We had the good fortune of connecting with Kelly Wulf and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Kelly, what’s one piece of conventional advice that you disagree with?
Recently I have been seeing a lot of meme’s and social media posts with the saying “Bloom where you are planted” and I absolutely disagree with that sentiment. I am an avid gardener and I understand that my plants have to deal with the conditions I give them. However, as people, we have the opportunity to move into different conditions and try to get a bit more sunshine. The idea that you have to simply accept what the world has handed you is nonsense to me. I believe we all have a right to dream and hope for more and for better. This does not mean we shouldn’t be grateful for what we have but it does mean that we are not plants and we should strive for better.
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As the part-time Executive Director of Knitting4Peace, I am most proud of the fact that I can be a part of such a small but mighty organization. Working with this group of people has taught me so much and has really reminded me why I got into nonprofits in the first place. While I have extensive knowledge of working in and running nonprofits in Denver, I do not have a background in crafting or craftivism so I have had a very large learning curve with this job. I have had to work really hard to understand how the programming and processes work. I’ve spent a lot of hours meeting with volunteers and makers to have a deeper understanding of how this organization runs. It has been very difficult and I struggle with being behind the curve, but I’ve made it a priority to get a deeper understanding of Knitting4Peace and our community. I believe that if you are the leader of a nonprofit or business that you should be able to do the jobs you are asking others to do. When I came on board as Executive Director I was completely ignorant as to the other roles within the organization but I’m proud to say over the past couple months I’ve trained up on all positions and can now begin to institute more efficient process that will enable us to make a bigger impact.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’ve been privileged to work with a lot of people within the Denver nonprofit scene who deserve a shoutout. I’d love to give a shoutout to the community at the nonprofit Knitting4Peace. Knitting4Peace is a very small, Denver-based nonprofit who provides handmade items, such as scarves, hats, dolls, etc, to communities across the world. I was lucky enough to be offered the part-time Executive Director of Knitting4Peace, and in my short time there I have learned what a dedicated group of humans it takes to make the mission possible. From the Board of Directors to our incredible volunteers, everyone involved with this nonprofit is there to spread warmth, love, and comfort to those who need it most. As the newbie and as a non-knitter, I am so grateful to the entire Knitting4Peace community for sharing their passion for the mission and for helping me understand the massive impact this organization has.
Website: www.knitting4peace.org
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knitting4peace/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/weknit4peace
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Knitting4Peace
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpZsco9L_zppG2HnlVHk2rg