Director brings first-hand experience to equine group
Equine-Assisted Therapies of South Florida is more than a place of healing and therapy for Molly Murphy. She is its newest executive director. Murphy’s first experience with the Coconut Creek-based organization was as a student who, at the age of seven, began riding for her own therapeutic needs. In addition to being a program participant, Murphy worked for the organization in a variety of roles from volunteer management to fundraising. In effect, the organization became her first career opportunity.
Why I’m a good fit for the job: I have a unique understanding of how this therapy works and why it is so important for our South Florida community.
A little background: While Idon’t ride anymore, this barn was my favorite place when I was growing up. It was the place where my differences didn’t matter anymore. People believed in me and supported me both in riding and personally. I am the woman that I am today because of this amazing organization.
Resume
Experience: Class XI of the Florida Gubernatorial Fellowship, where I worked with the Department of Financial Services; Equine-Assisted Therapies; other nonprofits: Martha’s Table, Washington, D.C.; Camp Sunshine, Casco, Maine.
Education: Masters in public administration with a certificate in nonprofit management, University of South Florida, Bachelor’s in advertising and public relations, University of Tampa.
Myth-busting
What people don’t know: How effective therapeutic riding and equine-assisted activities really are: The horse walks in a three-dimensional motion that mimics the way that a “typical” person walks. For an individual who is in a wheelchair, or doesn’t move theway a “typical” person does, the horse movement is actually developing muscles or creating new muscle memory.
Strategies
What’s new: More demand on the services that nonprofit organizations provide. Many nonprofits have begun partnering with other organizations or the public sector to provide a more holistic service.
Professional development: Networking with other executive directors, such as the Nonprofit Executive Alliance of Broward, to brainstorm with other local executives so that together we can improve our service delivery.