Beyond Vocational Awe: Workshop Recap

Written By Shannon Parris

After connecting with folks from nonprofits and politics last month, Molly Krichten and I heard that vocational awe is something that resonates with many of us working for social good, even if we didn’t have the words to describe it. This month, we reconvened with many of the same folks to explore strategies to move beyond vocational awe in nonprofit work. Our discussion centered on the challenges of self-care as a prescription for burnout and the limitations of our traditional approaches to navigating our careers in the social sector. We talked about workplace capacity issues, boundaries, alternative structures and what a functional model of collective care might look like.

At the conclusion of the session, we discussed what this community might look like moving forward, and we decided to move forward with offering both a monthly virtual space and a quarterly in-person space (in Pittsburgh) to connect and continue these conversations.

Virtual space: Come as you are and come and go as you wish on the second Thursday of each month at 1:00 pm ET. Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83853699823?pwd=NZnP9DcYzcxfYyAdW7tCybJlZ9u9Oi.1

In-person space: Quarterly ImpactUp gatherings in and around Pittsburgh on the second Thursday of the month (once a quarter) at 6:00 pm ET. Event details will be shared via We Are for Good and Shannon Parris Consulting on LinkedIn.

If you missed the live discussion, catch up now:

Shannon Parris

Shannon Parris (she/her) is the Founder & Principal of Shannon Parris Consulting, which propels nonprofits and small businesses to reach ambitious goals while protecting and uplifting the people who power them. Working at the intersection of nonprofits, entrepreneurship, and disability justice, Shannon is on a mission to reshape how we work, lead, and belong because most workplaces weren't set up for everyone to succeed. She is passionate about developing the next generation of leadership and believes that the people who are closest to the work often understand it best. Her approach blends strategic insight with practical guidance to support underrepresented leaders and people who have historically been excluded from positions of power.

As a Korean adoptee who was raised in a predominantly white community, Shannon has a unique perspective on privilege and equity. She is most passionate about working to dismantle systems of oppression and to advocate for and galvanize leaders with marginalized identities. Multiply-neurdivergent, Shannon specializes in working with autistic, ADHDer, and other neurodiverse clients. She resides in Ross Township with her husband, their twin daughters, and two "foster-fail" rescued cats.

https://www.shannonparris.com/
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This Month’s LEAP Recap: Year-End Review & 2026 Goal Setting