Passing the Ball to a Sure Shot

“Given the right support, there is no doubt that the younger generation is ready and willing to assume the thousands of leadership positions baby boomers will be vacating in the coming years.”

This was blogger and young nonprofit professional Rosetta Thurman’s conclusion based on her experience at the Nonprofit 2020: Issues and Awareness From the Next Generation conference in Michigan two weeks ago, in which conference attendees came together to discuss issues surrounding the transition to the next generation of nonprofit leaders.

“Through the innovative open space process, a generation of leaders who don’t normally get to speak up were given voice, shared valuable knowledge and ideas, and brainstormed next steps for the sector,” Thurman wrote last week on her blog Perspectives From the Pipeline.

“For those who are worried or concerned about the state of our sector, I assure you there is no need to fret. Looking around the room on the last day of the conference listening to so many smart and passionate young people eager to develop and stay in the nonprofit world, I was in complete awe of our potential for social change as a sector in transition. Don’t worry baby boomers, it’s okay to go ahead and pass us the ball. Teach us how to slam dunk our way to changing the world we live in. We got next and we’re ready for this new and exciting stage of the game.”

—“Go Ahead and Pass the Ball, We Got Next,” July 30 (http://fromthepipeline.blogspot.com)