Nonprofit professionals are called to community work for many different reasons. Claudia Terrell draws inspiration from the personal challenges she has overcome — experiences that now fuel her passion for empowering others. Through her work, she encourages individuals to strive for a sustainable and improved quality of life in Tampa Bay.
With a deep understanding of her community and a passion for serving others, Claudia has dedicated her career (and much of her personal time) to making tangible differences in the lives of those around her. As an Administrative Assistant to the Director of Program and Property Services at the Tampa Housing Authority, she supports a department dedicated to serving families, seniors, and youth. Their work focuses on providing case management and assisting residents with education and employment opportunities to enhance their quality of life.
Building Leadership Skills & Confidence
Claudia’s passion and experience give her work meaning, but that’s only part of her story. As a lifelong learner, Claudia proactively finds ways to grow in her leadership capacity and build confidence.
Thanks to funding from the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County, Claudia has taken 10 classes at the Nonprofit Leadership Center, including earning her Certificate in Fund Development Fundamentals and Nonprofit Board Governance Rock Star Certificate.
“The Nonprofit Leadership Center has instilled in me the confidence to embrace the leader I’ve always known I could be,” says Claudia. “The classes have broadened my knowledge and provided me with various perspectives on tackling different situations. The most valuable lessons have been in navigating challenging interactions with colleagues or residents, allowing me to become a more diplomatic and understanding leader.”
In addition to practical knowledge gained from NLC classes, Claudia says what she has learned about the power of authenticity has perhaps stuck with her the most.
“At NLC, I’ve learned that it’s okay to be vulnerable as a leader and to show compassion, but it’s also okay to lead when necessary — it’s about finding balance,” Claudia shares. “I often doubted myself before my experiences at NLC, but now I am confident in what I’m doing. That reassurance comes from knowing it’s okay to be authentic and show your human side as a leader. This has helped me be more approachable and build stronger relationships with my team.”
Game-Changing Insights Translate to Real-World Wins
Like Claudia, 96% of nonprofit professionals who attend events at the Nonprofit Leadership Center say their knowledge increased immediately after a class, and nearly 9 in 10 say they’ve applied concepts learned at NLC events to achieve a desired outcome. For Claudia, her experiences have already translated into everyday wins.
One aspect Claudia appreciates most about Nonprofit Leadership Center events is the networking opportunities they offer and being able to talk to people from different organizations.
“In the most recent class I attended, two participants reached out to me after wanting to know how they could work directly with our organization and our residents because some of their services could benefit them. I arranged meetings with my director to explore collaboration and get those resources to our residents.”
Paving the Way for a Brighter Community
Claudia believes that the most rewarding thing about working in the nonprofit sector is the joy of helping someone else — and when they pass that joy along.
“I come into contact with many different people, and I get to share my story while empowering and encouraging them,” Claudia says. “Because of my personal experiences, including overcoming homelessness, I know how important it is to offer hope and resources to members of our communities. I want to be that person who can go out there, find those resources, and bring them back to the community. That’s what makes it all worthwhile.”
Claudia dreams of one day starting her own nonprofit organization to provide more resources and opportunities to people in need in Tampa Bay. She says that because of the Nonprofit Leadership Center, she is learning how nonprofits operate and everything that must be considered to navigate the sector and run an organization.
“The networking, the insights from the trainers, and the experience and knowledge shared at NLC are helping me prepare for my future goals.”
Claudia Terrell is an administrative assistant at the Tampa Housing Authority and a dedicated mother committed to community service. She supports Tampa Bay residents through various programs and volunteers with young African American men via Men of Tomorrow and West Tampa Spartans. Additionally, she participates in her church’s social service ministry at New Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church.
Find Events to Support Your Leadership Journey
Inspired by Claudia’s story? The Nonprofit Leadership Center offers a wide range of resources, programming and classes to develop your leadership skills and help you make a difference in your nonprofit work. Check out our upcoming events to find your next game-changing step.
Support More Nonprofit Professionals Like Claudia
As community needs continue to outpace nonprofits’ capacity to meet them, nonprofit professionals like Claudia face increasing challenges, including lower wages, a hiring crisis and burnout. You can make a difference for the difference-makers in our community with a gift to the Nonprofit Leadership Center to support them. Your contribution ensures more deserving nonprofit professionals and organizations will have the training and support necessary to increase their skills, fundraise more effectively, and be the leaders our community needs.
