The Nudge Report (4/2/2021)
National Rebuilding Day - Saturday, April 24th!
Each year on the last Saturday in April, National Rebuilding Day encourages organizations and volunteers to pick up their tools and roll up their sleeves. On this day and over the weekend, tens of thousands of volunteers join together to provide much-needed and sometimes critical and life-saving repairs, for vulnerable families in their communities.
The work done by volunteers is at no cost to the families. Monies for materials are raised through sponsorships, donations, and in-kind gifts. Volunteers come together from area businesses, schools, faith-based organizations, civic and community groups and associations and work selflessly to help others.
This will be the first National Rebuilding Day (NRD) we’ve participated in since April 2018! This will be our initial effort engaging volunteers this year! This will be the first NRD for Scott! We’re focusing on outside work and getting back in the saddle serving our neighbors.
Welcome to Scott!
Scott “officially” began as our Construction Manager yesterday! He’s already been involved in many repairs over the past several months! He’s met many of our neighbors and enjoys the time spent chatting with them!
New Partnership for National Rebuilding Day!
Our RT Green Team – in partnership with Shore Rivers and their River Friendly Yards initiative – will work with a neighbor and begin the creation of a River Friendly Yard!
A River-Friendly Yard mimics the natural environment to benefit water quality. Even if you are not on the waterfront, every drop of water from your property is carried to our rivers. We are learning that stitching together small habitats into conservation corridors may make the essential difference we need for all species, including our own, to thrive. In a time when it is easy to feel despondent about our environmental future, there is real hope in your yard of any size. Enjoy beautiful native plantings; create bird and pollinator habitats; improve soggy lawns and basements; and help ShoreRivers achieve our vision of healthy waterways across Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
In support of our mission to revitalize our community, we are in discussion with their Director of Community Engagement, Darran Tilghman, to explore ways how we can join forces every time we serve a neighbor.
New [Re]Visit Initiative!
A bit of background… One of the “ultimate” aspirations for most organizations is to strive to ensure everyone who comes into contact with the organization has a “transformative” experience. In other words, we want people to wonder “what’s happening at Rebuilding Together Kent County?” Why are they so enthusiastic? Why do they go beyond what seems reasonable? Why do they do things a bit differently? Why do they care so much?
This transformative experience extends to our donors, vendors, volunteers, board, community organizations, foundations, and, of course, our neighbors.
Personally, I have attempted to be the biggest cheerleader and the most enthusiastic supporter of Rebuilding Together Kent County.
[Re]Visit initiative: I will be reaching out to 100 people we’ve interacted with over the past 2 years. I’ll be revisiting our contractors, vendors, donors, volunteers, foundations and neighbors - neighbors we’ve done repairs for and neighbors that applied and we were unable to help. My goal is to contact people over the next 100 days to see how they remember their experience with us. I’ll report each week about my progress and their responses.
Around the town…
Jon Hanley was seen in the fountain this past week - getting it ready for the season!
Jen Rickert has accepted the position of Administrative Assistant for Sam Shoge, the Executive Director of the Kent County Chamber. (Apparently, supporting just ONE Executive Director wasn’t enough!)
AmeriCorps Update!
We’ve been approved to participate in the AmeriCorps program for this September! Genevieve has been approved as the AmeriCorps supervisor and will be attending training. The position we will be filling is a new position called “Neighbor Care Coordinator.” We will now begin the marketing efforts to attract someone to join us here in Chestertown for a transformative year of service! (Well, 11 months!)
- Wayne
Board Resource Page link > Board Resource Page
Rebuilding Together Kent County is the most impactful nonprofit in Kent County!
Repairing homes, revitalizing communities, rebuilding lives. Safe homes and communities for everyone.
…ending substandard housing in our community!