Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Danielle Jaie Dumas, The Arc of Palm Beach County
Danielle Jaie Dumas is director of marketing for The Arc of Palm Beach County in Riviera Beach. Though it’s a career and industry change — Dumas was graphic designer, for Illustrated Properties Real Estate in Palm Beach Gardens, and left to join a nonprofit organization — it’s not a new notion for Dumas. She was hooked 20 years ago when she volunteered for an Arc event. One of Dumas’ main responsibilities is to increase awareness about its mission through all social media platforms, utilizing her marketing and graphic design experience of more than 15 years.
Community
Advocacy: I was the United States division winner of the national Design Against Fur poster competition in 2007. The poster was an exercise in bringing awareness to a specific cause.
Professional development
Leadership: I am a graduate of the Rising Leaders program at Nonprofits First, that teaches leadership skills and techniques to nonprofit employees to help them further their careers.
Strategies
Typical day: I start my day by checking in on our adult day program to see what they are learning and the art they are creating. Coming from an art background, I find it fascinating how art therapy affects those we serve. I visit the Potentials School to visit students K-8. I might see a student walking for the first time using our adaptive equipment, or hear them say their first word.
What’s new: An increase in the number of nonprofit organizations; the way people receive information, it has to be on point and visually interesting.
Engage: Networking is a huge part of how I got here: networking events, attending chamber meetings, supporting community partners, and always maintaining relationships.
Advice to young professionals: Make it personal. Everything is so technical. Send handwritten notes instead of emails, make a phone call instead of sending a text.