April Shift Notes #2

Hi Changemakers!

Last week, DOGE finally made its way to AmeriCorps headquarters and put most staff on administrative leave. They prematurely dismissed the 2,000 volunteers serving in NCCC from their service (service!!) to the country. Service to their fellow Americans. And there are roughly 200,000 AmeriCorps members who serve annually and will likely eventually be affected by the dismantling of these programs. 

This one is hitting me hard. I was a two-term AmeriCorps member, having the opportunity to serve in my hometown school district, which gave me an entirely different view of my community from the one I previously had, and with the YWCA of Missoula. This is where my racial equity journey really accelerated; “Eliminate racism” is part of the YWCA’s mission statement. I honestly can’t overstate the impact those two experiences had on my life and career trajectory. 

As a Site Manager at Jumpstart, I managed a team of 50 AmeriCorps members – young college students who committed 10-15 hours of their week to visiting preschool classrooms and sharing early literacy skills and the love of reading. 

At Playworks, I worked with so many AmeriCorps members who were committed to serving the hundreds of children in their schools and creating safe environments for every kid to thrive.

In Racine and Kenosha, I was able to partner with Wisconsin Reading Corps and expand their reach in Wisconsin–tutors worked in high-poverty schools to provide tutoring services and help kids get on track to read by third grade.  

My mom is now a member of Senior Corps in her community, where, through Cycling Without Age she brings the experience of riding a bicycle to those who can no longer bike on their own. 

My LinkedIn and Facebook feeds have been filled with so many incredible colleagues I’ve worked with over the last two decades who also had their own life-changing AmeriCorps experiences. These are kind, compassionate, smart-ass people; many of whom decided to miss out on critical 401K-earning years in order to serve their community. Many then went on to dedicate their lives and careers to service, giving back and paying it forward – however you choose to think of it. Some of them are even still employed within the AmeriCorps ecosystem. 

The ripple effects from creating a country without AmeriCorps are what I’m fearful of. AmeriCorps has long been a launchpad for public service and community-based leadership—especially for those without traditional access to opportunity. Its loss is more than a policy decision; it’s a blow to the ecosystems of care, service, and impact we’ve spent decades building.

I could write an entire paper on the concept of “volunteering” and its potential negative impacts on the overall workforce, but ultimately, I want to live in a country where neighbors help one another and where connections across differences are possible, thanks to opportunities to serve. If you do too, let me know. 

In moments like this, I come back to the power of who we’re in this work with. Sometimes, the next collaborator, funder, or thought partner isn’t a stranger—they’re someone who already knows and trusts your work. At The Collective Shift Co., I support the individuals and teams who lead collaborative changemaking efforts—leaders of collectives, coalitions, networks, and place-based partnerships. To those groups, I offer:

👉🏼 Fractional CSO Support (The Strategy Shift) – Strategic thought partnership for executive directors leading complex, long-game initiatives.

👉🏼 Interim Team Support (The Team Shift) – Transition support to keep collective impact work aligned, resourced, and moving forward.

👉🏼 Custom Strategy & Facilitation – Tailored support for convenings, strategic planning, and community engagement.

Like many of you, I’m feeling the weight of this moment—and also trusting that the next opportunity to support bold, systems-level work is just around the corner.

If that sounds like you, I’d love to connect. If that’s someone in your world, please forward this message! 

Keep showing up. Keep shifting. We’ll get through this together. 

—Lynn

🎈New Blogpost 🎈

Transitions don’t just shake the org chart—they ripple through community trust, partner relationships, and strategic momentum.

After leading a workshop with place-based leaders across the country last week, one theme kept rising:

💭 “When someone leaves, we don’t just feel it—we lose time, connection, and capacity.”

This month’s blog post breaks down:

✅ What really happens when a staff member exits

✅ How to soften the blow before it happens

✅ Why turnover might actually be your next opportunity to recalibrate

✅ Real strategies to protect momentum

If your team is navigating (or bracing for) a transition, this one’s for you.

👉 Read the full post here

We’re always learning at The Collective Shift Co.—and we love sharing what’s sparking us. This month, dive into these must-read/watch resources:

🤓 I’m excited to attend and sponsor the Collective Impact Action Summit virtually on April 29–May 1, 2025. For more information, please visit the Summit’s website. Hope to see you there! 

📖 The Future is Collective: Advancing Collective Social Innovation to Address Society’s Biggest Challenges. I enjoyed this article and being reminded of the impact collective action can make on the world. 

📖 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Love. This book sits on my bedside table, reminding me of the power of love and a group of people who are committed to it. Why this book, why now? One review put it perfectly–"If you find yourself asking what Dr. King would do during this highly-charged time in political history, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. On Love is the book for you."  

Let us know what’s inspiring you—just hit Reply and share!

P.S. Interested in joining a community of fellow social changemakers in learning and growing? We’re launching a book club!! Get on the waitlist here. For those on the waitlist, thank you for your patience! 

P.P.S. Enjoying the content and want to support? I’ve set up a Buy Me a Coffee page.