Closing the AI Gap for Nonprofits

Is AI changing the nonprofit sector? More than you might think. In this episode, Laurel Hansen sits down with Karen Graham of Karen Graham Consulting to talk about what AI is actually doing to the daily work of nonprofit professionals, where the real risks lie, and how organizations can start using it responsibly. Whether you’re just getting started or trying to figure out your organization’s next step, this conversation is a genuinely useful place to begin.

What does it actually take to build an inclusive hiring process? MACC's HR Manager of Business Partners Katie Berg joins host Laurel Hansen to walk through where unintentional bias and barriers show up across the full arc of hiring, and what you can do about it. Practical, direct, and full of low-cost tools any nonprofit can use today.

Daisy Morin, founding member of WorkFour, the national campaign for the four-day, 32-hour work week, joins Laurel Hansen to make the case for a different way of working. Daisy busts the myth that fewer hours means higher costs, with evidence, practical advice, and real nonprofit examples from right here in Minnesota. Whether you're curious or ready to explore, this one will get you thinking. Could four days be the future for your organization?

Marlee James, licensed clinical counselor, trauma therapist, and founder of Reviving Roots, joins Laurel Hansen MACC's Program Director, for a conversation on what it really takes to build psychologically safe, trauma-informed workplaces. From soul care groups to the power of asking "how are you" twice, Marlee offers practical tools any team can start using now — and a clear-eyed reminder that burnout is a structural problem, not an individual one. Whether you're a frontline staff member or an executive director, this episode has something you can use today.

Melanie Ho, founder of Strategic Imagination, joins Laurel Hansen for a conversation on what it really takes to lead in uncertain times. From burnout and boundary saboteurs to leading from the middle, Melanie offers practical tools and a powerful reframe: the emotions we're tempted to push away are actually intelligence we need. A must-listen for human services professionals at every level.

This Juneteenth episode of our Powerful Voices, Lasting Impact, mini-series features Linda Bryant, Director of Business Operations at V3 Sports, and explores how this North Minneapolis hub is reclaiming a legacy denied to generations before: safe, joyful access to water and wellness. Linda shares how V3 is building a true and needed "third space" for their community. A space where everyone belongs, where Black identity and culture are centered, where families build confidence in the pool (and beyond), and where freedom is treated not as a single historic moment but as something communities build every single day.

This episode of our mini-series Powerful Voices, Lasting Impact features Janeen Dednam-Wright from Phyllis Wheatley Community Center for a special Juneteenth conversation about the Center’s century-long role as a trusted, Black-centered anchor in North Minneapolis, supporting education, economic mobility, and cultural belonging. The conversation highlights programs like early childhood education, Girls Who Code, Digital Tech Academy, and women’s wealth-building initiatives - emphasizing collaboration, safe spaces, and community-driven systems that continue the legacy of freedom and resilience.

This episode of our mini-series Powerful Voices, Lasting Impact features a special conversation with Bryan Tyner, CEO of the Phyllis Wheatley Community Center, reflecting on Juneteenth, the Center’s 102-year legacy, and how it cultivates freedom, resilience, and opportunity for Black identity in North Minneapolis. Hear how Phyllis Wheatley helps youth and families thrive and ways listeners can support and connect including summer programs and more!

Tune in to hear from Elder Atum Azzahir from Cultural Wellness Center and AsaleSol Young, Executive Director at Housing in Action, who join Laurel Hansen, MACC’s Program Manager, for a thoughtful conversation about healthy connections, staying grounded, cultural healing, and building wellness-centered communities. Elder Atum and AsaleSol provide a masterclass focusing on how people can stay grounded, healthy, and connected while doing hard community work. They talk about building workplaces rooted in care, culture, and healing and that staying grounded starts with knowing your identity, understanding your history, and feeling connected to your community and purpose. Wellness is more than physical health, it also includes mental health, healing from stress, building strong relationships, and creating space for joy and rest. Both of their organizations support wellness through mental health resources, time off, team gatherings, and open conversations about stress and burnout. Elder Atum shares that people can struggle when they lose connection to culture, community, and belonging, and that healing happens when people reconnect with themselves and others. Don't miss this packed conversation as it shows that kindness, teamwork, self-care, cultural pride, and meaningful relationships help people stay strong and hopeful while helping their communities.

In this episode of Powerful Voices: Lasting Impact, Mya Corbin MACC's Communications Specialist talks with Maitzeng Chang about supporting immigrant and refugee communities. Maitzeng shares what it is like to work as an Asian woman in the nonprofit world and why smaller communities are often overlooked. She explains how important it is for nonprofits to learn about different cultures and make people feel welcome. They discuss the challenges many immigrant families face when coming to the United States and starting a new life. Maitzeng highlights the power of kindness, community, and making space for everyone to belong.