Meet do good Consulting's High-Energy, Experienced Team

A new energy emanates from Race and Green in downtown Urbana – do good Consulting’s new home. A team of experienced non-profit veterans-turned-consultants – with backgrounds as non-profit executives, development leaders, program staff, volunteers, and board members – are combining their passion, deep knowledge of the field, cutting-edge ideas, and energy to change the way Illinois’ non-profits are working for social change. Already do good is hard at work inspiring innovative solutions to the challenges Illinois non-profits face. Through results-oriented fundraising projects, hard-hitting marketing and communications planning, motivating organizational growth strategies, and inspirational strategic planning do good is helping non-profits realize their potential. Read on to meet do good Consulting’s new team members…

Amber Elaine Marks: Organizational Development Strategies. As former Executive Director for the Alzheimer’s Association and Regional Vice President for the American Cancer Society, Amber brings a wealth of information on fundraising, strategic planning, program development, special events, corporate relations, workplace giving, and professional development to do good clients. She has worked or volunteered for more than 20 local organizations. Her expertise is in constituent relationship management analysis, fundraising, professional development for staff and volunteer leadership, and strategic planning. Amber has moved 17 times from Kansas City to DC and many places in between (she’s an Army brat), and also spent a month in the Philippines as community ambassador for Rotary International. Read more about Amber.

Elizabeth Simpson: Group Dynamics. Elizabeth has done interpersonal and intra-group dynamic work since 1995 and is certified in Victim-Offender Reconciliation, Circle Mediation, and Family Group Processing. She is trained in a variety of decision-making modes, including Restorative Justice Principles. Elizabeth assists groups with retreats, visioning, and Board trainings and uses a variety of creative strategies to draw on the resources of groups to find answers to the issues at hand. Elizabeth serves as Peer Mediation Coordinator at Urbana Middle School and facilitates an Inter-group Dialogue on Race & Ethnicity at UIUC. She lives in a passive solar home in Urbana. Read more about Elizabeth.

Gale Walden: Grantwriting/Research & Communications. Gale has researched and written hundreds of grants for state and non-profit agencies. As a professional writer, her reporting has appeared in the Chicago Sun-Times, the Illinois Times, and several national magazines. Her expertise is in grant research and writing and communications. Gale and her eight-year-old daughter, Zella, plan to adopt a puppy. Read more about Gale.

Caroline Huth: Graphic Design. From logo development to promotional materials to branding initiatives, Caroline helps non-profits with the materials and attention they need to make marketing campaigns and fundraising efforts successful. She has a great eye for classy low-budget solutions, has worked with non-profits on tight budgets for over 10 years, and has the experience to manage the production of entire projects. Caroline specializes in full-scope graphic design and production. She has four cats and her favorite color is Pantone 5555. Read more about Caroline.

Jennifer Knapp: Special Projects Coordination. Jennifer brings a wide variety of non-profit experience to do good, including developing a human resources department at a transitional housing organization, navigating the political process of disability services as an advocate, and improving public relations in an organization devoted to sustainable agriculture. Jennifer has a keen interest in both the big picture and the small details of non-profit organizations and specializes in strategic thinking and planning, social networks, and conflict resolution. She just returned from an exciting week of rock climbing in Nevada's Red Rock Canyon and grew up in Hoopston showing cattle. Read more about Jennifer.

Peggy Shaw: Video Producer/Artist. Specializing in digital video production, Peggy has conceived, coordinated, and produced award-winning videos that explore important societal issues and tell important stories which motivate communities to action. She helps clients evaluate where they are and assess what they have been doing. She works with them to develop their full potential to get them where they want to be, creating effective programs and campaigns that educate, promote, and inspire. Peggy specializes in digital video production and photography. Peggy and her family are building their own home in Champaign County. Read more about Peggy.

Julie Bennington: Intern. Julie is an award-winning activist who spent nearly a decade involved in community service and activism issues such as human rights, student advocacy, women’s and children’s issues, and affordable housing in California. For do good, Julie focuses on event organization, volunteer outreach, coordination and training, and civil rights advocacy. In addition to eating sushi (her favorite food), Julie enjoys playing guitar and singing. Read more about Julie.

Laura Huth: President & CEO. After 13 years in the trenches of a variety of local, state, and nationally-affiliated non-profit organizations, Laura leads the team at do good Consulting . She has in-depth experience in nearly every aspect of non-profit organizational management including fundraising, staff development, marketing and outreach, strategic planning, special events, media campaigns, and organizational growth strategies. She helped found numerous grassroots organizations, served on various boards of directors of local and statewide organizations, and has provided hands-on training sessions for organizations for over a decade. In 1994, Laura founded the Illinois Student Environmental Network, a statewide training organization increasing the skills and capacity of student groups across Illinois. She was also an eight-year elected member of the Urbana City Council. From 2004-2006, Laura served as the executive director of the local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity, turning the near-broke organization into an award-winning local powerhouse. Laura specializes in full-scale donor-driven fundraising programs and strategies, program development, organizational growth and strategic planning, marketing and outreach strategies, image and service enhancement, and investing local businesses and media in the work of area charities. Laura has been to 48 of the 50 U.S. states, as well as Puerto Rico, France, Mexico, Canada, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany. Read more about Laura.

Fundraising. Graphic design. Database analysis. Group dynamics. Strategic planning. Marketing. Grantwriting. do good’s team of experts is ready to work for you. Contact us to learn how partnering with do good will transform your organization, its work, and our community. Call 217-778-1687, email laurahuth@dogoodconsulting.org or go to www.dogoodconsulting.org.

Organization Profile: Common Ground Food Co-op

by Jen Knapp, Special Projects Coordinator, do good Consulting

This month’s feature is all about food. Really good food. Organic food. Local food. Fresh-baked food. Healthy food. Hungry yet?

Nestled in a tiny space the basement of the Illinois Disciples Foundation Building on the northwest corner of Springfield and Wright Streets is the Common Ground Food Co-op. For 29 years, this cooperatively-owned grocery store has offered members wholesome, local, and organic food for a fair price. It is one of the few grocery stores accessible to students on campus. Plentiful parking in the IDF parking lot make this gem of a store accessible to members of the community as well.

Stop in, and you’ll find shelves and bins filled with bulk spices, canned goods, fresh fruits and veggies, cereals, and snacks. Open fridges and freezers to find healthy heat-and-serve options for families on the run and staples for any kitchen such as local brown eggs, milk, and cheeses. Aromas of fresh-baked breads, fresh-ground coffee, and hand-made soaps fill the air. Leave with bags full of anything you need to make a full, healthy, and delicious meal!

The average shopper at Common Ground Food Co-op might not know it or detect it on their visit, but a shopping trip there is more than about stocking up on groceries: it is about changing the world through what we eat. According to General Manager, Jacqueline Hannah, Common Ground carries more locally grown products than any other grocery store in the area, which is helping to create a viable market for locally-grown food. The Co-op also supports conscious consumerism by reusing materials, carrying fair trade products, promoting organics, and using the principle of fair price, where health of workers and the environment are taken into account in establishing the price. Finally, through potlucks, forums, and member worker programs, the Co-op is fostering a sense of community.

While Common Ground is technically owned by and open to its members, their doors are always open to members of the public interested in checking out what the Co-op has to offer. Curious folks interested in the food as well as membership are encouraged to stop by for one “free visit” before deciding whether to join.

Many changes are in store for this unique store in our community. Fundraising is now underway to raise funds to move the Co-op into a larger, more visible facility. New products, including local meats (which are not currently carried), will also soon become a part of the new Co-op.

“These changes mark the beginning of an exciting era for the Co-op,” remarked Hannah. “We are focused now more than ever on our mission of promoting local and organic production, conscious consumerism, and building community. More people need to know about the Co-op, shop at the Co-op, and support the Co-op. By opening our doors to encourage more people to join, we will reach out to more families, more people, more children, more lives. Our community will change for the better, and we are looking forward to being a part of making that happen.”

So, head out and try the Common Ground Food Co-op! Bring your shopping list, a shopping bag, and your appetite and you are guaranteed to go home more than satisfied. The store is at 610 E. Springfield (northwest corner of Springfield and Wright, Champaign) and is open from noon to 8PM seven days a week.

For more information on Common Ground, see www.commonground.coop or contact 217-352-3347 or cgcomments@commonground.coop.