Arfana Sogal, Director of Programs for Asian Pacific Partners for Empowerment, Advocacy and Leadership (APPEAL)

Arfana Sogal began her job search when many nonprofits started to feel the strain of the economy. After a cross country move from New York to San Francisco in August of 2008, Sogal took a couple of months of reallocate herself and her family to the Bay Area. In November 2008, Sogal began her nonprofit job search.

“When I started my search, I did not know how the economic environment was affecting nonprofits. It did not really hit me until January on how bad the situation really was,” said Sogal.

After accessing the nonprofit job search environment in San Francisco, Sogal considered lowering her job standards.

“I needed to assess what I was looking for. I considered taking lower benefits or positions that did not meet my education level,” said Sogal.

A graduate of the University of Rochester, Sogal continued her education and pursued a Master’s degree from Columbia University, Joseph Mailman School of Public Health with a concentration in Policy and Management in 2002. In New York Sogal worked with prestigious health care nonprofits such as, The New York Academy of Medicine, New York University Medical Center and the Community Service Society of New York.

Being very familiar with the nonprofit sector in New York, Sogal turned to Opportunity Knocks to begin her Bay Area nonprofit job search.

“Opportunity Knocks helped me understand the network of nonprofits in San Francisco. I was surprised the number of jobs listed for my experience level was much higher than other job search websites,” said Sogal.

In January, Sogal applied for the Director of Programs positions with Asian Pacific Partners for Empowerment, Advocacy and Leadership (APPEAL) and was hired in March. For Sogal, the Director of Programs job was a perfect match because she did not need to lower her expectations. The job requirements matched her skills, experience and education level.

For Sogal, APPEAL’s mission is a vested interest of hers that she is proud to focus efforts on. “As an Asian American, its empowering to know that I am focusing efforts on the community, which tobacco has had major effects on,” said Sogal.

APPEAL, is a national network of organizations and individuals working towards social justice and a tobacco-free Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Appeal has over 600 members consisting of community-based organizations, community leaders, community health centers, researchers, and state and local health departments.

Unlike other nonprofits, APPEAL is in a growth staged. To learn more about APPEAL’s growth, go to: http://www.appealforcommunities.org/