We Are For Good Podcast - The Podcast for Nonprofits 335. How to Center Mental Health in Culture + Mission - Kirk Brown
Meet Kirk. He believes managing mental health should be done in community - and he’s got plenty of lived experience & stories to prove it. This executive director and mental health leader has spent 20 years working with economically disadvantaged families and actively recruited rabid fans to become activists in educating, empowering & embracing communities in need. And his org, HANDY Inc, is doing it, one child at a time. Tune in for the story of how a hamster funeral embodied the core of how to care for your mission and people equally. Bring tissues🤧
💡Learn
- Protecting the well-being of the nonprofit superheroes who save lives
- Defining micro and macro harm
- Counsel for NP leaders on prioritizing the well-being of their staff, volunteers, and those surrounding their missions.
- Overview of Handy’s mission
Today’s Guest
Kirk Brown, CEO, HANDY Inc.
Episode Highlights
- Kirk’s story and journey to where he is today (4:00)
- Overview of HANDY (4:05)
- Over the past 2 years reflection (10:00)
- Macro harm that turns into micro hate in communities and homes (12:35)
- How to support your staff through this time in our world (17:00)
- Making the unique case for our needs (24:00)
- Mental Health Today: Kindness is not difficult. (30:00)
- Be a human being and ask your staff: (31:00)
- How are we doing?
- How are you on your 5 year plan?
- If you were me, what would you do different so your job could be easier?
- Kirk’s One Good Thing: You don’t know everything. (37:00)
- How to connect with HANDY Inc. (45:00)
For more information and episode details visit: www.weareforgood.com/episode/335
About our Sponsor Neon One
Technology alone can’t solve the challenges nonprofits face. That’s why Neon One provides software that empowers you to manage constituents all while giving you the resources and support you need to connect to what matters most - your people and their passions. Learn more about how Neon One is helping nonprofits create stronger connections by visiting neonone.com/weareforgood.
📅 Don't Miss These Free Upcoming Events! 👇
APRIL 29: Working Session Live: Forecast Your Monthly Giving Growth in 2026 with Dana Snyder (and the pathways to get you there!)
MAY 14: ImpactUp: Story This quarter, we're going deep on your most powerful (and underused) tool - Story. Local meetups happening worldwide. Find one near you.
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