Oct 7

Five years and what's next…

It's wild to think that five years ago I had left a life of working four jobs in Orange County to focus full-time on The Giving Gifts and learn to call Ensenada home. It feels like yesterday I was sitting on the floor in the empty Casista, just me and the microphone where I accidentally published the first episode of the podcast. I had literally nooooo idea what these five years would look like, and honestly, I could not be more excited about where we are now, or about what the next five might hold.

Together, we've watched a lot of births: the podcast, Shellebrate, much needed research, countless resources. Over the last three years especially, The Giving Gifts has become tangible here in Ensenada through the cleanups, coworks, workshops, Tus Olas, and more.

Part of the beauty of watching this take shape is seeing how the foundation was formed: by adapting again and again to what's right in front of us and to what's happening in the world around us. A lot has shifted and some things havent and I love that…

What hasn't changed

Everyone holds unique gifts. That's your reason for being here, right now, in this moment in history. When we create spaces and resources for people to understand their gift and figure out how to use it, something really beautiful becomes possible.

Understanding your gift means looking at your story, and that includes the story of your community and the wider story of the world. Every story has hard parts. Those hard parts are often where we find out what we truly care about. They're also where shame likes to settle in, and shame is really good at convincing us to hide the very gifts we were given.

So rather than steering away from the pain that exists in our individual lives, our communities, and the world, we lean in. We go deeper, with more care and more understanding, so we can learn to care well for our own story, for the people around us, and for the world we live in.

And through all of it, we keep coming back to the ocean. It connects us and teaches us. That's where the cleanups come from, and programs like Tus Olas. The ocean helps connect it all.

The thing I don't always know how to explain

Everything we do is trauma-informed, and for a long time I struggled to say that without it sounding clinical or at this point in time clicheishh

Here's what I've noticed. A lot of the systems we've all lived in, like school, church, work, even the way we're taught to "be a good person," are built as if everyone walks in with the same story. They rarely make room for the fact that trauma exists on so many layers: in our own lives, in our families, in our communities, in churches and in the world at large. Because that gets overlooked, a lot of people end up feeling like they don't quite fit, like they're behind, or like something is wrong with them. Often that's just shame doing what shame does.

Being trauma-informed, to me, simply means we don't overlook it. We assume people are carrying more than we can see. We pay attention to how a space feels, how we word an invitation, how much pressure we put on people to share or perform or keep up. We let people participate at their own pace, with their own belief system, and we try to make things in such a way that more people feel welcome in the room, not just the ones who already feel confident or "put together."

You can see it in how we run a cleanup, how we design a workshop, how we write a resource, and how we work alongside so many here in Ensenada and now I want to be just as intentional about how we grow. An organization can be thoughtful in its programs and still grow in ways that leave people out or wear them down. I want how we grow to mirror the core mission and vision

Now that we have this foundation we GET to grow

Growth has been happening naturally and it's been such a beautiful thing to be part of. I think we're coming to an exciting time where we get to look at that growth and guide it, which I definitely recognize as such a huge privilege. I've been sensing for a while that what comes next is beyond me, which is SO exciting.

A new board with an existing vision!!!

In the next month or so, I'm going to be building a new board of directors.

For five years, most of this has run through me (and of course through so many people supporting in so many ways). That's been a gift. I didn't think this was going to be possible for six months…let alone five years and here we are, the point where the growth possibility is far beyond just me! To build on this foundation, reach more people, create more programs and resources, and do it in a way that lasts, I need people beside me in a way that's a little more specific.

I don't want a board that's just meetings and signatures and yada yadaaa (although that will be part of it). I want a team where each person gets to use their gifts and carries a piece of the story while I get to grow, learn, and develop alongside them. These roles are built around the things I most need help with, and I'd rather be honest about that than fool you in thinkin I have it figured out.

Here's what I'm hoping for….

Growth Architect
This person looks at how we run and sees what could be different or better: systems, volunteers, internships, resources, funding, all of it. But more than that, they care about structures that hold people. When someone volunteers or interns with us, they should know what they're stepping into, feel supported, and not burn out. This person helps us strengthen the structures we have and build the ones we still very much need.

Funding Specialist
From day one, the hope was to fund this in a way that goes beyond traditional nonprofit funding. This person helps us get creative: social impact businesses, unique funding models, fundraisers, grants, and the more typical strategies too. We want to use it all, and we need the help. What matters to me is that the way we're funded fits who we are, so money never pulls us away from the work or the way we do it.

Bridge Builder
You're the person who is naturally thinking, "I know someone." You'll open doors to partners, businesses, institutions, and funders, in Ensenada and BEYOND. This isn't only about funding. It's about connecting resources, programs, and people. How do we get The Giving Gifts into more conversations, at more tables, in more rooms, while staying true to how we work? I care about relationships here…not just transactions.

Sustainability Steward
Something I always come back to with growth is: if it's not sustainable, is it really worth it? From programs, to growing a team, to expanding our reach and resources, I'm hoping this person helps guide us in a way we can actually keep up, financially and humanly. Pace is a form of care. It's also so important to me that The Giving Gifts stays transparent about money and capacity, and this person has full permission to say "not yet."

Community Voice
A small team of very committed women here in Ensenada has been part of every step of developing our programs and resources, and that is going to continue, separate from this new board. What I want is someone on the board who represents Ensenada in the planning and the meetings, so decisions about this place are made with this place. (I already have the perfect someone in mind. I'm just hoping she reads this and says yes haha.)

Want in?!?!?!

If one of these seats makes you think "oh, that's so me," or makes you think of someone else, I'd love to hear from you. I'm not looking for the most impressive résumés. I'm looking for people who care about PEOPLE, this work, who want to build something meaningful together, and who are willing to do it in a way that is purposeful for you and for The Giving Gifts!

Thank you for being part of the last five years, in whatever way you've been. I can't wait to see what's next!!!!

Cassidy Feder