Why Did 300 Project Managers #ScopeforChange on MLK Day?

“Life's most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others?” In answer to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s call, over 300 project managers and subject matter experts in marketing, finance, strategy, HR, and IT committed their day to use their own talents for others at the Project Management Day of Service Pro Bono Lab. Facilitated by the Taproot Foundation and Project Management for Change, in partnership with 5 local Project Management Institute (PMI) chapters, this one-day event connected 134 DC-metro area nonprofit leaders to resources that helped them address pressing capacity building problems facing their organizations.

Each nonprofit leader was paired with a team of 3-4 project managers to sit and problem solve key issues for the day. In addition, 10 pro bono consultants with Taproot DC volunteered their subject matter expertise in marketing, finance, HR, IT, or strategy to help teams answer more technical questions. Teams could simply raise a color-coded card to call over an expert in a particular issue area and our subject matter experts would appear!

Jacqueline Audigé, CEO and Founder of Aumazo Inc. summarized her experience: “We have all heard the saying that it takes a village to raise a child. I didn’t know I would find my own village here in this room today. When we sat down with our project managers and pro bono consultants, we found out we have many more challenges to overcome than we thought. My ‘village’ helped us to get focused. When I came in here I was looking down. Now, leaving this room, I will be looking up!”

The event concluded with inspiring remarks from Maria Contreras-Sweet of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Here's why the Administrator and so many others chose to #ScopeForChange this MLK Day.