Beyond Burnout: Rebuilding Energy, Meaning, and Momentum in Volunteer Engagement with Jessica Pang Parks (November 19, 2026)

Thu, 19 Nov 2026 17:00:00 GMT

The PAVRO Professional Development Team is Proud to Present:

Beyond Burnout: Rebuilding Energy, Meaning, and Momentum in Volunteer Engagement with Jessica Pang Parks

Join us on Thursday, November 19, at 12 PM EST

Description:

Volunteer burnout is rising, and nonprofit leaders everywhere have noticed how it decreases impact and trust. This interactive workshop uses stories, neuroscience, and real-world problem-solving to demystify why burnout happens and how to interrupt the cycle before volunteers quietly disengage.

Participants explore the emotional and cognitive load that today’s volunteers carry and reimagine engagement practices that create clarity, belonging, and sustainable engagement. This is not a lecture; expect opportunities for reflection and brainstorming using Mentimeter.

Participants will walk away able to:

Use a simple conversation model to check in with volunteers in ways that build trust, reduce overwhelm, and surface emerging concerns early.
Recognize organizational contributors to burnout including expectations, role design, communication gaps, and invisible emotional labor.
Apply a strengths-based, human centered approach to create volunteer experiences that spark purpose and meaning for both nonprofit volunteers and staff.

Presenter Bio:

Jessica Pang-Parks, CVA, Trauma of Money Certified™, is a volunteer engagement thought leader who helps organizations build trust, create impact, and inspire belonging.

She is the recipient of the 2021 Alison Caird Young Leader Award in recognition of her leadership and excellence in volunteer engagement and the recipient of the 2023 VMPC Exemplary Leader Impact Award in recognition of her contributions to the field as a mentor, leader, trainer, and advocate.

Jessica facilitates Fleming College’s Volunteer Management: Spectrum of Engagement course and was named one of the Top 10 Volunteer Leadership Voices in 2025. She has held professional volunteer and community engagement roles at Crohn's and Colitis Canada, Pathways to Education Canada, the Heart & Stroke Foundation, Volunteer Toronto, and WWF-Canada.

Learn more about Jessica at www.learnwithjpp.com.

Neurodiversity 101: Introduction to Neuroinclusive Practices in the Workplace with Gill Forth (February 18, 2027)

Thu, 18 Feb 2027 17:00:00 GMT

The PAVRO Professional Development Team is Proud to Present:

Neurodiversity 101: Introduction to Neuroinclusive Practices in the Workplace with Gill Forth

Join us on Thursday, February 18, 2027 - 12 noon to 1 p.m. (EST)

Description:

This session is an accessible introduction to disability and neurodiversity in the workplace, including key language, terminology, and common misconceptions.

Participants will gain practical strategies to strengthen awareness, deepen understanding, and collaborate more effectively across different ways of thinking, communicating, and working.

By the end of the session, participants will be able to:

Explain key concepts related to disability, neurodiversity, and neurodivergence
Use respectful, current, and inclusive language with greater confidence
Identify common misconceptions and workplace barriers affecting neurodivergent and disabled employees
Recognize how people may think, communicate, process information, and work differently
Apply practical strategies that support clearer communication and more effective collaboration
Identify actions they can take to contribute to a more accessible and neuroinclusive workplace

The future belongs to leaders who can adapt their thinking.

Presenter Bio:

Gill Forth (she/they) is a neuroinclusion consultant, speaker, and coach, and the founder of The Low Achiever. She partners with organizations to create accessible workplaces through consulting, workshops, and coaching.

Gill brings over a decade of nonprofit experience in facilitation, DEI initiatives, and performance management. An ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC) with a certificate in Adult Education, she translates complex ideas about neurodiversity, disability, and workplace inclusion into practical strategies for individuals, teams, and leaders.

Queer, neurodivergent, and based in Ontario, Gill grounds her work in neuro-affirming and 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusive practices, with an emphasis on removing barriers and expanding possibilities.

PAVRO upcoming events

Beyond Burnout: Rebuilding Energy, Meaning, and Momentum in Volunteer Engagement with Jessica Pang Parks (November 19, 2026)

Neurodiversity 101: Introduction to Neuroinclusive Practices in the Workplace with Gill Forth (February 18, 2027)