Hearts Rule

Happy Valentine’s Day! And happy Galentine’s Day. Also, Palentine’s Day. And Single’s Awareness Day (let’s hear it for self-love 🥳).

Today, hearts rule. And this week, mine has been overflowing.

I had the incredible experience of being surrounded by 5,500 women at the California Conference for Women. 

Yes, 5,500 of us crowded into the San Jose McEnery Convention Center on Wednesday to talk about leadership, tech, owning your voice, wellness, mentoring, productive conflict, and much more.

The Conference also brought out some superstar speakers: Simone Biles, Jane Fonda, Brittney Griner, and Padma Lakshmi. 

Since I love a good wisdom drop from powerful women, here are a few gems I’m carrying with me:

Simone Biles:💡"The strongest you'll ever be is when you reach out and ask for the help you deserve." 🌟"Sometimes you just need a break. I think that's why my career has been so good."

Brittney Griner:💡"If I can't believe in myself, it's hard to see someone else pouring into me."🌟"When we band together, we can do anything."

Padma Lakshmi:💡"I love being underestimated. Because there's nowhere to go but up."🌟"Each of us has a unique voice. The best thing we can do in the world is figure out that voice and use it to help people."

Jane Fonda:💡"When I was approaching 60, I realized I was entering my third act. And that I didn’t know how to be in my third act. I thought a lot about it. I hadn’t really made sense of my life. So, I spent a year researching myself. It was at the end of that research that I realized I was brave. And I started liking myself. I’m not scared of dying. I am scared of dying with regrets. At 87, I’ve gone into therapy. I am happier and feel better than I ever have in my whole life. You know, we can’t make our lives longer, but we can make them deeper.” 🌟

Cue the tears. I’m going to come back to these quotes all year. Also, Jane Fonda is 87?! She looks AMAZING and she’s funny as hell.

Another session that hit me right in the gut? Eliminating Toxic Productivity. Ten minutes into the session, the speaker said, “What do we do when we don’t feel good about ourselves? We take on another project.” OMG, woman. Are you in my brain?! Sooo, I’ve got some work to do this year, too.

If you want to be inspired as well, the virtual National Conference for Women is taking place March 5. All the info is here. 

And finally, only at this conference do you see men’s restrooms converted into women’s restrooms. Loved being in the midst of so many women intent on making change (and, like, five guys. Pretty sure I saw just five. Huge kudos to them!).

With love and appreciation,

Sarah

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📚A BOOKSTORE THAT’S ALSO A HUB FOR HOPE AND HELP

Octavia’s Bookshelf, a Black-owned, woman-owned independent bookstore in Pasadena, California, is dedicated to highlighting BIPOC authors – and is inspired by legendary author and Pasadena native Octavia Butler.

When the Eaton Fire tore through Altadena, Octavia’s jumped into action, transforming into a donation and distribution center. The store packed its books up to make way for bottled water, diapers, blankets, and other essentials. For a time, no books were sold; only support was given. This Guardian article captures the incredible story.

Now back to selling books, Octavia’s is looking ahead – working with therapists and community organizers to explore ways to provide mental, emotional, and spiritual support for those affected by the fires.

If you’re looking for your next great read and want to support this vital small business, you can shop Octavia’s on Bookshop.org.

The LA fires may be out of the news, but for many, the hardest part of recovery is just beginning.

💡A BIG, AWESOME CONFERENCE ON VOLUNTEERING

Do you work in nonprofit, corporate social impact, or government or national service? If so, then you’ve gotta get to the Points of Light Conference in New Orleans this June 3-6. Points of Light is the world’s largest organization dedicated to increasing volunteer service and their team puts on a slam-dunk conference every year.

Right now, small nonprofits (budget under $2M) can apply for a conference scholarship, thanks to the generous support of UPS and CSAA. Each awarded applicant will receive a complimentary conference registration, valued at $750. Learn more and apply here.

📝CHECK OUT THIS TOOLKIT FOR HIGH IMPACT GIVING

Whether you’re giving as an individual, a company, or a foundation, you want your philanthropy to create real, lasting change – not just check a box, right?

The 2025 High Impact Giving Toolkit from The Center for High Impact Philanthropy at UPenn is designed to do just that. No matter the size of your gift, this resource will guide you through:

• How to practice high impact philanthropy

• Key trends and emerging topics in philanthropy

• The different categories of philanthropic support

• Insights from 12 nonprofits positioned for significant impact

If you’re looking to give smarter and with more impact this year, this toolkit is a must-read.

💘NONPROFIT LOVE

Cure Violence Global is a nonprofit organization that takes a public health approach to reducing violence, treating it as a contagious disease that can be interrupted and prevented. Founded in 2000 by Dr. Gary Slutkin, an epidemiologist, the organization is based on the idea that violence spreads like an epidemic and can be stopped by identifying and disrupting its transmission.

Cure Violence Global focuses on three key strategies:

1️⃣ Detect and interrupt conflicts – trained violence interruptors, often people with lived experience in high-violence communities, intervene to de-escalate conflicts before they turn deadly

2️⃣ Identify and treat high-risk individuals – outreach workers connect with people at high risk of engaging in violence, offering mentorship, support, and alternatives to violence

3️⃣ Change community norms – the program fosters a culture where violence is not seen as acceptable or inevitable

This incredible organization is one of the 12 nonprofits featured in the 2025 High Impact Giving Toolkit. Every $1 invested in Cure Violence Global yields up to $19.20 in economic benefits. 🤯 Check out their website to learn more and be wowed by the impact.