Convening: Self-care for Those Working to Serve Others
Please enjoy the recording of our most recent West Foundation community convening: Self-care for Those Working to Serve Others! This is a discussion on resources and practices to promote wellbeing within yourself and your organization.
Visit our YouTube channel to see recordings of some of our other convenings!
Featured Speakers
Nancy Mortifee – Dean, Inner Work Programs at The Wellbeing Project
Nancy is a passionate educator, author and community builder who has been committed to the Wellbeing project since its genesis. Nancy recognizes TWP as an exciting evolution in the culture of social change, supporting the intrinsic link between inner wellness and positive social impact.
Fundamentally she believes that our world is a kinder and safer place when each of us does our personal work and takes responsibility for how we show up in life. To that end, Nancy’s personal commitment is to explore and lift up her own shadowy areas of internal discord and unconscious behaviour into the light of awareness and when invited, to help others to do the same. It is her conviction that the journey towards self realization leads us to an enhanced state of wellbeing.
The Wellbeing project offers participants an opportunity to engage in their own internal exploration, supported by the loving hands of skilled facilitators and in the company of fellow travellers. Nancy’s belief is that through this collective journey, each of us can more deeply receive the love, joy and beauty of life while compassionately holding ourselves in the face of the inevitable suffering that life also brings.
In addition to her role as Dean of Inner Work Programs, Nancy shares her Mindfulness, Intimacy and Wellbeing training in private practice. Earlier in her career she co-authored the book “Mind Power for Children – a Guide for Parents and Teachers” translated into six languages and the school based Mindfulness Education for Children Program (ME).
Nancy lives in Vancouver, B.C. with her husband Peter. Together they enjoy their four beautiful grown children, two delightful grandkids and at least one walking adventure every year.
Susanna Wu-Pong Calvert, PhD – Foundation for Family and Community Healing
Following a 26-year career in higher education, Dr. Susanna Wu-Pong Calvert, MAPP, PhD became the Founder and Executive Director of a 501(c)3 nonprofit, the Foundation for Family and Community Healing (www.HealingEdu.org) which aims to help all of humanity to become more resilient in their mental, emotional, and relationship health and wellbeing. During her career, she has published almost 100 journal articles, books, and book chapters, and has written hundreds of blogs for Psychology Today, Brainz Magazine, the Silver Lining blog, and through FFCH. Dr. Calvert is also a radio show host, and a consultant (www.SusannaCalvert.com) with a passion for helping individuals and organizations find and pursue their calling and the highest versions of themselves, a reiki master, energy healer, and intuitive.
Natalie Rekstad – Founder & CEO at Black Fox Philanthropy
Natalie Rekstad leads a purpose-driven life as the Founder and CEO of Black Fox Philanthropy, a leading fundraising strategy firm serving global NGOs that exists to accelerate the social sector’s effectiveness in solving complex problems on a global scale. As a B Corp, Black Fox Philanthropy measures the triple bottom line of people, planet, and profit.
She is a sought after panelist, speaker, and resource for a variety of organizations and universities on the topic of philanthropy, the social sector, and fundraising. She has been featured in dozens of local and national media outlets including CBS, NBC, Dollars and Change Podcast, Huffington Post, Denver Woman Magazine (Cover Story), and is profiled in the book “America’s Leading Ladies” profiling fifty women leaders and features Melinda Gates, Oprah Winfrey, among others. She has also been awarded “2019 Top Philanthropist of the Year” by IAOTP, and is a Conscious Company Magazine 2020 “World Changing Woman” honoree. Further, Natalie helps build fundraising capacity for NGOs through a series of trainings held around the world, including as a delegate and contributor to the ecosystems of the Skoll World Forum, the World Economic Forum, and Opportunity Collaboration.
Natalie’s core belief is that the future hinges upon a more just and gender-balanced world. To that end, she is a former trustee of The Women’s Foundation of Colorado and is investing significant resources to advance their mission of accelerating economic opportunities for women and girls. Her firm funds a Girls, Inc. scholarship entitled “Black Fox Scholars,” rewarding high school girls for excellence in philanthropy. Natalie is a Women Moving Millions member and an MCE Social Capital Guarantor; a delegate of the UN’s Commission on the Status of Women. She is a gender-lens angel investor and serves on the Global Advisory Board of World Pulse. Further, she is a newly minted member of Founders Pledge.
Natalie is also an award-winning children’s book author: “The Secret Adventures of Anonymouse,” a random acts of kindness/philanthropy/SEL picture book aimed at 3 – 6-year-olds. It is being translated into over a dozen languages worldwide, reaching over 100 million children through social-emotional learning (SEL) curriculum designed by Think Equal, based in the UK.