The Role of Millennials in Reshaping a Sector
Our environmental resources are diminishing, our economy is crumbling, and according to a Washington Post Breaking News Alert that came in as I was writing this, “more Americans are going hungry” (49 million to be precise). Even as our problems seemingly become more and more complex, we are also being asked to take the reins, to look to the future and to predict what’s next for the nonprofit sector. We know that business as usual (if ever there was such a thing) is no longer going to cut it and it seems we’ll never go back to our pre-crisis standing. So, how do we take hold of this moment in time, and what role will the rising generation of Millennials have in helping lead the change?
Earlier this month, the James Irvine Foundation released a new study, Convergence: How Five Trends Will Reshape the Social Sector. In it, LaPiana Consulting outlines five ways the nonprofit sector will be redefining its role, noting that, “The nonprofit sector is at an inflection point that will fundamentally reshape it long after the recession, when surviving nonprofits find themselves in a new reality — not just economically, but demographically, technologically and socially.” The five trends focus on the following areas:
- Demographic shifts that redefine participation
- Abundant technological advances
- Networks that enable work to be organized in new ways
- Rising interest in civic engagement and volunteerism
- Blurring sectoral boundaries
While reading the report, I couldn’t help but reflect back almost two years ago, to the beginning of Social Citizens. As I worked with Allison Fine to develop the key themes of the report, you’ll find some commonalities. Remember, our goal was to see how the future of the nonprofit sector was being reimagined through the lens of the Millennial Generation. We defined a social citizen as someone who is, “energetic and passionate about social causes; brimming with new approaches and ideas for problem solving; disposed toward sharing the responsibilities and rewards of affecting change in the world; and using digital tools and people power (on and offline social networks) to make it happen.”
We found some distinguishing characteristics of “social citizens” – let’s take them point for point in comparison to the above study.
- Demographic shifts: Millennials are the most ethnically diverse generation in our history
- Technological advances: Millennials are net natives, growing up with cell phones in tow
- Organized Networks: Millennials go against hierarchical structures and have adopted a new collaborative style of leadership
- Civic engagement/volunteering: Millennials are volunteering at the highest rates of any generation
- Sector Boundaries: Millennials are merging lines between for profit and nonprofit structures and concepts. Social activism has become a new marketplace where goods and services are exchanged not just for money and profit, but good social outcomes.
I applaud the Convergence report for pointing out what’s changing and what it will take to survive amid these changes, and I hope that as a sector we’ll begin to break down some of the generational boundaries that still abound. Call me naïve or an idealistic Millennial, but there has perhaps never been a better time to experiment, to let go of the status quo, and to embrace new opportunities for change. We need to look at the world through a new lens.
The rising generation has a lot of ideas, and we’re being invited to more tables as evidenced by the record number of NextGener’s who participated at the Independent Sector Conference earlier this month. Since Millennials seem to be inclined toward the types of behaviors that will shape the future of the sector, don’t you think greater cross generational collaboration could help ensure a smoother transition? How can we continue to bridge these generational gaps and recognize we're all in this together?
Comments
Kari,
Great post! I like how you link Irvine's report (which I wasn't aware of) with Social Citizens. I think your question of how to promote cross-generational collaboration is really key. There are some compelling stories emerging from organizations like On the Move (www.onthemovebayarea.org) where a cross-generational framework is built into the DNA of the organizational culture. Consequently, they're doing great work. Maybe someone should start a "Story Corps" around this issue as it would be helpful to see how folks are concretely embodying the trends you outline.
I think part of bridging the gap you refer to involves creating the time and space within and across organizations for people of different ages to really listen and talk with each other and to start to build authentic working relationships. This also means actually taking steps to share power and leadership (and the stage). While it was good to see the number of Miliennials at the IS conference, their presence wasn't reflected in kind in terms of the plenaries.
Anyway, cross-generational collaboration, learning, leadership -- all that good stuff -- is far easier said than done, but as you say it is imperative that it begin to happen in a variety of contexts and at a range of levels.
Best,
John
Thanks for your comment John, and for introducing me to the work of On the Move - an interesting model, indeed.
You raised the importance of creating time and space within and across organizations to foster authentic cross generational working relationships, and I agree that getting that just right is going to take some creativity and a willingness on both ends of the spectrum to be heard and respected. I think you and I agree it was great to see so many Next Gener's at the Independent Sector Conference, but perhaps a separate track at conferences for these rising sector leaders isn't the answer. Perhaps if they were more intentionally weaved into the existing programming and plenaries (as you suggest) it would open the door for an even greater opportunity for authentic dialogue and exchange.
In any case, thanks for kicking off the conversation here.
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I think part of bridging the gap you refer to involves creating the time and space within and across organizations for people of different ages to really listen and talk with each other and to start to build authentic working relationships. This also means actually taking steps to share power and leadership (and the stage). While it was good to see the number of Miliennials at the IS conference, their presence wasn't reflected in kind in terms of the plenaries.
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It’s easy to think that our tight-knit community is all there is – and we forget that there is a whole world of opportunity out their for us…all of us. There’s plenty to go around and, in both our personal and professional endeavors, there are going to be people and businesses who are going down very similar paths.
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You raised the importance of creating time and space within and across organizations to foster authentic cross generational working relationships, and I agree that getting that just right is going to take some creativity and a willingness on both ends of the spectrum to be heard and respected. I think you and I agree it was great to see so many Next Gener's at the Independent Sector Conference, but perhaps a separate track at conferences for these rising sector leaders isn't the answer. Perhaps if they were more intentionally weaved into the existing programming and plenaries (as you suggest) it would open the door for an even greater opportunity for authentic dialogue and exchange. ที่พักปราณบุรี
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