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Gavin Funabiki
Gavin Funabiki of Third ThursdaysEach week you’re reading about amazing work non-profits and their young leaders are doing. What if, instead of reading, you could actually connect with and talk to them or other like-minded people as well? Third Thursday is an organization that does just that, hosting monthly meetings in the Bay Area for a friendly dinner panel and discussion about Asian American & Pacific Islander issues. Gavin Funabiki, 32, of Third Thursday shares with us the need for an organization like this, what you can expect and what’s in store for the future. Read on to find out more about Gavin and Third Thursday’s as we feature them in this week’s Non-Profit Spotlight.
Non-Profit
Third Thursdays
Founded
July 2000
Website
http://www.thirdthursdays.org
Name
Gavin Funabiki
Age
32
Hometown
Palo Alto, California
Current residence
Oakland, California
Education
Stanford, MA, Sociology, 1997
Stanford, AB, History, 1996
Work Experience
Thelen Reid & Priest LLP
Programmer / Analyst, 2006-present
JMPT Consulting
Software Developer
S.H. Cowell Foundation
Grants Manager
Program Assistant/Program Associate
Ethnicity
JABC! (Japanese American Born Chinese)
About the non-profit
Third Thursdays is a monthly dinner discussion group about Asian American & Pacific Islander community issues. We present an informative panel and then follow it up with a facilitated dinner discussion group.
Most notable milestones
We're now six years old and continue to provide interesting programs every year. We have a sister group, South Bay First Thursdays.
What's the niche?
We can present anything that's community related. We've had comedians talking about their craft, serious discussions about human trafficking, and helped inform people about mental health issues. Busy people who want to learn about something in the Asian American & Pacific Islander community can find it at one of our events.
What's the biggest challenge?
Finding balance. Sometimes there's a lot of "serious" issues going on and we want to be current and accessible. We hear comments that we sound too serious, but we laugh and smile at a lot of our events.
What's in store for the future?
We're looking at other strategies of getting more information about AAPI community organizations and events to people, either face-to-face or online.
Who would you like to be contacted by?
Anyone who has a topic they're interested in seeing at a Third Thursdays, anyone who would like to help out, or anyone who just wants to coming to our next event. We're also conducting our annual survey right now, so please feel free to take a look: http://www.thirdthursdays.org/survey/2006.php
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Best way to keep a competitive edge
Keep evaluating yourself and don't be afraid to try something new.
Guiding principle in life
Be conscious of how your life impacts everything around you; make sure it's a positive one.
Yardstick of success
Seeing that everyone put in a good effort.
Goal yet to be achieved
Figuring out "The Goal" or "The Job".
Best practical advice
Don't under-think things, you'll make too many mistakes. Don't over-think things, you'll make yourself and everyone else around you crazy.
Supportive words from a family member or friend on your venture
"That's pretty good" is the common family phrase. They've been supportive and challenged me to do more.
Mentors
I mostly have inspirational mentors like all of my relatives. They've been so active in so many different phases of their lives. I can only hope to have a quarter of their track-record.
What motivated you to get started?
For Third Thursdays: there wasn't a good way to find information about what great work non-profits are doing and how people can help. For general community involvement: We are facing so many societal challenges that government and non-profits can't solve them by themselves.
Like best about what you do?
I regularly get to hear what people are passionate about.
Like least about what you do?
Sheep-herding.
At age 10, what did you want to be when you grew up?
No idea.
What was your first job?
Paperboy. It was a paper that no one seemed to read, but everyone was convinced to buy.
Biggest pastime outside of work
Rock climbing. Indoors mostly, but outdoors whenever I can.
Person most interested in meeting
Jim Collins. He climbs rocks and analyzes greatness.
Leader in business most interested in meeting
Paul Hawken. I'm only now starting to learn about sustainable businesses, so it would be great to learn about it from one of the leaders.
Yvonne Chouinard. He founded Patagonia and Black Diamond. Patagonia instituted on-site child-care early on, switched from convential cotton to organic cotton after evaluating its environmental impact, and started a "1% for the Planet" campaign. He also drinks from every stream.
Three interesting facts about yourself
1. Boring fact -- I've never lived anywhere outside of the Bay Area.
2. My ape-index is +4 inches.
3. I eat a lot.
Three characteristics that describe you
1. Committed
2. Thoughtful
3. To the point
Three greatest passions
1. Family
2. Community
3. Rock climbing
Favorite book
The Soul of a Chef. I hope to have one day that operates as efficiently Thomas Keller's dream kitchen.
Favorite cause
I love the work of the People's Grocery (http://www.peoplesgrocery.org/) in West Oakland. They're trying to create a healthier West Oakland by educating the community, farming, and building social enterprises.
Is there anything else you!d like to add?
I was watching a Superman cartoon and liked the phrase "If not now, maybe never."
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