Harrington Group Blog
It's that time of year again…Thanksgiving and Friendsgiving Dinners are in full effect. Struggling to decide what to contribute? Want to switch things up? Harrington Group is here to help! Whether you are hosting dinner, or adding to the potluck, this side dish is SURE to shine.
Butternut Squash Lasagna
Here’s what you need:
Fresh Sage. Finely chopped, 1 tablespoon.
Onion. The whole thing, diced.
Kosher Salt.
Olive Oil. ½ Cup.
Butternut Squash. About 4 cups, peeled.
Oyster Mushrooms. 1 pound, roughly chopped.
Swiss Chard. 1 pound, with leaves removed from stem.
No-Boil Lasagna Sheets. 12 to be exact.
Parmigiano Reggiano. About 1 cup grated.
Low Moisture, Whole Milk Mozzarella. 8 ounces, pulled into small pieces.
Ready to cook? Here’s all you need to do:
Get to Saucin. Start by heating olive oil in a pot and add in chopped sage until you begin to smell it. Next throw in your cubed squash, diced onion, water, salt, and pepper. Simmer this until your squash is tender. Once that is ready, place the mix into a food processor. Adding salt and pepper to taste is necessary. Transfer your delicious sauce into a bowl or some sort of storage vessel.
Make that Lasagna. Preheat your oven to 375. Oil a large skillet and raise heat. Next, add in your mushrooms and season with salt and cook them until the edges are browned. Move these to a bowl to cool. Going back to your skillet, add in your swiss chard leaves and season with salt. Using tongs, rearrange the leaves, encouraging them to wilt. Lastly, transfer your leaves to cool.
Lasagna...Assemble! Layer up! Line a baking dish with your butternut squash sauce and three sheets of lasagna noodles on a baking dish. Evenly distribute your mushrooms, swiss chard leaves, parmesan, and mozzarella cheese into the layers as well. Repeat this until your final layer, which will instead be topped with boiled water to ensure moisture.
Final Product. Let the lasagna sit covered with foil in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Lastly, transfer the pan into the oven to bake for 40 minutes. Remove foil and bake for 10-20 minutes. You’ll want to remove the pan once the cheese is melted, golden, and bubbly.
*Recipe courtesy of alexandracooks.com*
Butternut Squash Lasagna
Here’s what you need:
Fresh Sage. Finely chopped, 1 tablespoon.
Onion. The whole thing, diced.
Kosher Salt.
Olive Oil. ½ Cup.
Butternut Squash. About 4 cups, peeled.
Oyster Mushrooms. 1 pound, roughly chopped.
Swiss Chard. 1 pound, with leaves removed from stem.
No-Boil Lasagna Sheets. 12 to be exact.
Parmigiano Reggiano. About 1 cup grated.
Low Moisture, Whole Milk Mozzarella. 8 ounces, pulled into small pieces.
Ready to cook? Here’s all you need to do:
Get to Saucin. Start by heating olive oil in a pot and add in chopped sage until you begin to smell it. Next throw in your cubed squash, diced onion, water, salt, and pepper. Simmer this until your squash is tender. Once that is ready, place the mix into a food processor. Adding salt and pepper to taste is necessary. Transfer your delicious sauce into a bowl or some sort of storage vessel.
Make that Lasagna. Preheat your oven to 375. Oil a large skillet and raise heat. Next, add in your mushrooms and season with salt and cook them until the edges are browned. Move these to a bowl to cool. Going back to your skillet, add in your swiss chard leaves and season with salt. Using tongs, rearrange the leaves, encouraging them to wilt. Lastly, transfer your leaves to cool.
Lasagna...Assemble! Layer up! Line a baking dish with your butternut squash sauce and three sheets of lasagna noodles on a baking dish. Evenly distribute your mushrooms, swiss chard leaves, parmesan, and mozzarella cheese into the layers as well. Repeat this until your final layer, which will instead be topped with boiled water to ensure moisture.
Final Product. Let the lasagna sit covered with foil in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Lastly, transfer the pan into the oven to bake for 40 minutes. Remove foil and bake for 10-20 minutes. You’ll want to remove the pan once the cheese is melted, golden, and bubbly.
*Recipe courtesy of alexandracooks.com*
7 Ways to Stay Safe this Holiday Season
Tis’ the season of shopping and travel! Harrington Group wants to help you stay safe and cheerful for the holidays. In this blog, we’ll provide some tips for the upcoming months.
1) Plan Deliveries. Consider having your packages delivered to a designated delivery location, place of work, or providing delivery instructions. When your packages are mailed to your front door or mailbox, you are at a higher risk for theft.
2) Do not leave property unattended. When you’re out and about, remember to protect your belongings. Don’t place a purse in a shopping cart, a wallet on the counter while paying, or a cellphone on a restaurant table that could potentially go unattended.
3) Lock It, Take It, Keep It. During this time of year, theft from vehicles is much more common. Make sure to always take items of value out of your car. If you cannot, make sure these items are not in view. Items such as laptops, purses, cell phones, credit cards, wallets, and sunglasses are easy targets for thieves because of their small size.
4) Limit cash and credit cards. Only carry the amount of cash and credit cards you need. This can prevent loss in the event of theft. On the financial side of things: this can also help prevent unnecessary spending.
5) Be aware of your surroundings. Mind your Personal Safety by always parking in a well-lit, well-traveled area. Avoid situations in which you’ll be overloaded with packages. When in a crowded area, personal belongings are at high risk, be mindful of distractions. Don’t carry social security cards or passports.
6) Protect your home. With burglaries at an all-time high, it is essential to keep all doors and windows locked. Consider checking in on your exterior lighting and security systems at home. If you are leaving town anytime soon, you should consider the following: put timers on interior and exterior lights, get mail and packages picked up by someone, and most importantly, ask a trusted neighbor to check on your home while away.
7) If you see something, say something. Contact your local Police Department to report any suspicious activity. Pasadena: (626) 744 - 4501. Oakland: (510) 777 - 3333. To report a crime in progress, call 9-1-1.
Cheers to staying safe this holiday season!
Tis’ the season of shopping and travel! Harrington Group wants to help you stay safe and cheerful for the holidays. In this blog, we’ll provide some tips for the upcoming months.
1) Plan Deliveries. Consider having your packages delivered to a designated delivery location, place of work, or providing delivery instructions. When your packages are mailed to your front door or mailbox, you are at a higher risk for theft.
2) Do not leave property unattended. When you’re out and about, remember to protect your belongings. Don’t place a purse in a shopping cart, a wallet on the counter while paying, or a cellphone on a restaurant table that could potentially go unattended.
3) Lock It, Take It, Keep It. During this time of year, theft from vehicles is much more common. Make sure to always take items of value out of your car. If you cannot, make sure these items are not in view. Items such as laptops, purses, cell phones, credit cards, wallets, and sunglasses are easy targets for thieves because of their small size.
4) Limit cash and credit cards. Only carry the amount of cash and credit cards you need. This can prevent loss in the event of theft. On the financial side of things: this can also help prevent unnecessary spending.
5) Be aware of your surroundings. Mind your Personal Safety by always parking in a well-lit, well-traveled area. Avoid situations in which you’ll be overloaded with packages. When in a crowded area, personal belongings are at high risk, be mindful of distractions. Don’t carry social security cards or passports.
6) Protect your home. With burglaries at an all-time high, it is essential to keep all doors and windows locked. Consider checking in on your exterior lighting and security systems at home. If you are leaving town anytime soon, you should consider the following: put timers on interior and exterior lights, get mail and packages picked up by someone, and most importantly, ask a trusted neighbor to check on your home while away.
7) If you see something, say something. Contact your local Police Department to report any suspicious activity. Pasadena: (626) 744 - 4501. Oakland: (510) 777 - 3333. To report a crime in progress, call 9-1-1.
Cheers to staying safe this holiday season!
For today’s blog, we’re happy to give an introduction to the newest of our partners, Oswaldo, also known as Ozzie, Torres.
Oswaldo graduated from Cal State LA with a degree in Business Administration. Since then, he has become a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and has been practicing public accounting and consulting since 2006. He specializes in providing accounting and advisory solutions to clients in the non-profit industry, making him a vital part of the HG Team.
Throughout his career, Ozzie has performed many consulting projects, agreed-upon procedure engagements, and financial and compliance audits, including those in accordance with Government Auditing Standards and the Single Audit Act. He has assisted many entities with the implementation of complex accounting standards.
At Harrington Group, Ozzie is responsible for planning, preparing, conducting, and completing audits. In his capacity, he interacts with clients’ finance and accounting personnel throughout the year. He facilitates internal training on accounting and auditing topics.
Outside of the workplace, Oswaldo enjoys attending sporting events, venturing out to new cycling trails, dabbling in home projects, and spending time with his family and friends.
Oswaldo graduated from Cal State LA with a degree in Business Administration. Since then, he has become a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and has been practicing public accounting and consulting since 2006. He specializes in providing accounting and advisory solutions to clients in the non-profit industry, making him a vital part of the HG Team.
Throughout his career, Ozzie has performed many consulting projects, agreed-upon procedure engagements, and financial and compliance audits, including those in accordance with Government Auditing Standards and the Single Audit Act. He has assisted many entities with the implementation of complex accounting standards.
At Harrington Group, Ozzie is responsible for planning, preparing, conducting, and completing audits. In his capacity, he interacts with clients’ finance and accounting personnel throughout the year. He facilitates internal training on accounting and auditing topics.
Outside of the workplace, Oswaldo enjoys attending sporting events, venturing out to new cycling trails, dabbling in home projects, and spending time with his family and friends.
Mental Health in the Workplace
In honor of World Mental Health Day, we’ll be informing our readers on how they can consider, honor, and promote mental health within the work space. As a leader within a company you can control the company culture. Make it one where people feel they can be open and honest about what they’re going through, and one that promotes the wellness of its members.
World Mental Health Day has been acknowledged since the early nineties. Since then, our sensitivity and self-awareness towards mental health has changed for the better. Even as things change and we become more aware, things can only continue to improve if we implement these changes into the work space.
Promote a Work/Life Balance
Without this balance, it is very likely that your team can face burnout and productivity can decline overall. Some ways to implement this balance can be by insisting all employees take regular vacations and not expecting answers to emails off the clock. As a leader, you can ensure breaks are regularly occurring. Not just those off the clock, but by providing a space for employees to go for a quick pause from their work days. By encouraging your team to live a full, rich life outside the office can really help your company in the long run.
Discuss Mental Health in the Workplace
Bringing up issues related to stress, depression, anxiety, or other mental illness can be extremely beneficial. Training leadership within your company on the signs of mental health issues can also be helpful to your team. A caring conversation between a supervisor and employee can be vital for a person too afraid to get help.
Consider offering programming related to mental health. One way is by inviting a speaker or licensed therapist during a work day to put on a presentation emphasizing the importance of healthy habits. Regularly mentioning mental health, self care, and stress management can all help in reducing the stigma regarding mental health in the workplace, as well as improve the lives of employees.
In addition to offering benefits, mention them regularly
While your company likely already provides an Employee Assistance Program, it is likely employees aren’t aware of what these benefits entail. Reassuring folks that these services are both free and confidential can reassure them that they’ll actually be used.
Another benefit for your team, can be free screening tools. Many times mental health issues will be left untreated because employees don't recognize the signs and symptoms. Mental Health America offers free screening tools that you can provide to your team to allow them to anonymously assess their risk factors and be far more likely to seek help.
Make Wellness a Priority
Encourage your team members to live an active, healthy lifestyle outside of work. You can do this by incentivizing steps taken, hosting health challenges, or providing a free gym membership.
Make it known that you value your organization’s wellness. Let them know by treating therapy appointments and mental health days like you would a dentist or doctor’s appointment. This can definitely change the culture within your team.
May this advice help you and your team to both improve and move further! May it inspire you to create the mentally healthy workplace cultures that should have existed all along.
In honor of World Mental Health Day, we’ll be informing our readers on how they can consider, honor, and promote mental health within the work space. As a leader within a company you can control the company culture. Make it one where people feel they can be open and honest about what they’re going through, and one that promotes the wellness of its members.
World Mental Health Day has been acknowledged since the early nineties. Since then, our sensitivity and self-awareness towards mental health has changed for the better. Even as things change and we become more aware, things can only continue to improve if we implement these changes into the work space.
Promote a Work/Life Balance
Without this balance, it is very likely that your team can face burnout and productivity can decline overall. Some ways to implement this balance can be by insisting all employees take regular vacations and not expecting answers to emails off the clock. As a leader, you can ensure breaks are regularly occurring. Not just those off the clock, but by providing a space for employees to go for a quick pause from their work days. By encouraging your team to live a full, rich life outside the office can really help your company in the long run.
Discuss Mental Health in the Workplace
Bringing up issues related to stress, depression, anxiety, or other mental illness can be extremely beneficial. Training leadership within your company on the signs of mental health issues can also be helpful to your team. A caring conversation between a supervisor and employee can be vital for a person too afraid to get help.
Consider offering programming related to mental health. One way is by inviting a speaker or licensed therapist during a work day to put on a presentation emphasizing the importance of healthy habits. Regularly mentioning mental health, self care, and stress management can all help in reducing the stigma regarding mental health in the workplace, as well as improve the lives of employees.
In addition to offering benefits, mention them regularly
While your company likely already provides an Employee Assistance Program, it is likely employees aren’t aware of what these benefits entail. Reassuring folks that these services are both free and confidential can reassure them that they’ll actually be used.
Another benefit for your team, can be free screening tools. Many times mental health issues will be left untreated because employees don't recognize the signs and symptoms. Mental Health America offers free screening tools that you can provide to your team to allow them to anonymously assess their risk factors and be far more likely to seek help.
Make Wellness a Priority
Encourage your team members to live an active, healthy lifestyle outside of work. You can do this by incentivizing steps taken, hosting health challenges, or providing a free gym membership.
Make it known that you value your organization’s wellness. Let them know by treating therapy appointments and mental health days like you would a dentist or doctor’s appointment. This can definitely change the culture within your team.
May this advice help you and your team to both improve and move further! May it inspire you to create the mentally healthy workplace cultures that should have existed all along.
Tonetta Conner
Today we want to give an introduction to an extremely valuable member of the Harrington Group family, our very own Managing Partner, Tonetta Conner.
Tonetta’s passion for accounting started at the age of fifteen, in her first accounting course in high school. While in this class, she managed and prepared “mock” corporate books and developed a desire to help others manage their business operations. This led to Tonetta’s majoring in Business Administration, with an emphasis in accounting at the University of California, Berkeley. And of course this also led to her becoming a licensed CPA.
Early in her career, Tonetta worked as a Controller for a design-build firm and then as an accountant at a Los Angeles based CPA firm. Tonetta has been with Harrington Group since June of 1997. Right away she knew, this role was the perfect blend of her passions: accounting and serving nonprofit organizations.
Over her many years with the firm, she has drawn upon her extensive experience to provide accounting, auditing, tax, and management advisory services to our clients. A knowledgeable professional, Tonetta has developed her expertise in working with a range of nonprofit organizations—from privately funded community organizations, mental health agencies, foster care organizations to private and charter schools. Tonetta truly believes in the focus of the firm to be “a trusted nonprofit partner.”
Tonetta stands strong in her leadership role at this company and beyond. Her tenacity and her captivating public speaking abilities support her in leading others. As a speaker at both California CPA Education Foundation’s Nonprofit Organizations Conference and CompassPoint she has been able to share her insights with other folks in the industry. Tonetta is often the speaker at the firm’s “NPO Symposiums” which are hosted quarterly on a variety of nonprofit topics and she provides tailored nonprofit management training to the Boards of her clients.
Her accolades include membership within the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the California Society of Certified Public Accountants (CalCPA). Tonetta also holds a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designation from the AICPA.
Outside of her professional pursuits, Tonetta enjoys spending time with her family, attending sporting events and traveling the world. Those who know her well would say she is a “daredevil” and a “world traveler”, which are truly supported by her many traveling adventures—ziplining over the rainforest in Costa Rica, bungee jumping in Australia, driving an amphibian dune buggy through the Dominican Republic, and being up close and personal with “big game” on safari in Africa. Tonetta loves to travel the world not just for the adventure, but also for cultural enlightenment. “We live in a society made of up people from various backgrounds and cultures. Seeking to know more about other cultures is to embrace that fact.”
Today we want to give an introduction to an extremely valuable member of the Harrington Group family, our very own Managing Partner, Tonetta Conner.
Tonetta’s passion for accounting started at the age of fifteen, in her first accounting course in high school. While in this class, she managed and prepared “mock” corporate books and developed a desire to help others manage their business operations. This led to Tonetta’s majoring in Business Administration, with an emphasis in accounting at the University of California, Berkeley. And of course this also led to her becoming a licensed CPA.
Early in her career, Tonetta worked as a Controller for a design-build firm and then as an accountant at a Los Angeles based CPA firm. Tonetta has been with Harrington Group since June of 1997. Right away she knew, this role was the perfect blend of her passions: accounting and serving nonprofit organizations.
Over her many years with the firm, she has drawn upon her extensive experience to provide accounting, auditing, tax, and management advisory services to our clients. A knowledgeable professional, Tonetta has developed her expertise in working with a range of nonprofit organizations—from privately funded community organizations, mental health agencies, foster care organizations to private and charter schools. Tonetta truly believes in the focus of the firm to be “a trusted nonprofit partner.”
Tonetta stands strong in her leadership role at this company and beyond. Her tenacity and her captivating public speaking abilities support her in leading others. As a speaker at both California CPA Education Foundation’s Nonprofit Organizations Conference and CompassPoint she has been able to share her insights with other folks in the industry. Tonetta is often the speaker at the firm’s “NPO Symposiums” which are hosted quarterly on a variety of nonprofit topics and she provides tailored nonprofit management training to the Boards of her clients.
Her accolades include membership within the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the California Society of Certified Public Accountants (CalCPA). Tonetta also holds a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designation from the AICPA.
Outside of her professional pursuits, Tonetta enjoys spending time with her family, attending sporting events and traveling the world. Those who know her well would say she is a “daredevil” and a “world traveler”, which are truly supported by her many traveling adventures—ziplining over the rainforest in Costa Rica, bungee jumping in Australia, driving an amphibian dune buggy through the Dominican Republic, and being up close and personal with “big game” on safari in Africa. Tonetta loves to travel the world not just for the adventure, but also for cultural enlightenment. “We live in a society made of up people from various backgrounds and cultures. Seeking to know more about other cultures is to embrace that fact.”
Local Labor Day Fun
To some folks, Labor Day is a mark of the end of the summer and the start of the school year. To others, it marks the end of wearing white for the year. But what is Labor Day really? This holiday celebrates the social and economic achievements of American workers. Labor Day honors those who fought for better pay and working conditions years ago in what was called the 'Labor Movement.
As a business owner, this can be a great opportunity to show your staff your appreciation. As a client or local resident of the areas we serve, there are many opportunities to enjoy the holiday weekend right in your own backyard. Not sure where to get started? Let us at HG help you come up with some last minute, local, Labor Day fun!
Oakland:
Supa Friends: Labor Day Weekend
Looking for something free and enjoy listening to music? Consider attending this show at Crybaby on Telegraph Ave. Daghe, Drew Banga, Emelle, and DJ Shellheart will all be playing a set!
Hiero Day Music Block Party
If you’re seeking an all-ages, fun-filled, hip hop block party, Hiero Day is the place for you! The celebration aims to showcase the variety of culture, talent, food and crafts of the Bay Area.
Labor Day Family Ice Cream Social
In need of something more lowkey for you and your crew? This ice cream social is just the vibe for you. It takes place at Morcom Rose Garden at 4PM. Your family can enjoy bubbles, music, and ice cream all in one place!
Labor Day Flow with Bex Urban — Metta Yoga
Getting some physical activity in can be another great way to celebrate the holiday! Join Metta Yoga in San Rafael at 9:30AM. This is a great way to reset, relax, and sweat before your evening activities.
Shakespeare in the Park
If you are looking to take a trip to the city, there are quite a few events going on today as well! One that sticks out to us: Shakespeare in the Park’s production of Much Ado About Nothing. This free community event takes place at the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater.
Pasadena:
Labor Day Summer Family Fun Festival
Enjoy water slides, water balloon games, arts, crafts like bird house making, a donut eating contest, and ice cream sundaes at this family friendly event. The festival goes from 12:00 to 5:00PM and is sure to be a blast!
Rising Tide Pasadena
Looking to learn and network this holiday? Consider joining Rising Tide Pasadena for their September meetup, where they will be discussing inclusivity! Lunch will be provided and the event begins at 11:00AM.
It's a Scavenger Hunt! Pasadena
Just bring your phone and your team! At this event you can join in on the fun in your own neighborhood on your own schedule. All you have to do is sign up and begin following instructions provided by the in-game host.
FNV at 626 Night Market
Hungry? This local foodie festival is back at the Santa Anita Race Track. Here you can check out tons of vendors, try a variety of cuisines, stay hydrated with the fun drink options, and of course–support local businesses! You can join in the fun from 3:00-11:00 PM.
Vegan Ice Cream Showdown
With this heat, we just can’t seem to get enough frozen treats! This Labor Day, Cafe Gratitude Larchmont in Larchmont Village will be hosting an ice cream showdown. From 2 to 4pm, ticket holders will sample frozen treats from JD's Vegan Ice Cream, Dream Pops and other local vendors. And of course–you get to submit your votes on who has the best vegan ice cream.
We hope this blog provides you with some insight on this holiday and some new ways you can celebrate it. Enjoy the day!
To some folks, Labor Day is a mark of the end of the summer and the start of the school year. To others, it marks the end of wearing white for the year. But what is Labor Day really? This holiday celebrates the social and economic achievements of American workers. Labor Day honors those who fought for better pay and working conditions years ago in what was called the 'Labor Movement.
As a business owner, this can be a great opportunity to show your staff your appreciation. As a client or local resident of the areas we serve, there are many opportunities to enjoy the holiday weekend right in your own backyard. Not sure where to get started? Let us at HG help you come up with some last minute, local, Labor Day fun!
Oakland:
Supa Friends: Labor Day Weekend
Looking for something free and enjoy listening to music? Consider attending this show at Crybaby on Telegraph Ave. Daghe, Drew Banga, Emelle, and DJ Shellheart will all be playing a set!
Hiero Day Music Block Party
If you’re seeking an all-ages, fun-filled, hip hop block party, Hiero Day is the place for you! The celebration aims to showcase the variety of culture, talent, food and crafts of the Bay Area.
Labor Day Family Ice Cream Social
In need of something more lowkey for you and your crew? This ice cream social is just the vibe for you. It takes place at Morcom Rose Garden at 4PM. Your family can enjoy bubbles, music, and ice cream all in one place!
Labor Day Flow with Bex Urban — Metta Yoga
Getting some physical activity in can be another great way to celebrate the holiday! Join Metta Yoga in San Rafael at 9:30AM. This is a great way to reset, relax, and sweat before your evening activities.
Shakespeare in the Park
If you are looking to take a trip to the city, there are quite a few events going on today as well! One that sticks out to us: Shakespeare in the Park’s production of Much Ado About Nothing. This free community event takes place at the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater.
Pasadena:
Labor Day Summer Family Fun Festival
Enjoy water slides, water balloon games, arts, crafts like bird house making, a donut eating contest, and ice cream sundaes at this family friendly event. The festival goes from 12:00 to 5:00PM and is sure to be a blast!
Rising Tide Pasadena
Looking to learn and network this holiday? Consider joining Rising Tide Pasadena for their September meetup, where they will be discussing inclusivity! Lunch will be provided and the event begins at 11:00AM.
It's a Scavenger Hunt! Pasadena
Just bring your phone and your team! At this event you can join in on the fun in your own neighborhood on your own schedule. All you have to do is sign up and begin following instructions provided by the in-game host.
FNV at 626 Night Market
Hungry? This local foodie festival is back at the Santa Anita Race Track. Here you can check out tons of vendors, try a variety of cuisines, stay hydrated with the fun drink options, and of course–support local businesses! You can join in the fun from 3:00-11:00 PM.
Vegan Ice Cream Showdown
With this heat, we just can’t seem to get enough frozen treats! This Labor Day, Cafe Gratitude Larchmont in Larchmont Village will be hosting an ice cream showdown. From 2 to 4pm, ticket holders will sample frozen treats from JD's Vegan Ice Cream, Dream Pops and other local vendors. And of course–you get to submit your votes on who has the best vegan ice cream.
We hope this blog provides you with some insight on this holiday and some new ways you can celebrate it. Enjoy the day!
No matter where your business is on its journey, it is now more important than ever to strive for an inclusive workspace for you and your team. Studies have even shown that a more diverse team is a more successful team. When your team feels safe and more uplifted, they will have better results in the workplace and in all aspects of their life. This type of work isn’t always easy but it is well worth the effort.
Below, we will offer up some fun, unconventional ways diversity, equity, and inclusion can be incorporated into your non profit, business, or office.
1. Stock Restrooms with Tampons and Pads
Something as small as this can make the women in your company feel seen and heard. It recognizes the possibility of awkwardness in carrying tampons and/or pads from a desk to the restroom. It shows employees who menstruate that their employer sees this burden, this expense and wants to make their lives easier. If there’s room in your company’s budget for less necessary items, like coffee for example, why not go the extra mile to help female team members out?
2. Purchase Some Diverse Coffee Table Books
On your next restocking of reading material, consider skipping the gossip and fashion magazines. Something short, like a book filled with meaningful quotes, or something lengthier, perhaps a book describing the benefits of DEI in the workplace, can be a great replacement. These reads can go a long way for employees’ mental health and overall balance throughout the workday.
3. Reevaluate Office Artwork
When your office space appears as a gender neutral, it can be more comfortable for all who enter. Sticking to artwork and decor that features nature, abstract shapes, company memories, and architecture is always a safe bet. And lastly, your company decor is a great place to show your team’s diversity. If everyone looks the same in displayed photos, it could definitely be time to switch things up.
4. Spotlight an Employee Weekly
By beginning a weekly employee spotlight on a company website or social media platform, you can really boost company morale. Additionally, you give team members the opportunity to share their stories and background on a potentially larger scale, where they may not have otherwise. Bonus: Clients love to see who they could be potentially working with!
5. Start a Suggestion Box
Feedback is the most effective way to improve anything. Consider the implementation of an anonymous suggestion box within the office. It would be best to place this in a common area, and to provide pens and slips of paper next to the box. The next step is your follow through–employees will both respect and appreciate that you are listening and want to make changes.
6. Host a Book Club
This is the perfect alternative to an after-work happy hour, something that brings folks together, works the brain, and relieves stress. Choose a monthly book about self-development, or inspirational women and people of color. Too time consuming for your line of work? An article or essay club can be just as effective while taking a fraction of the time to read and discuss.
7. Celebrate More Diverse Holidays
Why stop at Christmas? Celebrating Women’s History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, Black History Month, Pride, and the likes gives your team more reason to celebrate and can make them feel safer and seen in the workplace.
8. Switch Up Team Meetings
By going around the table one by one, it is possible to ask everyone for their ideas. Sticking to a clockwise order and using this technique can avoid interruptions as well as ensure everyone’s voice is being heard. Emphasize that any idea, even if incomplete, is still valuable to bring to the table.
9. Bring a Diversity and Inclusion Speaker into the Office
Looking for a way to engage team members on the topic of diversity, equity, and inclusion? Inviting a guest speaker into the office is the perfect way. Order some food, sit back, and learn how you can improve within your office.
10. Start a Company Blog
Invite employees, especially women and minorities, within your team to contribute to an external-facing, company blog. This can be a space where they can safely share their experiences with prospective clients and employees.
Creating and sustaining a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment is key to both putting your business on the map and having happy employees.
National Nonprofit Day, August 17th, recognizes the goals and positive impacts nonprofits have on local communities and throughout the world. We are celebrating by supporting and sharing some must-know nonprofits in the Pasadena and Oakland areas.
Here at Harrington Group, we provide auditing, accounting, management consulting, and tax services solely to nonprofit organizations. This, in addition to our partners’ numerous years of experience within the nonprofit sector are just a couple reasons we hold nonprofits near and dear to our hearts. In this blog, we hope to shed some light on some very exciting organizations doing big things for their community.
Oakland
1. Bananas Inc.
This group is serving the youth of Oakland through child care resources, healthcare referrals, workshops, education, and child care payment programs. In targeting kids aged zero to five, parents, and child care providers they hope to fulfill their mission of helping kids be happy, healthy, and confident in their pivotal, developmental years.
Their efforts have led to over 90,000 referrals and other services per year. In addition, Bananas Inc. has been able to provide child care for over 3,500 kids annually. Daily, the organization is advocating for children by fighting for more access to family support services and government-funded child care.
2. Family Violence Appellate Project
This group is dedicated to the safety and empowerment of domestic abuse survivors. FVAP is California’s only nonprofit providing appellate legal representation to survivors for free, helping victims escape the risk of ongoing abuse. Another core component of their mission is to work towards the reshaping of California law, assuring families are kept safe.
In this past year alone, FVAP trained 745 California Attorneys, law students, judges and advocates. In the courts, thirteen domestic violence survivors were represented free of charge, nine cases were published, and 123 domestic violence attorneys were provided with technical assistance pro-bono. This group is doing the work that gets survivors the justice they rightfully deserve.
3. Wardrobe for Opportunity
This organization’s mission is to offer assistance to lower income community members by helping them find, keep, and build a career. WFO is doing this work by offering several different types of resource programs. These include Professional Image Program, Interview Workshops, Navigate, Catapult, Alumni Program and Financial Literacy. Through these programs, WFO is able to assist in the entire job process.
In the past year, the organization served 812 low-income job seekers. Over 60 percent of these folks were able to get an interview, and 43 percent were able to secure a job. By using a start to finish approach, Wardrobe for Opportunity helped in making jobs more accessible than ever to the low-income communities of Northern California.
4. Planet Read
One of the larger of these nonprofits, Planet Read is on a mission to support semi-literates and early-literates by creating accessible SLS, Same Language Subtitling, content. One of their most popular forms of content is their Animated Stories. With regular weekly exposure to these stories, or similar content, a person can become functionally literate.
Planet Read is making literacy both fun and accessible for so many. In 2018, their animated stories reached a whopping 40,000 children. These kids were provided with regular reading practice for free, in the comfort of their homes.
5. Dancin Power
This organization aims to support hospitalized children and their families. They are doing this by enhancing their quality of life with music, dance, and movement-based expression. Dancin Power has Workshops at several children hospitals within the Bay Area. By taking part in these workshops, children are able to better cope with the sadness, fears, and various emotions that come with being hospitalized.
Since its creation, Dancin Power has improved the lives of over 15,000 hospitalized children and families. This movement has been linked to improving recovery time, and preventing further illness due to long periods in bed.
Pasadena
6. Union Station Homelessness Services
This nonprofit is serving the homeless community by putting their focus on permanent solutions: engagement within the community, employment, mental health support services, and of course housing. At their own shelter facilities, the Family Center and the Adult Center, residents are provided with a plethora of resources. These include meals, medical and mental healthcare, substance use recovery programs, career development classes, meetings with a care coordinator, and various enriching activities.
Last year, Union Station Homelessness Services helped over 900 people
experiencing homelessness find permanent housing. Additionally, they served 130,000 meals to those in need.
7. Academy of Special Dreams Foundation
This Foundation is dedicated to creating equal access to opportunities in the arts for all people, regardless of their disabilities. Through their events, they are able to encourage, promote, and showcase the artistic expressions of disabled folks.
Annually, the Academy is actively involved in the Disability Art Exhibit held in Downtown Los Angeles. This exhibit highlights the abilities and talents of artists that are extremely deserving of accolades and support. In their dedication to equality and equity, this group helps all people reach success in the arts.
8. Foundation for Living Beauty
Women with cancer are presented with opportunities to be uplifted, empowered, and educated through Foundation for Living Beauty’s programming. Some of their programs include overnight and day wellness retreats, educational seminars, sisterhood-building events, and providing wellness kits to women in chemotherapy. The challenges this demographic faces through their journey with cancer are extremely complex, but Living Beauty exists to face these head on.
Over 900 women call this nonprofit their home and sisterhood. The staff at Foundation of Living Beauty provide more than forty five wellness programs per year all free of charge for these women.
9. Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation
This group’s mission is to help reduce the number of burn injuries and to improve the quality of life of those affected by burn injuries. Through prevention education in partnership with local schools and local fire departments they are able to effectively meet their goals.
The foundation’s Champ Camp is the longest running and largest summer camp for burn injured children ages 5-16 in the United States. Since their beginnings, they have educated over 15,000 on fire prevention education.
10. Leadership Pasadena
This collaborative organization is dedicated to developing leaders, personal growth, and creating a diverse network of community advocates. In particular, Leadership Pasadena is dedicated to the particular advancement of veterans. They implement their military wisdom to lead and serve their community.
The group has created over thirty community projects for the city, local schools, and charities. Graduates of Leadership Pasadena now sit on over 50 nonprofit boards and even serve as leadership for local government. Their programming has impacted numerous veterans in the Pasadena area.
This National Nonprofit Day, consider donating to a local organization or signing up for a volunteer event near you.
During the summer, we have a tendency to check in on ourselves and our goals as it is a halfway mark through the year. For a lot of us, these goals and manifestations may have been related to finances and money. For others, a goal may have been to hit the books and start reading more. In this blog, we’ll highlight some of the best finance reads for the summer and touch on how financial literature may be a great move for you!
Why read about finance?
Reading about finances is empowering. From it, we learn about wealth creation and investments. This reading can potentially prevent you from making poor financial decisions. As you may have read in our April blog, financial literacy is of the utmost importance. This literacy can have a direct impact on a family’s ability to purchase a home, fund education, manage their budget, and secure a retirement income.
Your attitude about your money is also of the utmost importance. Reading these sorts of books is known to provoke readers to question their current money mindset. The way you spend money is within your control and you absolutely have the ability to change how you look at things.
In addition, reading in general has many great benefits. It is known to improve your general knowledge, focus, and concentration. Reading can reduce stress and depressive thoughts. Who wouldn’t want to be more relaxed and improve their sleep quality?
Book Reccomendations
Feeling ready to get started? Open that Amazon tab or hit the bookstore and prepare to dive in! Below we have some of our favorite financial reads…
1. Quit Like a Millionaire: No Gimmicks, Luck, or Trust Fund Required by Kristy Shen and Bryce Leung
This book runs readers through the new retirement. A great read for millennials and Gen Z, where they can find out how to get to retirement quicker than their family members may have in the past. The authors showcase a new way to look at money and an inspiring, unconventional lifestyle.
2. Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki
Kiyosaki uses his unique upbringing, one that allowed him to learn two very different approaches to money, to provide readers with knowledge on their financial approach. This book includes lessons on basic accounting knowledge, investing, budgeting, and getting your money to work for you.
3. You are a Badass at Making Money: Master the Mindset of Wealth by Jen Sincero
In this great read, Sincero offers a new look at money, one that focuses on the law of attraction and positive thinking. While she begins unpacking her own financial struggles, readers are able to better relate and put this positivity into practice.
4. The One-Page Financial Plan by Carl Richards
Richards illustrates ideas from his own financial plan and proceeds to show readers how they can do the same. By setting realistic goals and viewing paying debt differently, you can make budgeting both fun and possible.
5. The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America's Wealthy by Thomas J. Stanley, Ph.D. and William D. Danko, Ph.D.
Consider this book the catalyst to your change in money mindset. These authors examine and breakdown the lifestyle and habits of millionaires. Readers will come to find, this lifestyle isn’t what we typically associate with “the rich”.
6. Think and Grow Rich, a publication of the Napolean Hill Foundation
This interesting read is the blueprint for a wealthy mindset. While it is almost a century old, this book has so much applicable advice for current day finances. The author’s goal is for readers to see the direct results of being determined to succeed and become rich.
7. The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham
Warren Buffett, American business magnate, investor, and philanthropist, calls this the greatest book on investing. The book features Benjamin Graham’s teachings, what Buffett studied in his younger years. Read this book to master the three principles of intelligent investing, analyze for the long term, protect yourself from losses, and don’t go for crazy profits.
8. Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
Making great habits a part of your life will not only help you financially, but in any facet of your life. This is a great read for someone really working towards wealth-building and financial success. Understanding how to form these habits can help you get the results you’ve been looking for and change the way you think about money.
9. The Little Book That Beats The Market by Joel Greenblatt
The author of this book is known to be a bit of an investing legend. This read features a specific, hassle-free investment approach that can be updated and passed down for generations to come. This little book provides readers with the tools they need to succeed in the investment process, with patience being right at the top.
10. I Will Teach You to be Rich, Second Edition: No Guilt. No Excuses. No BS. Just a 6-Week Program That Works by Ramit Sethi
This book is modern and perfectly structured for millennials and young generations looking to change their money mindsets. Sethi shows readers how to make wealth building easy, by adjusting it to be done automatically. This is a great read for anyone who has motivation regarding their money, but doesn’t know where to begin.
We hope these reads provide some food for thought in these summer months. Happy Reading!
With summer in full effect, you and your family may have an abundance of free time on your hands. What’s the perfect way to have fun in the sun, listen to live music, support local businesses, and have a positive impact on the environment? The Farmer’s market, of course!
In this blog, we’ll touch on the benefits of shopping at your local farmers market and of course, plug our neighbors. As you may know by now, our offices are located in Oakland and Pasadena, CA, both cities with great markets to offer you and your family this summer!
Why shop at a farmers market?
A big reason someone might choose to shop at the farmer’s market is for something as simple as the taste. Unlike the produce we see in our local grocery store, these fruits and vegetables are able to fully ripen in the field, skipping a very common practice of simulating the ripening process. Additionally, the produce is brought directly to you–bypassing the usual long haul and placement in storage. These two factors alone can dramatically impact the taste of your fruits and veggies. It's these same transportation and distribution techniques that can cause us to take our food for granted. Seeing these farmers and their families can help you to feel connected to where your food comes from.
The sellers at these marketplaces are family farmers in need of support as they may be struggling to keep up with the competition–large scale, corporate-ran farms. Buying directly from these farmers also gives them a chance at a larger return for their work and investment.
On average, food travels 1,500 miles to end up on our plates here in the U.S. This transportation has a huge impact on our fossil fuel issue, contributing to pollution and excess trash through packaging techniques. Shopping at your local farmer’s market can help to protect the environment.
What produce is in season?
Another great part of the farmer’s market is the variety! It is very common to see your produce in new colors you may have never seen at the grocery store. There are also some more uncommon types of produce available as well. When shopping for produce, a great way to maximize taste, freshness, and nutrition is by consuming foods that are in season. Some items in season right now in California are…
-Apples
-Asparagus
-Basil
-Berries
-Green Beans
-Lemongrass
-Melons
-Peaches
-Plums
Now, where to shop?
Pasadena:
Villa Parke Center Pasadena Farmers Market
When: Tuesday, 8:30 am – 12:30 pm
Where: 363 East Villa Street, Pasadena, CA
Victory Park Pasadena’s Farmers Market
When: Saturday, 8:30 am – 12:30 pm
Where: The 2900 Block of North Sierra Madre Boulevard, Pasadena, CA
Old Pasadena Certified Farmers Market
When: Sunday, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
Where: Holly Street at Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena, CA
South Pasadena Farmers Market
When: Thursday, 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Where: On Meridian Ave and El Centro Street next to the Gold Line South Pasadena Station, South Pasadena, CA
Oakland:
Fridays in Old Oakland
When: Friday, 8:00 am - 2:00 pm
Where: Oakland's Downtown District; 9th Street at Broadway
Farmers Market at Lake Merritt/Grand Lake
When: Saturday, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
Where: Splash Pad Park, Oakland, 94610
Temescal Farmers Market
When: Sunday, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Where: North Oakland DMV 5300 Claremont Ave, Oakland, CA 94618. Adjacent to Frog Park
Freedom Farmers' Market North Oakland
When: Saturday, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Where: 4521 Telegraph Ave, Oakland
On your next free weekend, be sure to check out one of these open-air markets. Here’s to great food and great taste!
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