COME TOGETHER
Kendra Knight dreams of nonprofit collaboration. She wants every nonprofit in Mono and Inyo counties to work together. All 527 of them.
Since Knight became chair of the Mammoth Lakes Chamber of Commerce nonprofit coalition in February, she’s been striving to make this dream a reality.
“We really want to connect all the nonprofits and realize we’re all in this together. You’re not alone in this struggle,” she said in an interview with The Sheet last Wednesday. “We can face this together by really utilizing each other’s resources.”
Why is resource sharing important for nonprofit work? It can make operating a nonprofit more affordable, Knight said. She gave a few examples in the form of sharing attorneys, bookkeepers, and health insurance companies.
“Let’s look at getting nonprofit leaders the amount of money they deserve,” she said.
In June, Knight began to hold bi-monthly coalition meetings, in an effort to strengthen ties between local non-profits in Mammoth. A few weeks ago, in September, the coalition held its second meeting. Both of these events were attended by roughly 25 people representing their nonprofit organizations. For the upcoming December meeting, Knight hopes more nonprofits will show.
“Even though this is a Mammoth Lakes Chamber of Commerce program, we’re looking outside of that,” she said. “So we’re networking with both Mono County and Inyo county nonprofits.”
Lee Vining and June Lake’s nonprofits will potentially be invited to the next meeting, Knight added. “They’re not members because they’re not in town, but we just want to share those resources. Right now, we’re just talking about it.”
Non-chamber members technically have to pay a fee to attend these meetings, but “at this point we’re not asking” for money, Knight assured.
Knight has been involved with nonprofits in the Eastern Sierra since she moved to the area 25 years ago. She previously served as the director and curator of the Mammoth Ski Museum at the Mammoth Lakes Foundation (MLF) and was the executive director for Mono Arts Council. Her work is now focused primarily with MLF again.
In the past year, Knight has devoted herself to the mission of MLF: making college at Cerro Coso free for any Mono County resident.
“We have the ability to put anyone through college, no matter who you are,” she said.
Aided by Cerro Coso Community College and the MLF scholarship program, MLF offers college education to non-traditional students as well.
Throughout our conversation, Knight alluded to the Dave and Roma McCoy legacy.
“This is what they would have wanted,” she said, reflecting the desires of the late Mammoth Mountain founder and his wife.
Knight has a personal connection to MLF. She had to put herself through college.
Knight holds two degrees: one in photography and business from UC Santa Barbara and the other from the Brooks Institute of Photography. She wanted other low-income students to be able to pursue higher education without having to work full-time.
Knight’s dedication to nonprofits didn’t begin in Mammoth. She started the first recycling program at her middle school in Los Angeles when she was 13.
“I was always really into sustainability and art and helping children,” Knight said. “Throughout my life, it’s kind of been my purpose.”
Knight wants every nonprofit in Mono and Inyo county to see that she’s available and her effort to connect nonprofits in the Eastern Sierra is sincere.
“If they want to reach out to me, they can. I’d love to meet for coffee or go to your nonprofit. I’m really just trying to connect all of us.”
