Episode 63: Celina de Sola

Join Lori and her guest, Celina de Sola, in today’s episode of the Positive Impact Philanthropy podcast. Celina is the co-founder and president of Glasswing International. What does it look like to manage philanthropic work across many countries? Stay tuned!

Here’s what to expect:

• Providing kids with opportunities to develop socio-emotional skills.

• How working with people across the globe inspired Celina to be involved.

• The importance of having a “complementary piece” or even a diversity of skillsets to the work that you do.

• And much more!

About Celina:

Celina de Sola is co-founder and president at Glasswing. Her work focuses on designing and implementing innovative, community-based initiatives that bring together institutions and people for joint action.

Celina has over 20 years of experience in international development and social change. She’s worked as a consultant for organizations like the Population Council, URC, and family foundations. Celina was also a crisis interventionist for Latino immigrants in the US, and subsequently spent over five years as Director of Emergency Response for AmeriCares, leading responses to complex humanitarian crises including Liberia, the Darfur crisis in Sudan, Afghanistan, Iraq, as well as the tsunami in Indonesia.

She is a Fellow of the Obama Foundation, Ashoka, LEGO ReImagine Learning, Penn Social Impact House. She is also an Audacious Project and Skoll Foundation Awardee, and a Tallberg Global Leader. She serves on several non-profit Boards, and is a member of the InterAmerican Foundation’s Advisory Council. Celina gave a TED Talk at the 2022 conference in Vancouver and has also been featured on the Stanford Social Innovation Review, Time, CNN en Español, HuffPost Live, Forbes Centroamérica, Yes!, PopSugar, Univision and has spoken about the region’s relevant issues at conferences worldwide.

Celina holds a master’s degree in Public Health from Harvard University and one in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy and Practice.

Connect with Celina!

Glasswing International: https://glasswing.org/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/celina-de-sola-25b76234/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glasswingi/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/glasswingint 

Connect with Lori Kranczer!

Website: https://www.linkphilanthropic.com 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorikranczer/

Episode Transcript

You're listening to the positive impact philanthropy podcast where we share the journeys of everyday philanthropists as they incorporate philanthropy into their lives. Philanthropy is a personal journey and through the stories we will share here. We hope that it sparks something in you, and how you can make your own philanthropic impact in the world. I'm your host, Lori Kranczer attorney, philanthropic advisor and legacy giving strategist. Together we go to explore what it looks like to be an everyday philanthropist and make a positive impact in the world. Before we get started, make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss a new episode posted every Wednesday. So I'm really excited to have a guest today that we have been trying to schedule this and we finally got it on the books. I'm going to introduce Selena de sola. She is the co founder and president of Glasswing International. Welcome Selena.

Thank you so much for having me. I'm really excited to be here today.

I am so thrilled that you're here and I cannot wait to hear and share your story. So why don't you tell us what you do?

So I'm from El Salvador. We're actually I'm on the call right now here in El Salvador, and I am a social worker and public health person that's my you know, my training I suppose, but really, I am a nonprofit worker, right. So we've got 15 years ago, I co founded this organization called glasswing and what we do is we try to in the most kind of simple way to say this, we try to keep kids away from violence and help them thrive. And we work in 12 countries right now, including most countries from Mexico down to Colombia. Except Belize, and the Dominican Republic and Trinidad and Tobago. So we're in a lot different countries. And also we're in New York City with recently arrived migrant youth who are in public schools in New York. So we really do that by providing kids with opportunities to develop their social emotional skills with mentorship opportunities. We work on economic opportunities, employment as well access to training, but also access to internships. And in some cases, we also have programs where we're able to provide them with stipends. But really our focus is on developing those skills. And one of the main things that we've seen is that mental health is a huge part of this work. So with young people, we know that we work with kids who are facing extreme adversity and communities that face stigma, crime and violence and yet it's the same human potential that you would have anywhere right? So for us, it's really important to not just build these skill sets that I think a lot of us are probably familiar with or work with our in our families, right? We were trying to develop these skills and our kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews, but also taking into account that if you live in a tough, tough context. We also want to make sure that they had the the wellbeing and access to mental health support to so know where those programs are really mixed between education programs through after school programming, and health programs, mental health and and volunteerism, which is also a huge part of our work and developing those skills and also just involving role models and mentors for younger, younger kids.

So it's an amazing organization and the work you do is incredibly impactful. I want to go back to when you started it. What inspired you to do this?

You know, personally, I used to work in humanitarian aid. So I worked in in different contexts were facing conflict or natural disasters. I worked in Africa, I went to the Middle East Asia. And I think through that work, coming across and meeting such incredible people in different countries where I worked in Afghanistan, Iraq and Liberia, Sudan, one of the biggest inspirations for me when I was working, there was just the leadership commitment of people there, the nurses, the teachers, community leaders, so for me, it started to kind of push me out of emergency and into longer term development work to see you know, how resourceful and powerful and capable all these frontline workers were and I just started to feel like look, I you know, I, I think there's a lot to do in this space. And when we call it kind of locally driven development, right, like how do we provide people in communities with the knowledge and skills that they are interested in acquiring and that they feel they need to be able to navigate adversity and thrive and access opportunity? So having worked in these situations that were really difficult and meeting these these individuals over the course of many years really got me thinking about what I could do, as, you know, a woman from El Salvador, and a lot of them by the way, were women that I met, and just got me thinking a lot about that how, how to really invest in in existing strengths and resources as opposed to focusing always on weaknesses and deficiencies and, you know, kind of sad and it's just gotten me focusing on this idea of potential resource. And building on that. So that's how we started and then, you know, the two co founders, we got together the three of us and I think the kind of my brother, we're also really interested in this idea of volunteers, I mean, harnessing the power of people to support each other and in promoting impacts and development.

So a lot a lot of times people come to me and they want to start nonprofit, they have this wonderful vision. The mission is amazing. I don't suggest everyone start a nonprofit. I'm with you. That's a whole other episode, but you made this very successful. And so you just mentioned two co founders, and I think that plays into it as well for some of the success I've seen. Others have when they have others that are following them in this journey and assisting them and supporting them. How How did you? I mean, honestly, what was your brother but how did you like have that meeting of the mind about the vision and moving forward?

So I think there's you know, that's really interesting you say that I think there's that when you're social entrepreneur, you know, I'm like more of an ideas person technical programs. I could never, you know, what I mean? I can't like put together a really detailed budget and kind of the operational piece. So I think there's that complimentary piece that when you do work on something, whether or not you're starting it, but just in terms of a team, to set up from the beginning, a team that really has different skill sets and not, you know, not so much like what educational level you have them or what are your skill sets and I think that that's been something that's been key that not just the three founders, we used for our different skill sets, you know, working in government, working in private sector, working in nonprofit, I've only worked in the sector so so I think that that mixture of skills and experience has been really helpful. And then and then of course in your team, just making sure that members of your team as you grow are also from the communities that you're working in to really have the experience the expertise in, like 360 expertise, like really understanding and having the perspective of all of your stakeholders, right? It's like any business you want to understand that those that you're seeking to to serve or provide a service for, just like you would any other service. So I think it's that diversity of skill sets on the team is really important for for us in our work. I know it's helped us grow. 

Yeah, so um, so if someone was still headstrong about starting a nonprofit, besides setting up a team that we have complementary skills, what other types of advice or tips would you suggest they need to do their due diligence or what would they what should they look at before they actually move ahead? I think on the one hand, you want to make sure that you're not duplicating efforts, I think just making sure that there's a niche that you can fill. And if there isn't, I wouldn't get discouraged that we don't identify who's working on something that you're, you know, you're passionate about, and we work a lot with other organizations. So I think that that's one thing, just make sure that that what you want to do is actually what people want in those communities depending on the environment. For example, if you're looking at environmental work, and then the other is just being really candid and and humble about looking for help like I you know, we do that we're 15 years in and you know, we have like 500 team members now we work and I think we still are learning the learning curve is constant. So I think if you're kind of open to experience willing to continue learning for us, it's been really helpful to continuously ask other organizations and other people and communities themselves like you know what it is we need to do things change so quickly that I think that agility and and inquisitiveness is helpful because we do, we constantly need to adapt what we're doing to make sure we're achieving the outcomes we want right?

Yeah, and you mentioned I mean, I, I don't think there's any other sector that is open about the work that they do. Because the impact is so high. I have recommended for individuals and I hear a lot about on the podcast, people's experience of asking questions of any organization that they feel aligned with and people will share. Nonprofits those that are in this sector are so happy to extend their knowledge and their skills and to review things. It's been an incredible experience for so many people. I've been working with it have an idea to explore it. And so I don't know why but people a lot people don't think they can do that. I've had other nonprofits shared their numbers, like right out like sharing, like how many gifts are getting in and what it's amazing people will share? Yeah, I think it's people are people, right. I think you're still talking to a person and I think that that's been, you know, we were recently we were working on these two projects, and we didn't know that much. For example. The other thing is fundraising, right? If we're gonna start something unless you're able to find it yourself, it's challenging. I mean, you're an expert, Lori, but it's really challenging for those of us who aren't. And I think that we're, you know, we just started one project, which is like we're trying to basically replicate America but in Central America, which is really exciting looking at like service learning. And, and then the other project both of them are funded by philanthropy right now. The other project is that we're doing this like Matt like basically, flooding, education and health systems with trauma informed skills and self care for their frontline workers. And they're both like massive undertakings, and I think that there have been a couple of huge learnings for us. One is that working with philanthropy is really different than working individual philanthropy and understanding your different partners in these projects. Like any philanthropy we've seen that it is a partnership so like when you're starting an organization identifying those partnerships, we also work with governments, that also funds you know, US government and others that fund our work. But I think the other huge learning is that I think is relevant also starting is that who can also be a partners in scaling or trying to do something you're doing and I think, as challenging as it is, working with local governments and working with government can also be a really exciting way if you have something that's working like a strategy or intervention that's actually working. I think it's great to be able to, even if you know, all kinds of partisan things aside, because in some cases, it's challenging just to recognize that those who can reach the most people are these like, you know, ministry secretaries, they have different names, but basically, if you want to reach a lot of people there is there are ways to not have to put money into government necessarily, but still partner to be able to reach more people right through public systems. And it's challenging, but I think it's important because that's where most of our kids aren't in public schools, and hospitals and clinics and everything. So,

absolutely. It's definitely a wider reach. And I think a lot of people when it comes to working with government is that they feel like there's a lot of red tape by the regulations is gonna be too much oversight or whatever that may look like in their head but they haven't really experienced it yet. So I think absolutely is a great time to go for it. Okay, so I want to go even further back before you were involved in this area, in philanthropy, when did you first start to get involved with philanthropy? What was that moment in time? Was it in school? Or was it a family member that inspired you?

You know, interestingly, I I started realizing that this is what I liked the most when I was 12. When I started volunteering, it wasn't right philanthropy, but I was 12 and I had an English teacher actually lived in New Jersey, and her name is Donna stone. She probably lives in New York now but she was my seventh grade English teacher. Um, you know, we were reading like self reliance by Emerson and just kind of the educational context like the learning combined with her, helping us set up volunteer opportunities. Were transformative for me, I had done volunteering, but it was different the way the approach was not so much. It wasn't so charitable right in the traditional sense like, like giving to those less fortunate, but it wasn't like that it kind of it was more about everybody can give something right. So it was much more empowering. I felt and I remember just how much fun it could be. So for me in middle school, I realized that I really enjoyed volunteering, right? It was Special Olympics. It was going  Children's Hospital. It didn't really matter what it was. It was teaching another public schools with really little kids, but I think feeling like you have something to add even before you can potentially give money that's your own. There's something so exciting about that. And it's such a mutually beneficial thing for the person and for whoever you're working with. It's done. Right. So I think volunteering is a value generator and also something that's really transformative and potentially a young age really emerges philanthropy and volunteer because later on now that I can do I work in this sector, but I also have my own philanthropy of things I support. It gives you like a lifetime of things that you can get involved in across the spectrum of causes, right and parts of the world and everything.

I agree and a lot of what we cover here not always we talk about identity and to understand the issue areas that are really aligned with our experiences in our family. And so you just mentioned something about philanthropy that you support. So are there issue areas don't have to display name, nonprofits if you don't want but I don't really want but are there what issue areas have you been supporting outside of your own work?

Yeah, so yes, I definitely support the work we do here with youth in my country and elsewhere in the region. I also work in other areas where people are facing conflict, like, you know, geographically doesn't really, you know, where I can help. It varies. Sometimes I'll identify local organizations. For me, that's really important. If I can identify an organization that's founded and based in the country that I you know, that's I feel like that's helpful for me because I feel much more connected. And I don't think it's the only way but that's how I really think supportive, locally driven development or community. And I also am interested in wildlife conservation. So you know, I'll say like with, with international support, I'm interested in work with gender with girls, but I also really, really like working with conservation of wildlife and the environment in general. So that's another area that that I tend to also allocate my philanthropic funding to, are you working on a local level? Is that what you're supporting? Or both?

I think some species that I you know, I support conservation efforts of like marine ecosystems and then some other species so it varies some of its and it's really different parts of the world. Some in Africa, Southern Asia, so it's a mixture, but I do try to identify organizations that are working on the broader ecosystem as well as that particular species. Again, and I and I also am interested in the intersection of people and planet, right but again, and I think even in looking at mental health and trauma, they're all these interesting intersections of nature and wellbeing. But for me, I find that I'm lucky enough to work in violence prevention, youth opportunity, trauma. Mental Health, and then and then lucky enough to also be able to support other causes as well. So it's, you know, supporting both people and planet is important to me.

Absolutely. You're, it's completely baked into your personality and what we're doing so Absolutely, I'm not surprised. So we're getting to our last question, and I think this is actually the time to talk about what you consider your legacy to be.

I, I think my legacy and I'm thinking about it also because I have an 11 year old and when I think about it, i i If people think of me right after I'm gone and just I want them to think about someone who who did their best in their, you know, whatever spaces they can influence at work and to make sure people have equal and equitable access to opportunities. And because I really, everybody has this incredible human potential, and so many people just don't have access to the opportunities that they deserve to become the best versions of themselves or even dream about becoming so for me, I just really want to try to be that legacy. Of trying to ensure that people can become who they want to be and an increasing equity and social justice. Those are, that's huge, but that's what I'd like to be remembered for that I really believe that everybody has the same potential despite circumstances. That's incredible.

I know you're also leaving a legacy of Glasswing so I'll have to ask how did how did you come up with the name

You know, we wanted to we didn't want to call it sound something foundations invested on something in Spanish because a lot of them are doing this or that. And again, that love of animals right and butterfly it's kind of butterfly that exists in Mexico and Central America and it has transparent wings. And so that's important for us and also it can carry like 10 or 20 times its weight, even though it looks really fragile. Because it's transparent. So that combined with the transformation of the butterfly effect, and the idea that small acts can really create big change in volunteering. This idea of the kind of butterfly effect for us is obviously all the time I mean, I feel so lucky to be able to do what I love and and to be able to realize I learned so much last week and realize so many of these dreams I have of doing my best and putting my part into improving the world that, you know, that I was born into. So yes,

I you know, I don't often hear of a name that carries so much value. And so the transparency carrying a heavy load, I mean, that is just amazing. So you know, the work you're doing is incredible. And I thank you thank you. So why don't you if you can if you want to share where people can find out more information about you or glass wing?

Yes, we have. So I will share these so you can share them out as well. But we have Instagram glasswing we have all of the Twitter we have a website glasswing.org And for those of you who I know you have listeners from all over the world, but for those of you who are in New York, we also work in New York City. So if you're interested volunteering please check us out on social media and reach out and if you're interested in coming to Latin American volunteering, you're most welcome. So I'm really excited to have had this opportunity to spend some time with you today and your listeners.

Thank you and we appreciate it and we're gonna post all the links in the show notes and you don't have to go looking for on Friday and our listeners can just grab them from the show notes. So thank you again Celina. This has been an absolute wonderful learning more about you and your work and your philanthropic journey. And I'm sure that's inspiring lots of individuals all over the world. So thank you everyone for joining us and listening and we hope we provide some insights and inspiration that you can use for your own philanthropic journey. Until next time.

Thank you for joining us.

I hope it provided some insights and inspiration that you can use for your own philanthropic journey. You can tune in every week on Wednesdays when new episodes are dropped. We'd love to hear your feedback. So leave comments and a reading of what you like and what you'd like to hear more about. And if you'd like the episode today, make sure to share it to raise awareness about the story to inspire other women to take action on Lori Kranczer And until next time, you can make a positive impact through philanthropy every day. Thanks for listening.