Local nonprofit boards attend UCA workshop

The Nonprofit Board Development Workshop Series presented by the UCA Division of Outreach and Community Engagement and the Arkansas Community Foundation Faulkner County recently kicked off.  

The first session titled “Strategic Storytelling Competency:  Tell it Like a Pro!” featured speaker Hilary Trudell, assistant director of field service education at the Clinton School of Public Service.  

Trudell was the producer for nationally distributed podcast “OutLoud Storytelling; Taking Pride.  Taking the Stage.” She used her skills as a theater producer and playwright to involve the characters of Robin Hood and Dorothy from “The Wizard of Oz” to introduce the elements of effective storytelling.

Following Trudell’s introduction, Darren Irby from the American Red Cross, Dr. Jim Karrh of Karrh Consulting and Alison Melson from the Central Arkansas Radiation Therapy Institute (CARTI) served as expert panelists sharing knowledge from years of experience in the field.

Irby, who lives in Conway, is currently serving in the Red Cross Biomedical service area in Arkansas.

Karrh served as the chief marketing officer of Mountain Valley Spring Company and also as a faculty member of three universities including the University of Arkansas Little Rock.

Melson currently serves as the vice president for communications and marketing for CARTI.  

Teams consisting of board members and executives from Alzheimer’s Arkansas, Bethlehem House, Community Action Program of Central Arkansas (CAPCA), Conway EcoFest, the Conway Symphony Orchestra, Glenhaven Ministries and the Women’s Shelter of Central Arkansas participated in the session.  

The workshop series will continue with weekly sessions addressing nonprofit business planning, compliance and board culture. For more information, contact Lesley Graybeal, [email protected], or Gloria Cheshier, [email protected].