All of the PULSE Fellows I’ve worked with, including our current PULSEr, Lucas, have been intelligent and hardworking, but first and foremost they are kind people who respect others and see the inherent dignity and value in each person they meet.
Sharpsburg Neighborhood Organization (SNO) was founded in 2014 as an association of residents and community stakeholders interested in improving the community through volunteer projects and initiatives. Their work focuses on improving the quality of life for residents in Sharpsburg by targeting projects, funding, and partners that prioritize community engagement and support our four guiding priorities.
Brittany Reno is the Executive Director of Sharpsburg Neighborhood Organization. In the following interview she talks about the experience of partnering with PULSE.
CC: Why did your organization decide to work with PULSE?
BR: I’ve crossed paths professionally with various PULSE Fellows over the years, and every one of them has impressed me with their diligence, intelligence, and positive approach to doing impactful community-building work. Each PULSE Fellow I’ve worked with in the past has been insightful, inquisitive, and highly community and team oriented, so I knew that I wanted to bring that passionate energy and conscientiousness to the work we’re doing in Sharpsburg.
CC: What is the most rewarding part of working with PULSE?
BR: I got my own jumpstart in the nonprofit sector from a program similar to PULSE, Public Allies Pittsburgh, so I know first-hand the impact that service leadership programs can have on the professional opportunities of a young person who wants to do good in the world but doesn’t know where to start. PULSE meets its participants where they are and helps them become the individuals they want to be, equipping them with the tools to help others do the same along the way.
CC: How has your partnership with PULSE impacted your organization?
BR: Having a PULSE Fellow on staff has brought new and deeper connections for our organization and expanded our network of nonprofit organizations working toward similar visions for a sustainable and equitable greater Pittsburgh area. We’ve also been able to spend more time researching best practices and innovative ideas in community development from across the country (and world!) and brainstorming ways to try those ideas out here at home.
CC: What do you like most about your current PULSE fellow and/or other fellows you’ve worked with?
BR: All of the PULSE Fellows I’ve worked with, including our current PULSEr, Lucas, have been intelligent and hardworking, but first and foremost they are kind people who respect others and see the inherent dignity and value in each person they meet. They are curious and inquisitive and hungry for personal/professional growth, but above all else they are concerned with being a humble, collaborative force for good and working directly with community members to help them achieve their own vision of what their town should be.
CC: What would you tell other Pittsburgh nonprofits about PULSE?
BR: The creative partnership and collaborative impact potential of the PULSE network is immense. If your organization is working to build its capacity or to expand social capital for the people impacted by your work, a PULSEr will be a strong addition to your team. The PULSE team is easy to work with, flexible as a partner, and eager to help facilitate new partnerships across the nonprofit sector.
Check out more great Partner Stories.
This is part of a series of posts about the Nonprofit Partner experience with PULSE. If you would like to learn more about a Nonprofit Partnership, please visit our Partner Page.