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DULUTH, Ga. - GeorgiaChron -- A recent study of more than 59,000 public US charities revealed that 62% of nonprofit leaders are women. With this in mind, Rainbow Village CEO Melanie Conner set about to build a network of local nonprofit leaders aptly named "Sista CEO." Established in 1991, Conner helms a Metro Atlanta charity with a mission of Bringing Help, Hope, Housing, and Healing to Families Experiencing Homelessness. She believed her organization and others could benefit from a forum where members can "collaborate, celebrate, and commiserate" over best practices while sharing ideas and fostering partnerships to ensure success for all.

"It all began organically," said Conner. "Often, a few of us would get together, have lunch, and share what's going on in our respective organizations. We began to see threads between our organizations and the challenges we were experiencing. We believed we could share ideas and find ways to overcome obstacles together. After all, we're all in the business of trying to help people. Why not support one another in that effort? The idiom 'It's lonely at the top' is particularly true for nonprofit leaders. We may have incredible relationships with our staff, board members, donors, and volunteers – which is very important. But it's another thing to gather with others who share a deep understanding of your pain points. Sista CEOs can finish each other's sentences. It's a wonderful thing to know you're not alone. As a result, our group has grown from five to 20 members."

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Executive Director Kristina McCalla recently launched her nonprofit, Rooted Interiors, with a mission to turn empty houses into professionally designed and fully furnished homes where residents emerging from homelessness can plant roots and thrive. The grassroots charity was so new that when McCalla first met Conner, Rooted Interiors had not yet received its 501(c)3 designation. Following that meeting, Rooted Interiors designed three apartments for families before they moved onto Rainbow Village's campus. The nonprofit has also since partnered with other organizations within the Sista CEO network.

"Being part of Sista CEO has been incredibly rewarding for myself and my organization," said McCalla. "The unparalleled support, the invaluable resources and mentorship, and the opportunities for collaboration have significantly accelerated my personal and professional growth. It's an honor to be amongst a group of amazing women whose desire is to make a meaningful change in the world. There is power in numbers, and Sista CEO is making incredible changes."

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As Sista CEO continues to grow in unexpected ways, its members hope to remain intentional about coming together and making things happen while maintaining the original sense of intimacy. Other Metro Atlanta nonprofit leaders who'd like to learn about becoming a member of Sista CEO can contact Melanie Conner (http://www.rainbowvillage.org) directly at mconner@rainbowvillage.org or (770) 497-1888.

Source: Rainbow Village
Filed Under: Non-profit

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