Posts Tagged ‘Philadelphia’

Fall Events Almost Finished

Wednesday, November 16th, 2011

by Ginger Donnan

This autumn was our busiest yet with seven single day events in New York and New Jersey and three multiple-day conferences in Chicago, Philadelphia and Baltimore.

We started the season by helping a law firm with a client conference at the Harvard Club in NYC when they were short-staffed. Ten days later we moved downtown for the Autism Speaks to Wall Street Chef Gala to manage the check-in process and volunteers. Then, mid-October, it was time for the five New Jersey Light the Night Walks that take place on two simultaneous Saturdays. One of our biggest projects of the year, we started working on the logistics for these events back in March and were thrilled to see the growth in attendance and funds raised by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

This month, we executed two more of Public Interest Projects’ convenings, including our third for the U.S. Human Rights Fund and our first for the Elev8 middle school initiative, a conference that ends today. These events included booking travel for over 100 people each and coordinating meeting, meal and transportation needs.

None this would have been possible without the help of such a dedicated team. Now it’s time for the rest and recuperation that comes with the holidays and planning for 2012 events, including the 5th Annual Communities for Education Reform Convening.

What events are on your horizon?

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Inspiration at the U.S. Human Rights Fund Convening

Thursday, November 10th, 2011

by Ginger Donnan

Last night I returned from handling the logistics for the U.S. Human Rights Fund’s (USHRF) convening in Philadelphia. For the past three years, this event has brought together funders and advocates working towards common goals such as criminal justice reform, racial equity and developing youth leadership for social justice causes. Much of the convening was devoted to small-group workshops but the first day was devoted to a motivating opening plenary, followed by a presentation of the first USHRF Human Rights Hero Award to Jessica Lenahan.

Prior to working on this convening, I had never heard of Jessica Lenahan. But before I made the travel arrangements for our VIP, I knew I needed to know more. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights showed up first on google with this information:

“Jessica Lenahan…obtained a restraining order against her ex-husband from the Colorado Courts in May 21, 1999.  Not knowing the whereabouts of her daughters, Jessica Lenahan had eight contacts with the Castle Rock Police Department during the evening of June 22, 1999 and the morning of June 23, 1999.  In each of her telephone calls and discussions with the police agents, she requested efforts to locate her daughters and she informed them that she possessed a protection order against Simon Gonzales. Her contacts were met with a police response that was fragmented, uncoordinated and unprepared, and it did not respect the terms of the restraining order. That morning, Simon Gonzales drove his pick-up truck to the Castle Rock Police Department and fired shots through the window. There was an exchange of gunfire with officers from the station in the course of which he was fatally wounded and killed. The deceased bodies of the three girls were found in his truck.”

Luckily, I was sitting down when I read this and when I learned the rest of Jessica’s story while at the convening. I thought that what had happened to her was a blow so fierce that a person would never be able to withstand more hurt and heartache within their lifetime. But it was only after viewing this video at the convening, did I learn that Jessica’s struggle only just began with that violent day in 1999:

Jessica has spent the past 12 years fighting for women’s and children’s rights against domestic abuse and for enforcement of the laws that were meant to keep her family safe. It was a humbling honor to help to bring together a group that will use Jessica’s story as inspiration for their ongoing human rights advocacy.

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Back from the Birthplace of American Democracy

Tuesday, June 9th, 2009

We’re back from Public Interest Projects’ 2nd Annual Communities for Public Education Reform Convening in Philadelphia. Two hundred community, youth and parent organizers, as well as the foundations that support them, came together to share experiences and improve skills.

It was a busy three days including simultaneous dialogue sessions, site visits to local organizations and entertainment provided by the Kensington Creative and Performing Arts Drum Line and Familia Rojas, a local Puerto Rican Bomba group. Participants also had the opportunity to experience the variety of cuisine that Philadelphia has to offer through a diverse dine-around.

This year’s event was particularly successful due to continual follow-up to invitees until registration was confirmed or released, allowing additional, wait-listed guests the opportunity to attend. In addition, we were able to reduce the event’s budget by 20%.

Now it’s time to start planning next year’s convening!

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2nd Annual CPER Convening

Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009

Public Interest Projects’ 2nd Annual Communities for Public Education Reform Convening and Alliance for Education Justice Meeting were held May 28-June 1, 2009 in Philadelphia for 200 community, youth and parent organizers, as well as the foundations that support them, to come together to share experiences and improve skills. It was a busy three days including simultaneous dialogue sessions, site visits to local organizations and entertainment provided by the Kensington Creative and Performing Arts Drum Line and Familia Rojas, a local Puerto Rican Bomba group. Participants also had the opportunity to experience the variety of cuisine that Philadelphia has to offer through a diverse dine-around.

I wanted to congratulate you and say thanks for a truly outstanding job as event coordinator for the CPER Convening in Philadelphia last week. Your service, planning, and execution were impeccable, and I never saw you once without a smile on your face. My experience at the convening was topnotch, and that was certainly due in part to the arrangements and logistics of the time there. Thank you very much for a professional and flawless performance. – Anne W. Foster, Executive Director, Parents for Public Schools, National Office, May 2009

We hired Ginger Donnan Events to plan our three-day meeting for over 200 nonprofit and philanthropic leaders. Ginger handled every detail flawlessly. She maintained regular communication with our program team throughout the planning process and was a reassuring, flexible, positive presence on-site. Many of our participants commented on her professionalism and excellent attention to detail. I would recommend Ginger Donnan Events enthusiastically and unequivocally. – Julie Kohler, Program Manager, Public Interest Projects, May 2009 and 2008

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