Pollen
started as a newsletter created by Lars Leafblad,
in which he shared local events, job openings, and news and updates of his
friends and extended network, the recipients of the newsletter. Since its beginnings,
the content of Pollen has always been generated by and for its members,
designed to build ties across the civic-minded community.
Pollen has since grown to 7,500 plus Twin Cities-based
connectors who contribute biweekly to each issue of Pollen. Today, Pollen
announced a merger with OTA, a South
Dakota based, fellow Bush Foundation grant recipient who also has a mission of building
stronger communities by connecting civic-minded individuals. Together as OTA-Pollen, they aspire to scale their commitment
to community building across North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota.
We shot some questions to Jamie Millard, Meghan Murphy, and
Hugh Weber about OTA-Pollen, the self-described “laboratory for possibility.”
CRC: How do you see OTA-Pollen helping other
organizations, nonprofit or otherwise, to build their capacity?
O-P: Every capacity building organization has
their niche role to play as a part of the “rising tide.” For OTA-Pollen, the
role we’re playing is a piece that often gets overlooked: network-building and
storytelling. When organizations and the individuals leading them are better
connected and have the platform to share their story, the possibilities for
impact are exponential.
We’ll be directly growing the capacity of
organizations and individuals through immersive, large-scale gathering
experiences and also our online community rooted in resource and story sharing.
CRC: As general cheerleaders of the
Accountability Standards (your executive director, Jamie Millard, is even a
former staff member of Charities Review Council) how are you keeping the
standards in mind while building Pollen into a new nonprofit along with OTA?
O-P: We do indeed love the Accountability
Standards! They’ve been an invaluable asset for us as an organization in
startup mode. It’s already been helpful to refer back to certain Standards as
we navigate very early decisions and discussions. For example, as we move into
our first conversations for strategic planning, the philosophy and context
behind Standards like the Impact on the Community and Diversity and Inclusivity
help ground our thinking.
As we begin the process to seek 501c3 status
(right now we are under fiscal sponsorship with MAP for Nonprofits), we plan to
go through the Accountability Wizard to ensure we start off “Meeting
Standards.”
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| Meghan Murphy, Jamie Millard, and Hugh Weber of OTA-Pollen |
We are looking to build artwork
into storytelling in new and exciting ways, and we are confident our digital
platform will be innovative in this space. We will primarily seek talent right
here in the region to accomplish a new kind of reader experience. This new
network will be powered by individuals with ambitious goals, that are
eager to take advantage of generous deadlines and serious compensation for a
high quality work. We are excited to hire an amazing body of first-rate writers
and illustrators and we are eager to empower individuals outside of that
market, artists and big thinkers, to take on a passion project under the
OTA-pollen banner.
CRC: What is something Pollen is not doing
right now that you’d like to see come from the OTA-Pollen collaboration?
O-P: Even though Pollen has been building a
rich, engaged community for the past five years, it’s mainly a digital network.
In our recent member survey, it was unquestionable that one of the number one
things Pollenites crave is the opportunity for more in-person gatherings. With
the expertise OTA brings to the table, we’ll now have the ability to offer that
type of experience!
We are also eager to extend the network well
beyond the boundaries of the metro area. From the beginning OTA has focused on
the stages of North Dakota, South Dakota and greater Minnesota. We look forward
to building hyperlocal Pollen-like resources in communities like Bismarck, ND,
Duluth, MN and Rapid City, SD. We’re excited to see all of these communities
have their own petri-dish of connected, cross-sector civically-engaged
community that bubbles up into the overall regional network.
CRC: What ways can smart givers be involved
in the work of OTA-Pollen?
O-P: Smart givers have a deep understanding of the
nonprofits and individuals doing impacting, meaningful work. One of best ways
smart givers could bring that expertise to OTA-Pollen is through our first big
initiative, our We
Must Be Bold Tour. In January and February, we’ll be traveling
the length and width of the OTA states of Minnesota, North Dakota and South
Dakota, collecting stories of boldness. Our hope is to work with our community
to collect nominations identifying bold artists, innovators, entrepreneurs,
community builders and cross-sectors leaders across the region who had embraced
an ethos of creativity, connectivity and community.
Get live updates about OTA-Pollen by following them on Twitter.
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