Thank You for Your Interest in My Serenity Sanctuary! test On behalf of My Serenity Sanctuary (MySS), we appreciate your interest in joining our Board of Directors. We understand you have many opportunities to volunteer your leadership, and we are truly honored that you are considering MySS. Our community is fortunate to have many excellent organizations, and we genuinely value your interest in us. Why MySS? My Serenity Sanctuary (MySS) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2022, focused on self-care, well-being, and advocacy, primarily for Black women and girls. The organization aims to provide services, support, and empowerment to help women and girls thrive in California, nationally, and one day, globally. Our priority is addressing the unique needs and challenges of our population while fostering a sense of community and resilience. At My Serenity Sanctuary, we provide a self-care ecosystem and wellness community that empowers Black women and girls with a safe space and abundant resources to focus on their mental, physical, spiritual, financial, and emotional well-being. Through our programs, initiatives, and interactive online membership community, we make self-care and wellness accessible and inclusive for everyone. This application helps us learn more about your skills, strengths, and what you could bring to our board. It also shows you what we seek in our board members. Our goal with this process is to determine if we are a good match. We want to ensure you can help us grow and increase our impact. Equally, we want to understand your motivations and perspective so we can provide a positive and fulfilling board experience for you. Thank you again for your interest in our work and for taking the time to complete this application thoughtfully. We look forward to reviewing it and continuing our conversation.Name *Street Address *Apartment, suite, etcCityState/ProvinceZIP / Postal CodeCountryAfghanistanAlbaniaAlgeriaAmerican SamoaAndorraAngolaAnguillaAntarcticaAntigua & BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAscension IslandAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBoliviaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBouvet IslandBrazilBritish Indian Ocean TerritoryBritish Virgin IslandsBruneiBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCabo VerdeCambodiaCameroonCanadaCaribbean NetherlandsCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaChristmas IslandCocos IslandsColombiaComorosCongo, Democratic Republic of theCongo, Republic of theCook IslandsCosta RicaCroatiaCubaCuraçaoCyprusCzechiaCôte d'IvoireDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFalkland IslandsFaroe IslandsFijiFinlandFranceFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench South TerritoriesGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGibraltarGreeceGreenlandGrenadaGuadeloupeGuamGuatemalaGuernseyGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHeard Island And Mcdonald IslandHondurasHong Kong SAR ChinaHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsle of ManIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJerseyJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKosovoKuwaitKyrgyzstanLao People's Democratic RepublicLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacao SAR ChinaMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMarshall IslandsMartiniqueMauritaniaMauritiusMayotteMexicoMicronesiaMoldovaMonacoMongoliaMontenegroMontserratMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNauruNepalNetherlandsNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNiueNorfolk IslandNorth KoreaNorth MacedoniaNorthern Mariana IslandsNorwayOmanPakistanPalauPalestinian TerritoriesPanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPitcairn IslandsPolandPortugalPuerto RicoQatarRomaniaRussiaRwandaRéunionSaint HelenaSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSamoaSan MarinoSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSint MaartenSlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth Georgia and South SandwichSouth KoreaSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSt. BarthélemySt. MartinSt. Pierre & MiquelonSudanSurinameSvalbard and Jan MayenSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaSão Tomé & PríncipeTaiwanTajikistanTanzaniaThailandTimor-LesteTogoTokelauTongaTrinidad & TobagoTunisiaTurkeyTurkmenistanTurks & Caicos IslandsTuvaluU.S. Virgin IslandsUS Minor Outlying IslandsUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited States of America (USA)UruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVatican CityVenezuelaVietnamWallis And Futuna IslandsWestern SaharaYemenZambiaZimbabwePhone *Email Address *EmployerEmployer AddressStreet Address *Apartment, suite, etcCityState/ProvinceZIP / Postal CodeCountryAfghanistanAlbaniaAlgeriaAmerican SamoaAndorraAngolaAnguillaAntarcticaAntigua & BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAscension IslandAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBoliviaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBouvet IslandBrazilBritish Indian Ocean TerritoryBritish Virgin IslandsBruneiBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCabo VerdeCambodiaCameroonCanadaCaribbean NetherlandsCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaChristmas IslandCocos IslandsColombiaComorosCongo, Democratic Republic of theCongo, Republic of theCook IslandsCosta RicaCroatiaCubaCuraçaoCyprusCzechiaCôte d'IvoireDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFalkland IslandsFaroe IslandsFijiFinlandFranceFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench South TerritoriesGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGibraltarGreeceGreenlandGrenadaGuadeloupeGuamGuatemalaGuernseyGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHeard Island And Mcdonald IslandHondurasHong Kong SAR ChinaHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsle of ManIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJerseyJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKosovoKuwaitKyrgyzstanLao People's Democratic RepublicLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacao SAR ChinaMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMarshall IslandsMartiniqueMauritaniaMauritiusMayotteMexicoMicronesiaMoldovaMonacoMongoliaMontenegroMontserratMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNauruNepalNetherlandsNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNiueNorfolk IslandNorth KoreaNorth MacedoniaNorthern Mariana IslandsNorwayOmanPakistanPalauPalestinian TerritoriesPanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPitcairn IslandsPolandPortugalPuerto RicoQatarRomaniaRussiaRwandaRéunionSaint HelenaSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSamoaSan MarinoSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSint MaartenSlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth Georgia and South SandwichSouth KoreaSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSt. BarthélemySt. MartinSt. Pierre & MiquelonSudanSurinameSvalbard and Jan MayenSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaSão Tomé & PríncipeTaiwanTajikistanTanzaniaThailandTimor-LesteTogoTokelauTongaTrinidad & TobagoTunisiaTurkeyTurkmenistanTurks & Caicos IslandsTuvaluU.S. Virgin IslandsUS Minor Outlying IslandsUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited States of America (USA)UruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVatican CityVenezuelaVietnamWallis And Futuna IslandsWestern SaharaYemenZambiaZimbabweType of bussiness / Organization *Preferred Method of Contact: *WorkMobileHomeWhat board role are you applying for? *ChairVice ChairBoard SecretaryBoard TreasurerBoard Director Volunteer Experience Please share your past and present membership and volunteer work experience, including boards, committees, task forces, and other public sector organizations (business, civic, community, religious, political, professional, recreational, or social). Please share your organization role, title, and date of service. Why My Serenity Sanctuary? Those committed to volunteering in a leadership capacity have a wide range of organizations to choose from. We are most appreciative of your interest in ours and would like to learn more.Please share your motivation and what about our work has led you to consider being a board member. *Our Work My Serenity Sanctuary (MySS) was founded on March 1, 2022. As an early-stage 501(c)(3) organization, we are dedicated to supporting the self-care and well-being of 1.2 million Black Women and Girls in California and beyond (you don’t have to live in California to join the board). Mission and Vision Our mission is to offer innovative programming, essential services, nurturing community, and impactful advocacy to champion the self-care and holistic well-being of Black women and girls everywhere. Through our comprehensive approach, we strive to create a supportive environment that empowers individuals to prioritize their wellness, embrace their worth, and flourish in every aspect of their lives. Our vision is to empower Black women and girls to embrace their true essence through self-care, mental health, and advocacy. We aspire to illuminate paths toward personal and collective well-being, celebrating the beauty, resilience, and potential within each individual and igniting a movement that uplifts our communities and inspires future generations. Together, we aim to catalyze a transformation, equity, and empowerment movement that uplifts communities, breaks down barriers, and paves the way for a brighter and more inclusive future for all. The Five Pillars of My Serenity Sanctuary 1. Self and Being Self-care, mental, emotional, and physical well-being are essential to living a fulfilled life. We promote holistic wellness through various programs that include mindfulness practices, health education, fitness activities, and access to mental health resources. MySS is a place for healing, rejuvenation, and connection. 2. Empowerment We believe in empowering individuals, particularly Black women and girls, to embrace their identities, pursue their passions, and achieve their goals. Through workshops, mentorship, and community programs, we provide the tools and resources necessary for personal and professional growth. 3. Community Building a strong, supportive community is at the heart of our mission. We foster connections among individuals, encouraging collaboration, mutual support, and a sense of belonging. Together, we create a safe space where everyone is valued and heard. 4. Education Continuous learning and personal development are vital components of our sanctuary. We offer educational workshops, seminars, and resources that cover a wide range of topics, from self-care and financial literacy to corporate wellness, entrepreneurship, and leadership development skills. Our goal is to equip individuals with knowledge, skills, and peace of mind for success. 5. Advocacy We stand as advocates for social justice, health equity, and systemic change. My Serenity Sanctuary is committed to raising awareness of the challenges faced by Black women and girls and to creating a more equitable society. Through advocacy efforts, we strive to amplify voices and inspire action. These five pillars serve as the foundation of My Serenity Sanctuary, guiding our mission and activities as we work to uplift and support our community. Our goal is to provide educational programming, resources, emotional support, and connection to the communities we serve. Our programs include our Annual Self-Care Summit, EmpowerHer Self-Care and Wellness Program, The Serenity Power Circle, Girls2Great (for girls aged 13-17), My Serenity Sanctuary Online (our thriving online community), and various community partnership initiatives.What excites you about our work? Based on the role that you are applying for, what do you see as 1-2 challenges and 1-2 opportunities for us to grow in the next few years? *SKILLS / EXPERTISEPublic Relations/PublicityMarketingSocial Media MarketingWriting/Content CreationFundraising/Grant WritingPublic Policy/AdvocacyLegal ExpertisePublic Speaking/Presentation SkillsFinance/AccountingEvent Planning/ProgrammingHR/OperationsAdministrationStrategic PlanningGraphic Design/Web DesignInformation TechnologyProfessional Nonprofit ExperienceRelationship Building/Partnerships key Attributes Of Myss Board Members A board is more than a collection of individuals. It is an entity that governs, approves strategies, implements as necessary, and engages in robust discussions on relevant issues. It must act as a single entity. As such, the personality traits you bring to the board will help us ensure that we have a diverse range of personality styles and traits, which, when combined with our current board members, will enhance the ability of the board to work together as a governing body: ✅ Passion for our vision ✅ Flexible ✅ Committed ✅ Patient ✅ Collaborative ✅ Optimistic ✅ Respectful of varying points of view ✅ Responsive ✅ Willing and able to lead a discussion ✅ Strong work ethic ✅ Facilitative style ✅ Good sense of humor ✅ Enthusiastic ✅ Ability to ask tough questions ✅ Creative ✅ Manages time well ✅ Tenacious ✅ Can speak in front of groups ✅ Resourceful ✅ Executive Presence Fundraising Among other responsibilities, board members play a key role in raising funds for our organization. It is an expectation of board service that you will introduce people in your sphere of influence to our work and invite them to learn more about and support us, as prospective volunteers, board members, staff, and donors. Our organization is committed to providing you with the information and tools necessary to stand as a vocal and visible ambassador for our organization. Further, we expect every board member to make an annual financial commitment for each year of board service as a “give or get,” meaning you can give your annual board contribution yourself, or you can get your board contribution paid by securing a donor, grant, sponsorship, or partnership. Some board members work for companies that provide a matching contribution program.Our minimum board contribution is $500.00 per year. Are you comfortable with this expectation of board commitment? *YesNoTime Board service is a true commitment of time and energy. MySS is both a working and governance board, and we are currently building an all-volunteer workforce (with plans of hiring staff in the future). We estimate that board service could be a commitment of 10 to 25 hours each month. This includes monthly board meetings and committee meetings. Additionally, we require that you attend our annual board retreat and strategy meeting. You are invited and encouraged to attend our annual self-care summit and fundraisers, as well as select in-person and online special events that occur throughout the year.Do you have any concerns or potential conflicts that may serve as impediments to this time commitment? If so, how will you manage the demands on your time? *Other/ReferencesWho recommended you for board service? How did you hear about us? *Have you ever been convicted, pleaded guilty, or pleaded no contest to a crime? (If yes, Please explain.)Please provide the names and contact information of at least two professional references who can be contacted.Please upload your Resume and Bio Upload Resume *Choose FileNo file chosenDelete uploaded fileUpload Bio *Choose FileNo file chosenDelete uploaded fileSubmit