Carolyn Scherer Joins the SCC Team
SCC is pleased to welcome Carolyn Scherer to our team! Carolyn joins us as a principal consultant who will focus on program design and evaluation, organizational assessment, strategy, and project work. We’d love to let her tell you a little about herself and the passion she brings to her work.
1. You’ve worked with youth and youth programs over the years. Where do you feel you’ve had the greatest impact?
Whether working directly with youth and families, coaching, or supervising staff, or supporting a program or nonprofit organization, I’ve had the greatest impact when I can support others in reaching their goals. I draw upon my skills in listening, clarifying goals or vision, creating actionable steps, and focusing on strengths. One of the lenses I bring to my work and interactions is being a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW).
I believe I have also been impactful when I have supported a program or organization in bringing a program concept into reality (program design and development) or helping the organization take a close look at their program to explore and articulate strengths and areas for improvement. Having worked in the mentoring field for 15 years, I believe relationships can often be an agent for change. I bring this value to my work, which I think has helped me bring about positive impact.
2. What do you find meaningful about your work?
When I can support an organization in advancing their mission to meet a community need. I enjoy helping an organization develop new programming, refine existing programs/processes, or take a close look at outcomes and impact. I love supporting programs to build capacity and deliver high impact, high-quality programming.
3. Can you share a project or client experience that you have found particularly rewarding?
It’s rewarding for me whenever I can support clients who have a passion or idea for a program and help bring it to reality. Walking alongside those clients to articulate the mission, develop a solid program design, incorporate best practices, create the foundational elements for the program, and help position them for program implementation (and then later hear stories of program impact!) have been extremely gratifying opportunities for me.
4. Is there anything else you’d like to share?
I see myself as a bit of a generalist. I like to think I am resourceful, flexible, creative, and steady. I value relationships and creating space for clients to accomplish their goals.
I live in Minneapolis with my husband and two kids, ages 8 and 10 (and a dog). I love all things outdoorsy, art (current favorite is painting with watercolors), and doing all sorts of activities with my kids (lots of sports these days).