Hi, I'm Breauna! I'm the soul behind Connecting the Cause. Here's a little about me and my path...

I’ve seen volunteerism done good, and I’ve seen it perpetuate and cause harm.

 There are millions of people around the world who are dedicated to serving, giving back, and connecting to social issues that matter to them. There are also millions of people around the world, that although well intentioned, their impact is creating larger gaps in liberation, solidarity and power. I am convinced that in order to produce real transformational change, we must be willing to check our mindsets, intentions, language, attitudes, and perceptions of service. We must look at those we partner with as humans first, with assets, a favorite color, and enough. Connecting the Cause was created and designed to tackle and dismantle our current narrative and traditional norms around service. Here is what CTC does:

• We teach nonprofits, organizations, and civic groups how to ensure the community is at the center of service.

• We serve as advocates for voices of color to be heard, recognized, and valued in the service and volunteerism sector.

As a Black woman who has been employed at nonprofits and engaged with volunteers for the past 10-plus years, I have witnessed when volunteerism is centered in individual feelings and not collective care and community impact.

Seeing volunteer groups come in and out of the nonprofits I held positions at, I was continuously disheartened by acts of paternalism, misuse of power, unhealthy volunteer/client dynamics, and, at times, by the powerlessness I felt to change things. I felt stuck and wanted to be intentional about making it better.

Over the years, I saw people who looked like me made to feel powerless and less-than by organizational volunteers, creating a continuous chain of unhealthy, co-dependent relationships between nonprofits and those they serve.

Once I realized this trend, I started to challenge the norm by making small, intentional changes at the organizations I held positions in – changes that promoted the dignity and respect of community members. I assessed the effectiveness of volunteer opportunities in terms of self-sufficiency versus co-dependency, and finally moved towards the abolition of unhealthy volunteer program practices.

The impact it made was clear to see – not only on our clients but also on our volunteers. Volunteers felt a deeper sense of connection to the cause. They felt informed. And I felt, for the first time, that we were making a true partnership between our volunteers and the community.

The community felt autonomy over their life, were served the way they wanted to be served, and were able to meet their own desired goals. I was called to make an impact on more volunteer programs by using the strategies and tactics I developed throughout my time in the sector.

Also, as an individual, devoting myself to internal change and challenging my character in the moments of servitude heightened my knowledge for the cause, developed my personal empathy, and increased my creativity to solve overarching societal problems.  This was a moment that sparked my journey, but it was also a testament to my own transformation as a servant. I have now dedicated my career to igniting others to serve effectively, with both justice and love, ever since. Through Connecting the Cause, I now have the honor of teaching other individuals how to volunteer responsibly, change their lives through service, and how to become real partners in change by directing their energy in towards transformative interactions.

I received my Bachelor's degree in International Studies from Georgia Southern University, and my Masters in Public Administration, with a concentration in Nonprofit Management, from Georgia State University (Summa Cum Laude).

It's a true honor when you've found your niche. I care about the products created, and the impact it has on clients. If you succeed, we all succeed, and that's what matters, and that's what I enjoy.

In my free time you can find me writing to-do lists,bookmarking articles on LinkedIN, taking mini adventures with my hubby, loving on my babies and going to thrift stores trying to find the latest deals.

Anything else you want to know about me? Just ask.

Breauna Arteese Dorelus, MPA

Chief Cause Consultant