Local Rural Nonprofit Networking Group to Reconvene Meetings

All across Fayette, Colorado, Lavaca, and surrounding counties, local community members lead the staffs and boards of numerous nonprofit organizations who provide a diversity of social services to our rural area. Healthcare providers, artists, animal advocates, educational leaders, and housing specialist make up just some of the many who proudly serve in the same communities they live. As these nonprofit organizations begin to heal from these past 18 months, convening with each other to share knowledge and resources will not only strengthen the public sector but also enhance the communities we call home.

Established in 2017 by local nonprofit leaders, The Rural Nonprofit Networking Group (RNNG) has consistently provided opportunities for the organizations that do so much good in our rural communities to share their missions and visions, discuss community needs and partnership opportunities, bring in experts to facilitate growth and professionalism, and simply connect to maximize the efficiency and impact that participants can bring to the surrounding counties. Although the group has not been able to meet since before the pandemic, RNNG would like to reconvene monthly gatherings by inviting all organizations to reconnect on Tuesday, August 10 at 10 a.m.

Co-Hosted by Turtle Wing Foundation and Arts for Rural Texas, this RNNG meeting will be held at 1203 S. Kessler Ave, suite 201 in Schulenburg to continue RNNG’s mission of sharing ideas and promoting nonprofits in our rural communities. All nonprofits are invited to participate no matter the size, paid or volunteer staff, or area of service. Discussion will be facilitated by Susannah Mikulin of Fayette Community Foundation, Cheryl Pekar of Stanzel Family Foundation, Kenny Couch of Habitat for Humanity, and Susie Shank of Turtle Wing Foundation to assess community need and determine future opportunities for local nonprofits to learn from each other, support each other, and collaborate together.

Additionally, this meeting will be the last chance to see Grant Manier’s EcoArt Exhibit in the Turtle Wing Offices as it will be moving with him up to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin where he is starting college at the Trefert Center Leaders in Creative Media. Emerging as one of the most notable young artists of the new millennium, Grant Maniér, a young talented Eco-Artist combines his two worlds: autism and art. His obsession with paper became his form of art therapy. Grant is changing the perceptions of how to reduce, reuse, and recycle by creating extraordinary collages using thousands of pieces of recycled calendars, magazines, posters, puzzles and more. From an owl made from movie posters to dolphins crafted with applesauce lids, Grant is raising the awareness and beauty of recycling.

For more information on the Rural Nonprofit Networking Group contact Susannah Mikulin of the Fayette Community Foundation (512) 791-7096, Susie Shank with Turtle Wing Foundation (979) 505-5090 or Kenneth Couch with Fayette County Habitat for Humanity (979) 561-7211.