Maegan Zielinski, MPH on LinkedIn: Community advocate, cat lady, director, mural enthusiast, friend, and now… (2024)

I am grateful to be included with so many wonderful people making a difference right here in NEPA! Thank you to the Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce for this recognition. I truly love being involved with this community! #LoveWhereYouLive

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Attended the Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce 2024 Young Professionals Conference today! I saw my friends give insightful presentations and even sat on a panel with Jacob Kelley and Sheina Mackey discussing our early career experiences. I got to shed some light on my journey to where I’m at now. I wasn’t born into the pierogi world (despite my Polish roots) and I started in homeless services, not marketing and operations. NEPA'rogi and Grassroots Development have inspired me to go outside of the traditional career paths and into entrepreneurship, but that wouldn’t have happened without my early career opportunities. Two tidbits I’d like to share here that seemed to resonate with people today.#1. My 2024 mantra is Joy or Bust. If it doesn’t bring joy, it’s a bust.#2. There is no such thing as “should be” - those are expectations we place on ourselves. Let go of the narrative your life should look a certain way or you should be at a certain point in your life. Grow from where you are presently✨

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Thank you to the one and only DiscoverNEPA for interviewing me on Why NEPA? Seriously, why NEPA? Where do I begin? I could begin with the visually stunning geography. Or I could talk about all of the opportunities that I've been grateful to be a part of (Street Art Society NEPA, Wilkes-Barre Bike Gang (WBBG), Rainbow Alliance, Leadership Northeast and more). I could name all the awesome friends I’ve made here. And lastly, I could try to put in words how it feels to grow two amazing businesses: NEPA'rogi and Grassroots Development.I think I said it best…”It feels like home. It feels like I’m supposed to be here.”

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Can’t beat this regions best local networking group! I’ve met so many great people and industry leaders. It’s not about sales, its about the community and building relationships. Membership is only $35 a year, that’s less than $3 an event 🤩

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Custom assessments are becoming the new model as communities continue to use data to understand their homelessness population!

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I am excited and honored to be nominated for the 35th Annual Women in Achievement Award by YWCA for the Social Justice and Advocacy category!The Women of Achievement Awards recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of women and young leaders in the community. Since 1985, YWCA has honored over 400 women. The event raises key support for the YWCA’s advocacy programs and services, which promote racial justice and gender equity for thousands of women, children, and their families in southeastern North Carolina.The event will be held virtually this year on March 11th 6pm, which is great because so many of my family and friends will be able to attend while not being physically in Wilmington!Thank you so much YWCA!!!#community #inclusion #diversity #equality #leaders #leadership #womenleaders #diversityandinclusion

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I’ll be going! #advocacymatters #advocacyinaction #housingforall

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Great read if you’re wondering how data and homelessness go hand in hand.As a HMIS Administrator it is so important to have conversations with community partners on the importance of data and how it can be used to end homelessness!#homelessnessawareness #homelessness #dataanalytics #databaseadministrator #databaseadministration

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Last week I virtually co-hosted the 2021 Legislative Breakfast with Katrina Knight, Executive Director of the Good Shepherd Center. The Cape Fear Housing Coalition puts on this annual event usually at Thalian Hall with an amazing breakfast from Milners. Its a great opportunity to build relationships and network. It’s one of my favorite events!Luckily, not even COVID could hold off the important conversation of affordable housing! Advocacy is in my blood! I continue to learn about affordable housing and initiatives being done in other cities. Would love to see some of these initiatives come to Wilmington! #community #affordablehousing #housing #homelessness #endhomelessness #advocacy

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