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Message from MAVA Board Chair, Joshua Windham

Joshua Windham | Published on 12/28/2022

Greetings,

We are fast approaching the end of another year, and what a year it has been! Much like the last few years, this year was not without its obstacles, but there have also been so many great accomplishments. This past year, MAVA’s board of directors adopted a new vision statement: A world in which everyone has an equitable opportunity to positively impact their community through volunteerism. Now more than ever, all of us need to realize our capacity to make our world and communities better through the power of volunteerism.


MAVA continues to be a leader in strengthening organizations to value volunteerism as a tool for capacity building in our community.  MAVA staff worked hard this past year to continue to provide high quality trainings, conferences, community events, along with continuing to address racial inequities within the field of volunteerism.  This past fall, MAVA had a very successful Strengthening Service Breakfast, where we highlighted the impact volunteers make in our community and at our member organizations.  We thank all our donors and community partners who give generously throughout the year, so MAVA can continue to serve in so many ways. In addition, MAVA was recently awarded a $975,360 grant from AmeriCorps, to lead a Minnesota based Volunteer Generation for Student Success Collaborative, which will provide adult volunteer coaching and mentoring to students across the state.  It's no understatement to say, that this grant will be a game changer for MAVA.  

On behalf of the board of directors, I would like to thank Karmit Bulman and MAVA’s staff, for their hard work in making this past year such a success.  We are excited about the new year, and the opportunity we have, to live out MAVA’s vision for stronger volunteer engagement leaders and stronger volunteers.