The economic downturn continues to hurt nonprofit organizations that are
assisting disadvantaged individuals. A MBA student has pledged some of the
proceeds of her book to assist a nonprofit organization that assist disable
persons with staying afloat during the current financial crisis.
Noriko
Iwanaga Chapman, a native of Japan, is a production control supervisor for DENSO
Manufacturing (TN); she has over 16 year of experience in the automobile
industry. She is the mother of two children. She is also a cancer survivor.
Through her efforts, Chapman is leading the charge to raise $72K for a
nonprofit. She has become a social advocate for individuals with disabilities
seeking permanent employment without reliance on public assistance. In the book,
she suggested management tools for accommodating more people with disabilities
who deserve a second chance. Her first book, Second Chance: An In-depth Case
Study on Nonprofit Organization's Resource Allocation and Operational
Maximization, was written with Dr. Daryl Green at Lincoln Memorial University,
with the hope to inspire other individuals to reach for their dreams too.
Chapman discusses her campaign in this interview.
Why should people care
about this Center?
The Center?s primary goal is to assist individuals
with disabilities for successful employment. They gain self-esteem and find
themselves being more self-sufficient and independent. At the same time, they
become taxpaying citizens who contribute back.
How do you feel you can
help raise $72K for the Center?
I hope to leverage my book to promote the
recognition of the Center in the community. Once its purpose and operations are
understood, more people should be willing to volunteer or assist financially. In
addition, 30% of proceedings and any extra donations received for the book
benefit the Center.
Who are the individuals who influenced you when you
were growing up in Japan?
My hero is always my 99-year-old grandmother
who lives in Japan. She has taught me to treat people with respect, to be strong
and courageous and to be able to say ?No? when we have to. She is also a
business person whose motto is ?customer and quality first.? She lost her
husband and brother in the Philippines during WW2. During and after the war, she
ran a family business while raising my father and uncle. She established a group
and became a chairperson to help widows and women in the community. She never
remarried but has devoted all her life to her family, business, employees,
widows and single mothers in the community.
Describe what most people say
are your best qualities.
I may be seen as an independent, optimistic,
dependable, adventurous, unique and funny person.
Please discuss your new
book and how it got started.
My new book, Second Chance: An In-depth Case
Study on Nonprofit Organization's Resource Allocation and Operational
Maximization, started with a class assignment in one of my graduate courses at
Lincoln Memorial University. At the time, Dr. Daryl Green was my professor. The
project was called a Real-World Application (RWA). It?s about the operations
improvement for a nonprofit organization in Maryville, Tennessee. TN Vocational
Center, funded by federal and local government, supplies parts for Denso where I
work.
During the research, I was inspired by the staff and individuals
with disabilities who were trying very hard to learn work skills and seek
permanent employment. It was a perfect project that God prepared with the
perfect timing, a convenient location, hard-working people, and Dr. Green?s
challenge to have students publish a book. It was a Second Chance for me to go
back to school and resume my career after surviving cancer. It?s God?s grace. It
was a perfect opportunity for me to reach out to people who needed help. I
happened to be there to complete the project and to write about it.
What
tips would you give others who want to assist nonprofit organizations like the
Center?
Knowing our expertise or the area specialized in may be helpful.
The volunteer work doesn't have to be significantly big or time-consuming. It
can be as little as spending a few hours a week to help clients with math and
reading to pass GED. Lately we found very effective and inspiring to clients by
giving mock interviews. They were thrilled by being interviewed by real world
managers! Lots of volunteers are wanted by different nonprofit organizations in
the community. Check out a community bulletin board!
Dr. Daryl Green
provides motivation, guidance, and
training for leaders at critical ages and stages of their development. For more
information, visit Dr. Green at www.darylgreen.org