Managing youth programming

Greg works at Mercy Corps' Seattle office to connect youth globally. The following interview was conducted to learn more about his role, the program and give you some advice if you are interested in this field of work.

What do you do at Mercy Corps?

I work to get US schools up and going so they can engage and connect with the schools we have in Gaza, Iraq, etc.  Over time my goal is to get a lot of people involved in this.  I also plan to work more with Global Citizen Corps and the Action Center, as well as Youth in Conflict.

How long have you worked here?

About a week and a half…I’m just getting started.

What’s a typical day like?

I spend time talking with program people who are working with youth out in the field (Iraq, Gaza) and find out how their group is going and what help they need.  I also work closely to help build up our youth engagement initiative. 

What are some of the perks of your job?

The incredible people I work with, the young people that are involved, the Mercy Corps staff who are so bright and motivated.  I enjoy working with the Mercy Corps staff because they are a great team with common values.

What’s your educational background?

I went to Washington State University and received my undergrad degree in Social Work.  My Masters is in Social Work and Community Organizing from the University of Denver.

What did you do before Mercy Corps?

Mostly my work has been in the non-profit field for the past 30 years.  I have been a grant maker, created and led non-profits in the social sector, and directed or served as community organizer in education. 

Where are you from?

Originally Spokane, Washington.  Now I live in Seattle, and have spent most of my life in the Northwest.  

What experiences led you to choose this career?

My exposure to various social movements in college – civil rights, women’s, anti-war – all peaked my interest in social change.  The first part of my career my work concerned domestic issues.  Then in my late 20s I traveled outside of the U.S. for the first time and my eyes were opened.  I began working in schools keeping in mind the new values I had of working across cultures as a society and trying to hold multiple perspectives on the same topic.  I realized that most Americans will never travel outside of the US, which is a shame, but now we have the technology to communicate across borders. 

Who inspires you and your work?

Tons.  At Mercy Corps, a friend got me involved in international work.  Phil Borges is an international portrait photographer who documents the stories of indigenous youth and adults across the world.  In community organizing, I had a great university professor who inspired me, as well as Alinskey who is the father of community organizing in the US.  In terms of social movements, Martin Luther King Jr, Gandhi, and Nelson Mandela.

What’s your motivation for this type of work?

I became involved because I wanted to make a difference and leave the world in better shape than I found it.  It is also fun work which inspires me and is meaningful.  I really like the people I work with, they are always interesting and intriguing.  I love seeing people who work with such dedication and on a daily and weekly basis have the ability to change lives and even save them.  You get to see phenomenal things in this field.  

Do you volunteer? Where?

The work I do often involves people who have their day jobs but also volunteer.  I fundraise for international action and education organizations help at my kids’ schools and with youth sports teams and I’m on a university board.

Where have you traveled?  Any interesting experiences?

Israel – the West Bank – was the first place I went.  At the time I was a conscientious objector to the war and I can remember being 29 years old, sitting in a valley looking at the West Bank.  I found the problems facing these people crushingly depressing and thought how impossible it would be to be a conscientious objector of this war if I was a part of either side.  I realized I needed to travel more because your assumptions get blown out of the water when you have experiences in someone else’s shoes. 

I also spent 3 months in Central America meeting with teachers, seeing who wants to be connected to the US in an educational conversation sense.  The whole experience was for learning.  I found most people had a high desire to be connected across cultures. 

What skills do you need to work in International Development?  Anything that surprised you?

• The fundamental skill is listening.  Try to understand first, then be understood.  Trying to teach people how to listen is very hard.  We think we’ve gotten it down until we make a mistake and fall flat on our face.  It is important to keep learning that while we each own a piece of the truth, we never own the whole truth. 
• Be able to think critically and be empathetic across cultures. Basic technical skills.  
• Be curious, tolerate uncertainty, ask questions, always be learning.
  
  

Any advice for students considering a career in this field?  Activities, experiences, courses of study…

• Seek out ways to develop skills.  For example fundraising skills – always good to offer, transferable to things like marketing. 
• Social work is a good general field to study, especially the community organizing side.  Public policy is helpful as well.
• Generalist skills (curiosity, empathy) help you deal with people and understand their needs.
• Many jobs will train you in specific technical or language skills over time.  Getting a good education is important beforehand. 
  

What are your other interests?  What do you do to stay sane / motivated/ fresh?

It doesn’t serve anyone to burn yourself out.  Young people are often tempted to work extra long hours in the beginning of the career – learn to pace yourself.

I try to have balance in life – play sports, bike to work, play music, engage other parts of my brain and socialize outside of work and with different people.  I suggest trying yoga or meditating to keep your mind as well as your body in shape.  Read good books. 

Keep in mind that a meandering road is often a good one.