Portfolio
Bio:
Elizabeth Jennings, nonprofit geek, is curious about people who live outrageously creative lives, and the networks and organizations they cultivate in order to grow community. Focusing on nonprofit advocacy and capacity-building, she is a writer, editor, trainer and consultant living in Bellingham (Whatcom County), Washington. MizInformation provides coaching and consulting, including referrals to other nonprofit experts in the field who may be able to meet your needs.
Projects:
- Practical and inspiring training.
- Coaching new and growing leaders.
- Informing and educating through print and broadcast media.
- Assessing and planning for strong community-based organizations.
MizInformation has partnered with the following outrageous community-builders:
Action Without Borders/Idealist.org. Albany County SAFE Project. Amnesty International USA. City of Bellingham. Community to Community Development. CommunityWise Bellingham. Leadership Whatcom. Northwest Training Institute. San Juan Island School District. Snowy Range Nonprofit Institute. United Way of Whatcom County. University of Wyoming Center for Volunteer Service. Western Washington University. Whatcom Alliance for Healthcare Access. Whatcom Coalition for Healthy Communities. Whatcom Peace & Justice Center. Wyoming Library Association. And many more.
Publications:
150+ articles published in newspapers, magazines, and online publications, including: Bellingham Business Journal; Bellingham Herald; Casper Star Tribune; Bloomington Beacon; Frontiers; Laramie Daily Boomerang; Owen Wister Review; Rawlins Daily Times; UW AlumNews; UWyo Magazine; and more.
Features:
- “Health Impacts of Infill? Planning Strategies to Reduce Chronic Disease: A Letter to the Bellingham Planning Commission” WhatcomCounts.org, Whatcom Coalition for Healthy Communities, June 7, 2009
- “How to Start Your Cross-Sector Relationship,”Bellingham Business Journal, October 31, 2007
- “Cross-Sector Collaborations Meet Local Needs,” Bellingham Business Journal, August 31, 2007
- “Cross-Sector Collaborations Spur Economic Vitality,”Bellingham Business Journal, February 29, 2007
- “How Matthew’s Death is Changing Our Town,” Bloomington (Indiana) Beacon, November 2009
News:
- “Ranchers React to Spring Storms,” Laramie Daily Boomerang, April 9, 1997
Professional Experience:
- MizInformation Consulting: Writing, editing, workshop development, nonprofit consulting and training services: Principal, 1996–present
- Human Services & Rehabilitation Program, Woodring College of Education, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA: Faculty, December 2010-present. Teaching Nonprofit Management, and Program Planning & Evaluation.
- United Way of Whatcom County, Bellingham, WA: Campaign Executive, September-November 2010
- Whatcom Coalition for Healthy Communities, Bellingham, WA: Executive Director, June 2007-November 2010
- Whatcom Alliance for Healthcare Access, Bellingham, WA: Program Coordinator, Volunteers and Special Projects, August 2005–June 2007
- Center for Volunteer Service, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY: Program Advisor, July 2003–July 2005
- Action Without Borders–Idealist.org, New York, NY: Editor, June 2001–March 2003
- University of Wyoming First-Year Program, Laramie, WY: Instructor: Fall Semesters 1999 and 2001
- Rocky Mountain Geology, Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY: Managing Editor and PR Coordinator, July 1998–June 2001
- Laramie Daily Boomerang, Laramie, WY: News reporter, December 1996–July 1998
Workshops & Trainings (sample):
- “Asset-Mapping: Tools for Strengths-Based Community Development,” WWU Education guest presentation, September 2010
- “We Accomplish What we Measure: Board Governance Planning,” Whatcom Peace & Justice Center, Bellingham, WA, April 2010
- “From Legislative Eduction to Lobbying: Tools for Nonprofit Advocacy,” Whatcom Council of Nonprofits Peer Learning Brown Bag Discussions, Bellingham, WA, fall 2006-2010
- “Nonprofit Advocacy: Tools for Making the Ask,” WWU Human Services guest presentations, Bellingham, WA, January 2007-2010
- “Community-Based Research: Tools and Tips,” Western Washington University Human Services guest lecture, Bellingham, WA, September 2008
- “Developing Volunteer Leaders,” Northwest Training Institute, Everett, WA, Summer 2007
- “Human Rights Education for Youth Services Workers,” Northwest Training Institute, Bellingham, WA, March 2007
- “Medicare Part D: Understanding Your New Rx Benefit,” WA Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors, 20+ urban and rural locations in Whatcom County, WA, 2005–2007
- “Bridging the Red-Blue Divide: Organizing for Human Rights in/with Rural America,” Amnesty International USA Annual General Meeting, Portland, Oregon, 2006
- “Nonprofit Advocacy: Rural Strategies,” Snowy Range Nonprofit Institute, Laramie, WY, August 2004
- “Community Leadership from the Inside Out,” keynote address, Leadership Laramie Graduation, Laramie Chamber of Commerce, December 2004
- “Building a Volunteer Management Program,” Wyoming Library Association, Casper, WY, July 2004
- “Breaking the Silence: High School Students Can Stop Rape,” Friday Harbor High School, San Juan Island, WA, February 2004
- “Women’s Human Rights Activism: Rocky Mountain Regional Case Study,” Women’s Studies Section, Western Social Sciences Annual Conference, Las Vegas, April 2003
- “Rape as a War Crime: An Activist’s Perspective,” University of Washington Conference to End Rape as a Tactic of War, Seattle, May 2003
- “Domestic Violence as Torture: Human Rights Tools for DV Advocates,” at each fall and spring Albany County SAFE Project volunteer advocate training 2001-2005
- “Put Your Idealism to Work: Finding Jobs and Internships with Nonprofits,” University of Wyoming Internship and Job Fair, February 2003, and at Colorado University–Boulder Nonprofit Career Fair, October 2002 and October 2001
- “Economic, Social and Culture Rights ARE Human Rights,” Amnesty International USA Western Regional Conference, October 2002
- “Nonprofit Advocacy, From Grassroots PR to Lobbying for Public Policy: What Your Organization Can and Should be Doing,” University of Wyoming distance learning Master’s of Public Administration nonprofit management teleconferencing course, November, 2002
- “Women’s Human Rights in the 21st Century: Awareness to Action,” University of Wyoming Symposium for the Eradication of Social Inequality, Laramie, 2001
Education:
- Certificate, Professional Mediation Training, Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center, 2009
- M.A. in American Studies, University of Wyoming, Laramie, August 2005
- Certificate in Human Rights Education, Trainer of Trainers, University of Minnesota Law School Human Rights Center, Minneapolis, 2001
- B.A. in English, University of Wyoming, Laramie, December 1995
Local & National Leadership (sample):
- Whatcom Council of Nonprofits: 2006–present, Steering Committee, Advocacy Workgroup, Outreach Workgroup
- CommunityWise Bellingham: 2011-present, Advisory Board
- Washington Nonprofits: 2010-present, Board Nominating Committee
- Center for Volunteer Service Advisory Committee, Western Washington University: 2009-present, Strategic Planning Work Group, CSL Advisory Committee
- Medina Foundation: 2009-present, Grant Nominator
- City Club of Bellingham: 2009-present, Board member, Program Committee
- Bellingham Neighborhood Planning Academy: 2006, Sunnyland Neighborhood representative; Mayor’s Code & Character Task Force, 2008
- Albany County SAFE Project: 2001–2005, board member; 2002–2005, board president
- Snowy Range Nonprofit Institute: 2002–2005, Curriculum Committee, Workshop Trainer; 2003–2005, Coordinator, SRNI Fellowship Program
- Wyoming State Attorney General’s Office, Division of Victim Services: 2004–2005, statewide VOCA/VOWA grant reviewer
- Amnesty International USA: 1996–present. Sample from 15 leadership positions
- National Trainer, 1999–present
- Western Regional Planning Group (regional board of directors), member 2001–2004, 2006–present; co-chair, 2001–2004; chair, 2006–2010
- National Strategic Plan Implementation Workgroup, 2007–2008