Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kathy Phipps. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Kathy, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about your team building process? How did you recruit and train your team and knowing what you know now would you have done anything differently?

Back to Eden started with myself and a dedicated Board. We as a team executed services as a nonprofit victim services organization by providing fun activities to resident living in Fort Bend shelter. We provided a therapeutic and fun environment to women and families that were experiencing domestic violence and sexual violence. My Board comprise of friends and colleagues who had a heart for the community and lived experience. MY recruitment process was very unconventional as they were all someone I knew personally and professionally.
it was very unconventional and that was 8 years ago. Currently I was say if I was starting to they I would use a more formal process and recruit Board members that served on previous Boards. I would focus more on experience than relationship.

Kathy, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Back To Eden Fellow Program is a victim services nonprofit. We serve families and children that have experienced domestic violence and sexual violence. We provide case management, support groups, counseling, crisis intervention, life skills, anger management classes and parenting classes. I am most proud of the work we do as organizations we serve families in their time of need in a very vulnerable time of their lives.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

We have been in existence for 8 years and although in the past year we have experienced minimal funding we have committed to providing quality trauma informed services.

Any advice for managing a team?

I am committed to the mental health of my staff, because of the work we do secondary trauma is very common. As a small grassroot organization we are not in a position to provide insurance. So every year I let my Staff work from home starting the first week of Thanksgiving to the second week of the New Year.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.backtoedennonprofit@aol.com