Date: July 14, 2026

Time: 8:30am to 10:00am

Location:

Land ‘O Lakes Headquarters

1150 County Road F West
Arden Hills, MN 55126-2998

Description: We often think that following “best practices” is the key to strong volunteer programs. But what if those so‑called best practices don’t actually work for everyone? This training challenges the idea that there’s only one “right” way to engage volunteers. Instead, we’ll explore how many common approaches are shaped by narrow assumptions that can limit creativity and exclude important voices. Participants will learn how to shift toward people‑centered practices that spark new ideas and help build volunteer systems that truly work for the communities they serve.

NIILA HEBERT pronounced {Ny-la} {A-Bear}

Niila is the Executive Director of the Minnesota Alliance for Volunteer
Advancement and an established leader in community engagement, fundraising,
program development, and volunteerism. As a long-time servant leader, Niila is a
board member and volunteer who is passionate about the impact volunteers and
the professionals who work with them can have on their communities.

Highly skilled in creating partnerships, Niila catalyzes transformative change
through collaborative engagement. She is a DEI trainer and inclusion champion,
bringing her core values of equity, access, and justice to her advocacy for Black and LGBTQ+ communities. In addition, she is a Certified Volunteer Administrator
(CVA) and a Certified Professional Project Manager (CCPM).

Niila received a Bachelor's degree from California State University Long Beach
majoring in Communications with a minor in Black Studies. Niila currently serves
on the boards of Nexus Community Partners, Until We Are All Free, Sweet Potato Comfort Pie, and the MN Freedom Fund.

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