Session Description:
Every new hire arrives with hope. The question is whether your organization is ready to meet them there.
Nonprofits are losing people they worked hard to find, not because the mission failed them but because the systems did. Inconsistent onboarding, unstructured interviews, and weak early-stage support create a cycle that is costly and preventable. This session addresses that gap directly. Early turnover is one of the most expensive and difficult patterns in nonprofit organizations. The organizations that break the cycle are the ones that treat hiring and onboarding as a system, not a series of one-time tasks.
A strong COMPASS program begins long before an employee's first day. This session helps Directors, hiring managers, team leaders, and HR professionals at nonprofits create the conditions where new employees do not just survive their first 90 days but genuinely thrive. Drawing on best practices in equitable hiring, intentional onboarding, and early-stage engagement, participants explore what it looks and feels like to build a workplace where people want to stay.
Through interactive activities and guided discussion, we will explore best practices in equitable hiring, systems for structured onboarding, and strategies for supporting staff to bring out their best.
Participants leave with a Hiring and Onboarding Self-Assessment and priority Action Plan; a practical tool each participant uses to identify their next concrete step before the following week.
Intended Audience:
Directors, hiring managers, team leaders, and HR professionals
Brienne “BC” Colston, CPC (they/she)
Brienne “BC” Colston is a queer, genderqueer equity facilitator and an ICF-accredited certified professional coach from the South Bronx. As the Co-Executive Director of Community Healing & Transformation at the U.S. Department of Arts & Culture (USDAC), BC champions the growth of artists and cultural organizers to bolster movements for social change. Previously, they founded and led Brown Girl Recovery (BGR), a Black and queer-led initiative dedicated to healing justice, established in 2017.
With over a decade of commitment, BC has explored racial and gender-based trauma and its impacts on Black individuals across all genders. A student of healing justice, a Reiki level three practitioner, and an adept equity and anti-oppression training facilitator, BC integrates their deep understanding of systemic power and oppression into their coaching approach. Highlighted in a 2020 GoMag.comarticle, "Helping QTPOC Heal: 3 Digital Organizers You Need to Know," BC shared insights from their organizing work in the Bronx. They are currently pursuing a body liberation certification to better support fat Black individuals through specialized groups.
Known affectionately as "BC" in her community, Brienne divides her time between her roles as a healing justice practitioner and racial equity facilitator through Sunflower Strategists Consulting LLC. Her consultancy supports various organizations, including the NYC Department of Mental Health & Hygiene, The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, and Columbia University School of Social Work.
Brienne earned a Bachelor’s degree in Gender Studies and History from Lawrence University as a Posse Foundation scholar. A proud alum of the Young People For Social Justice Fellowship, she received the 2019 YP4 Innovation Award for her activism with Brown Girl Recovery and the Lawrence University Alumni Association 2020 George B. Walter ’36 Service to Society Award. She continues her involvement as board co-chair of the alumni association’s diversity, equity, and inclusion committee.
Yvette Feinberg, PHR, SHRM-CP
Yvette is a senior human resources professional with more than 30 years of experience in people management, HR systems, and workforce compliance. She brings deep expertise in human resources strategy, policy development, and HR technology, supporting organizations in strengthening recruitment, onboarding, supervision, and workforce sustainability. Her work ensures that people systems are aligned with organizational goals, equity priorities, and regulatory requirements.
Within DOE-aligned capacity-building initiatives, Yvette provides strategic oversight of HR and compliance components, supporting the implementation of effective, scalable workforce practices. Her systems-oriented approach strengthens organizational infrastructure, supports leadership development, and enhances long-term operational readiness—ensuring that workforce initiatives are both compliant and sustainable.
Organization: L White
Website: https://www.lisacwhitelcsw.com/
Org Description: L. White & Associates partners with organizations and leaders to strengthen youth development practices, leadership capacity, and organizational effectiveness. Through facilitation, training, and coaching, the organization supports professionals in creating inclusive environments where young people can thrive.