The Refinery in Walla Walla, Wash., has become a nonprofit to enhance community engagement through pottery. Owner Jess Portas has introduced programs such as the Veterans Pottery Program, Community Clay and Clay for All to provide art access to marginalized groups.

Bikes for Kids, a nonprofit founded by Damian Sage, is giving away 510 new bicycles and helmets to second graders in three Indiana counties to encourage outdoor activity. The initiative gives students on free or reduced lunch programs free bicycles and helmets.

Creating a culture-first company where your teams look forward to working each day involves setting clear expectations upfront, introducing changes in increments, offering shared learning experiences and creating accountability methods, writes Thiru Thangarathinam, the founder and CEO of KeenStack. "A culture-first company is a business that is built around people and, therefore, built to succeed, Thangarathinam notes.

The "trust fall" exercise that's popular with team-building events can make you believe trust happens dramatically, but author and leadership expert Mike Robbins writes that trust is formed over time when you do what you say you will, take ownership of mistakes and offer empathy to your team. "This might sound simple, but consistency builds trust," Robbins writes.

Peer circles are a valuable tool for nonprofits and community organizers, fostering knowledge exchange and collaboration among individuals of similar experience. The circles are common in the arts, corporate settings and public health, but their potential in the nonprofit sector often goes unrecognized.

Susannah Faulkner, a former member of the city council in Erie, Pa., and most recently director of development for Sisters of St. Joseph Neighborhood Network, has been appointed executive director of Erie Arts and Culture. Her professional experience spans public affairs consulting in San Francisco and policy advocacy in Oakland, Calif., with a focus on anti-poverty and mental health programs.