Interested in starting your own journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Erica Vogel, CEO of Community Matters, located in Santa Rosa, CA, USA.

What's your organization, and who are your members?

Community Matters is a non-profit 501c3 organization whose mission is to equip and empower students and adults to create schools and communities that are safe, welcoming, and inclusive. We work with schools to help improve the school climate and safety from an inside-out approach. Our flagship program, Safe School Ambassadors, has been training youth in grades 4-12 and adult mentors with skills that allow them to safely and effectively stand up and speak up to mistreatment, in person and online, and create schools where kids feel safe, accepted, connected and included. Our primary customers are schools within the United States, but we also do work with schools and youth-serving organizations in Canada, Paraguay, Japan, and the 2 US territories of Guam and Puerto Rico. We are open to working with schools in any nation if our programs and services can support them and make a positive impact.

Tell us about yourself

When I was 13 years old, I became involved with working with youth through the YMCA. That involvement guided me to work in the non-profit, youth-serving field. I have worked in leadership roles with the YMCA, American Heart Association, and Big Brothers Big Sisters. I am currently the CEO of Community Matters. I found early on that I love to work, and even more importantly, I love to work for a mission, and my passion is in youth development. My early experience with the YMCA showed me the impact being involved in programs that promote youth leadership, empowerment, and engagement of youth voice can have on an individual and then have a ripple effect on society. The so-called cliche "children are our future" is not a cliche; it is the reality. If we can engage kids in pro-social ways and give them the skills they need to be successful and kind leaders... we will make the world a better place.

What's your biggest accomplishment as an organization?

One of my biggest accomplishments was taking over as the CEO of Community Matters in March 2020 at the start of the pandemic. I had been in C-suite leadership prior, but the challenges that the pandemic brought to our organization were mighty. I believe so strongly in our mission and impact that I knew we would make it through to continue on this important work. I have an amazing team of committed staff, board, trainers, and volunteers that pivoted and found new ways to serve our youth and educators while they were being forced by the pandemic to do remote learning. It was a huge challenge, but together, we made it through and are stronger for the experience.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being an organization?

This is an interesting question and one that I see connected to success as well. I have truly found in business that all hardship can also lead to some of the biggest successes. Hardships challenge us to think out of the box and innovate; therefore, the hardest thing for me was leading during very uncertain times. As a woman, I can also say that another lifelong challenge for me has been in raising my kids well while continuing to be successful in business. I am a new empty nester and feel proud of my kids and the career path I am on.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow an organization today?

  1. Dream big!
  2. Have confidence in your abilities, but remain open to life-long learning.
  3. Surround yourself with talented people that you trust.

Where can people find you and your group?

Website: https://community-matters.org/
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3s7EYmw
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/safe_school_ambassadors/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/wakingupcourage
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3s5d2jd

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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