Introduction
Right now, community-based organizations (CBOs) are carrying more than their share of uncertainty—and it’s taking a toll.
Stress is rising. Staff are burning out. Leaders are stretched to the limit. And while everyone is pushing forward to meet urgent demands, the foundations that hold organizations together—trust, clarity, resilience—are quietly eroding.
CBOs today are facing a triple threat:
Political and ideological targeting that undermines their work and questions their legitimacy
Chronic funding instability and the pressure to justify every dollar
An exhausted workforce trying to serve communities while running on fumes
In this climate, wellness can feel like a luxury. But here’s the truth:
When your team is in survival mode, that’s exactly when you can’t afford to ignore organizational wellbeing.
This Week in Los Angeles: ICE Raids Hit Close to Home
If you need proof of the kind of climate CBOs are operating in, look no further than the ICE immigration raids that swept through parts of Los Angeles this week.
For many organizations, these aren’t just headlines—they are lived realities. Staff members aren't just advocates or administrators; they are neighbors, friends, and sometimes family to the very people being detained or targeted. The fear and disruption ripple through entire communities—and directly into the workplace.
When community trauma is personal, cumulative, and unrelenting, it adds a hidden layer of stress that no employee wellness webinar can fix.
This is why organizational wellness must be approached strategically. Not as a perk or a morale boost, but as a mission-critical investment in your people and your organization’s ability to survive and lead through hardship.
A Call for Bold, Strategic Leadership
As someone who’s worked alongside CBOs for decades, I believe these challenges aren’t short-term. Many of the organizations under pressure now are being targeted precisely because of the communities they serve. That pressure isn’t going away. If anything, it’s intensifying.
That’s why I’ve developed a set of Organizational Wellness Strategy & Coaching Services designed for this reality:
To help leadership teams and Boards steady the ship
To give staff a voice and a pathway to resilience
To reconnect wellness with strategy, values, and mission-driven action
In times like these, strong partnerships matter. If you're ready to face the chaos head-on—with clarity, courage, and strategy—we’re here to help. Review our Organizational Wellness Services here.