community voice. It is 'Washtenaw United.'
ABOUT DAVID GRUNER:
David Gruner has been coaching leaders in non-profits, government and universities for 25 years. He's particularly focused on Washtenaw County non-profit executive directors, their leadership teams, and team leaders.
RESOURCES:
UWWC STATEMENT:
In response to several executive leadership transitions in 2019 among local human service organizations, Career Directions began convening a cohort of seven new nonprofit executives to provide leadership coaching and peer-mentoring. The goal? Build the capacity of local nonprofit leaders to support the overall performance and stability of organizations that provide essential human services to Washtenaw County people. The work of Career Directions, led by David Gruner, focuses on “supporting leaders in higher education, non-profits, government, health care, and business.” (http://www.cdcpi.com/services.html) Other services offered individual coaching, team coaching, and leadership assessment.
In 2020, UWWC joined the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation and invested $10,000 from its COVID Community Recovery Fund for this project focusing its work on supporting professional coaching and leadership development for a cohort of new human service CEOs.
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— David Fair is the WEMU News Director and host of Morning Edition on WEMU. You can contact David at 734.487.3363, on twitter @DavidFairWEMU, or email him atdfair@emich.edu
