I’m always on the lookout for organizations that seek to connect humanity in new ways.
Organizations that value life, connectedness, and empathy ignite a deep passion in me to help them advance their work. Today, I want to talk about an organization that I’ve been working with since its inception.
Back in 2004, a very special Great Pyrenees dog named Jameson was rescued in Chicago by Monica Stevens.
As long as I’ve known Monica, she is a woman who is absolutely committed to living her purpose in life. She’s always been dedicated to animals in all shapes and sizes.
And trust me, Monica is anything but all talk. For the last ten years, whenever wildfires would break out in California, Monica put herself at the heart and center of rescuing most of the at-risk abandoned and displaced animals north of the Golden Gate Bridge. When it comes to taking action for her mission, this woman is all in!
Monica and her dog Jameson moved to the Napa Valley in 2006, where Jameson became a local pet celebrity. People were drawn to Jameson’s sweet disposition and love for others, especially for being 180 pounds and full of fluff.
Shortly after, Monica was inspired by her dog Jameson’s warmhearted spirit, and within a few years she co-founded a nonprofit organization called Jameson Humane with her late husband, David.
Not only has Monica done something admirable and necessary, but as professionals coming together from the nonprofit world and various other industries, I believe we can gain profound insights from Monica’s story.
Jameson Humane is Founder Led
Monica has an amazing team behind her, but when you get to the core of the organization, it’s Monica’s drive and creativity that keeps the organization thriving. And she’s thought of some truly ingenious ways to keep things going.
How? The Wine Industry.
Living in Napa Valley, Monica used to work in the wine business. Soon after her new organization Jameson Humane came into the picture, Monica sensed a phenomenal opportunity and decided to build a community around animals… and wine!
At her events, she established a way for people to participate with her dog Jameson easily, along with their pets. If you want to attend one of these wine events, you can bring your furry friends along with you! That’s how much Monica loves these animals.
Over a 10-year period, Monica has raised nearly $13 million for these animals by leveraging her personal network and the wine community of Napa Valley and beyond! What’s incredible is that this network of people includes both animal lovers who don’t know much about wine, as well as wine lovers who know little about animals.
In both cases, you’ll get to enjoy some of the finest wines and learn all about Jameson Humane’s incredible mission. It’s a win-win for everyone.
At Jameson Humane, Community Comes First
Monica built a community and board around this work. In Napa Valley, people often say that the food and wine in that world is, “Meant to be shared.” Monica has taken this mantra to heart.
Napa Valley is the place where you gather around the table with people you love to share: Your experiences; your victories and your defeats; your grievances and your passions. It’s a place to enjoy the fruits of your labor, while setting new goals and strategies to bring in new fruits.
Monica created an opportunity for community, where people who are passionate about animals, wine, and the human race can learn more about each other.
She built a bridge of connection, where perhaps no one thought a bridge was possible. To me, that’s the mark of someone who is truly invested in what they do.
What Can We Learn from Jameson Humane?
Consider where we can build bridges of connection.
At Jameson Humane, anyone who loves wine or animals can join in. There is a common ground and a shared language among those that support Jameson. Lower the barrier to entry.
Over a ten-year period, Jameson has welcomed thousands of people into their circle… all because she kept things easy to get involved with.
Focus, and don’t apologize.
Monica saw an opportunity, took it, and didn’t apologize for it. She understood precisely where she could make a difference and focused all of her efforts there.
Simplicity is key!
The world of nonprofit work can be complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. In our current political environment, we can easily muddle things up with other causes, making our focus less clear and harder to bring others onboard.
For Jameson, they have one mission only: “We seek to improve animal welfare through global collaboration and education for the benefit of all life.” Everything they do supports that mission, and as a result, people have no issue supporting them.
So for us, focus on the things that are important in this work—joy, belonging, and community. We have to recommit to our why behind everything we do.
Every little bit adds up to the things our world needs right now. Focus on the things that matter to you, then find the people for whom your cause matters, too. Invite them to do it with you! Believe me, they care more than you might think.
Reflections
Ask Yourself:
How can you advance your mission, together with your organization, to create a meaningful connection beyond your immediate circle reaching other industries or tapping into experiences that may resonate on a broader, more universal level?
Nurture Your Connections
Use collective interest in hobbies, culture or other varied interests (like food, cycling or wine) to educate an entire constituency and ignite a fire for your cause. I cannot overestimate how effective this is! Nurturing these connections can help you take action to amplify your organization’s impact, bringing your mission to a wider audience with shared interests.
Remember: Issues may divide us, but it is our shared values that bring us together to create meaningful change.