Donna Criscuolo: Helping to Empower People Throughout the South Coast

You may know Donna from her years of working as the Executive Director of EforAll SouthCoast. Or perhaps you know her from her current position as director of Leadership SouthCoast (LSC). Maybe you know her as a friendly face you’ve seen around, always happy to say hello and give a kind smile to all whom she encounters. However you may have met Donna, you are bound to have had a pleasant interaction with her, and a conversation punctuated by her palpable passion for the people of the SouthCoast community. Read on to learn more about what makes Donna passionate about what she does and how she draws inspiration from the people she works with.

What’s your profession?

I am the Executive Director of Leadership SouthCoast. I’ve had that position since leaving my position as Executive Director of EforAll SouthCoast in 2021, after almost 4 years.

Describe a typical work day for you.

Lots of relationship building. LSC is a convener so I am constantly speaking with people about our initiatives, putting programming together, coordinating presenters and facilitating conversations. I also work closely with the LEAD SouthCoast cohort to support them during their time in the program.

What’s the biggest challenge you face at your job?

The biggest challenge for me is time and capacity. I was hired to relaunch LSC, including the LEAD SouthCoast program as well as launch new programs that serve our mission and community. As you can imagine, there are lots of moving parts with limited staff. I look forward to building a team in the near future.

Do you have a morning routine?

I believe a morning routine sets the tone for the day. I get up early and feed my two cats, Bella and Etta.

After my one cup of coffee for the day, I meditate to ground myself and gain clarity. I also like to spin 4 mornings a week. I check my emails early and calendar to ensure that I am informed of what needs to happen. Then I make a Green Juice to feed and hydrate my body.

What are your favorite productivity tips or hacks?

Take breaks throughout the day. It is important to step away from the computer, stand up and stretch and get a change of scenery. At the end of the day, I set myself for what needs to happen for the next day.

What do you listen to during the day?

As a practicing yogi, I have Sanskrit chants in the background all day. The chants help to keep me grounded and uplifted.

How do you benefit from using a coworking space?

I love coming into the office and feeling productive. The Fall River location is a great office setting where I can focus on my work and still engage with other people.

What’s in your digital toolbox?

I am not a big tech person. In fact, I have “tech karma” meaning that technology tends to not fully function around me. I have the kind of tech issues that leave the IT folks scratching their heads. I did just get ear pods as a gift and although it took me a beat to get used to them, I like the flexibility they provide.

What’s the best part of your day?

The best part of my day is interacting with people. I love meeting new people and engaging them in the work I am doing.

What (or who) inspires you?

The people I serve are my biggest inspiration. I love empowering others and when I see someone make that shift from under confident to empowered, it makes my heart skip a beat.

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Talia

Talia grew up on Martha's Vineyard and spent most of her life there, before moving to New Bedford to expand her community. Before Talia came to Groundwork, she had a career in Early Childhood as a preschool teacher, and in the service industry. Talia loves the ocean, reading, meeting new people, and spending time with her dog, Tobi!