ReFrame Conference Update

Last week our full time staff traveled to Johnson City, TN to attend the Reframe Conference. The Reframe Conference is put on by the Reframe Association, a national network of nonprofit home repair organizations committed to providing occupants of substandard housing with safer, more livable shelter. This trip was great for many reasons. First of all, it gave our staff a chance to enjoy time together away from the office. It was a nice break from the day-to-day routine and a chance for all of us to connect and grow as a staff.

It also provided all of us with new ideas and strategies to do the work we do better. We sat in on all kinds of conference sessions, round table discussions, and panels dealing with anything from volunteer recruitment and management, to best practices in construction, to program planning. Two members of our team even helped lead a couple of the sessions! It was very informative and has all of our wheels spinning with ideas for the future.

Lastly, we were able to connect with many others who do similar work. This was so refreshing! Sometimes we feel like we’re the only people in the world running a home repair mission camp. It was encouraging to fellowship with and learn from so many other great leaders and their ministries. Some of the ministries we connected with while there were Appalachia Service Project, Mountain TOP, Next Step Ministries, Reach Work Camps, ReWiGo Ministries, Alabama Rural Ministry, Raise the Roof Project, and Sierra Service Project. There were many more in attendance who are doing great work.

If you work in the nonprofit home repair world, you should consider joining the Reframe Association. In addition to the annual conference, there is an online shared resource library for members only and there are webinars throughout the year covering topics relevant to home repair ministry. You can find more information on becoming a member (either individual or organization) HERE.