Greg Owens 33:52
and are you guys going to school right now? Are you still like doing zoom, zoom classes,
Nitya Devisetti 33:58
zoom classes,
Greg Owens 33:59
so you can be like, you’re probably on the download, answering questions and taking care of things right. I mean, you know, like we are we’re all doing it. We’re all becoming masters and multitasking. I’m having to do a lot of Zoom calls and there’s times where things are just not relevant to me so I can like be listening here and taking care of some stuff here. You guys must be getting really good at it. I remember when I was when the first cell phones were coming out like I got really good at being able to like hold the cell phone down below right because he had that you can feel the keys and be able to like send text text messages and that kind of stuff and send them out right and it’s a little a little more challenging when an iPhone but I’m sure you guys have figured it out. And for you Nitya what what’s your day to day life? Like right now?
Nitya Devisetti 34:47
Yeah, so most of the times, I’m just really texting Nikhil, Sohum, and Kyle who’s our other chapter leader. Kyle recently did a donation in partnership with Santa Clara Valley magic Call Center. And what they did, they had COVID testings, a covid Testing Center in a church and he just sat there distributed masks to people that were getting tested, and the faculty there as well. And so I coordinated with him answered some questions. And then I just like connected him with Nikhil go pick up masks from his house. So that’s my day to day. Now I coordinate, I’m getting awards for volunteers answering Nikhil. So homes and cars questions, and working with the other chapters as well.
Greg Owens 35:33
So you’re gamifying your organization in a way where you’re like, here’s rewards for for different for different sort of levels that people get to?
Nitya Devisetti 35:43
Yeah, definitely. Um, that’s definitely an incentive for a lot of student volunteers, because college apps, so you definitely have to think like, on the volunteers aspect, like what would incentivize someone to volunteer for our organization, whereas so many other student organizations have been popping up after, because everyone wants to do something that they’re passionate about? So yeah, so we had to kind of think in the sense, like, it isn’t a competition, but it kind of is because we need volunteers to contribute to our cause to keep this organization running. But we are grateful that they’re taking part and helping the community.
Greg Owens 36:23
Right. All right, and what some of those selling points that have been working for you.
Nitya Devisetti 36:27
Yeah, so um, in the beginning, it was definitely very easy to get volunteers because it was kind of a niche. As I mentioned earlier, there wasn’t really another type of organization that brought together an entire community. So our foundation has really helped us when you’re when you start off with connections, it’s a lot easier than being in a competitive environment with other types of same organizations and trying to find new connections. So our foundation and our kind of reputation has really helped in recent months, because we’re kind of the mask the volunteer opportunity in Cupertino. Now,
Greg Owens 37:12
that’s great.
Nitya Devisetti 37:13
But other student organizations have been popping up. So we’ve been trying to distinguish ourselves, in the sense like, we provide awards like presidential Service Award, if you qualify for 100 hours. We recognize you for Volunteer of the month, if you’re contributing frequently. We’ve worked with volunteer clubs at schools. So there, they give out three credits to like satisfy semester requirements if you make a certain number of masks. So we’ve been trying to get on our game, kind of see how we can incentivize. Yeah,
Greg Owens 37:47
right? because like you said, like now now here in October, there’s a tremendous amount more sort of like startup nonprofit organizations that are are trying to figure out how to give back to the communities and that kind of stuff. Exactly, yeah. And so you mentioned Google Docs as being something you guys have used what other apps have been indispensable for you text messaging of cars,
Nitya Devisetti 38:11
um, Instagram, Instagram, Instagram is such a large base of connecting with our peers and just advertising building up that reputation and updating people and go fund me. Yeah.
Greg Owens 38:28
And go fund me. All right. And then, and how about Tick tock, have you guys are you
Nitya Devisetti 38:34
we have done Tick Tock?
Greg Owens 38:35
Oh, nice. Yeah. And have you and so there’s so much in the influencer sort of category, sort of and have you? Is that been helpful for you through Instagram?
Nitya Devisetti 38:47
Yeah, so it has definitely been helpful. And when I was starting this organization, I knew that was my weakness. I did not know how to you utilize social media features. I’m not artistic, I don’t have a good color scheme of things. So I definitely looked for a team of people that had artistic talent could organize our feet in a way that is desirable to look at. So they could kind of just like, attract people to volunteer, just like look through what we’re doing. So we have a designated team to like, write captions, make sure everything looks pretty and people that actually make the flyers.
Greg Owens 39:26
That’s awesome. And Nikhil anything like that you were super rely on technical technology wise.
Nikhil Pasumarthi 39:34
Yeah, I like using like, my email like every second of every day at this point. But going off with it you said about Instagram, like Instagram is like our main source of like giving people information and like now since volunteers are at their home, they’re not like not like volunteering together at like some community center but like because, like because social listening but like, it can feel really lonely. And I’m like Instagram is like at least For us, it’s kind of like the main where we’re all our volunteers are united like, we like tell we like say we donated 500, massive this place 200 massive this place. And then we also like do volunteer of the month. And it just, it just a way for volunteers to feel like they’re a part of something bigger. And I felt like
it’s been such a useful tool for the organization.
Greg Owens 40:20
Right? That’s awesome. Yeah. And so Sohum? How about you?
Sohum Phadke 40:24
Yeah, pretty much the same apps, then Gmail, iMessage, Instagram, these are all the ways were connected in this generation. So I’m on it 90% of the time, pretty much.
Greg Owens 40:36
Nice, nice. And so like, what I’ve noticed, too, is like you really nintai you’re really good at figuring out what your strengths are, and what your sort of weaknesses are, and then finding those people that that will compliment you, right? Like you were saying, like, Oh, I’m not so good with design and that kind of stuff. But I, I was able to find some people, what if you were to sum up what your strengths are at this point, like, and I know, you’re young, and you’re just come full of tremendous amounts of potential, but what have you noticed,
Nitya Devisetti 41:08
um, I’ve definitely noticed that I’m good at working with different types of people. So like collaboration, this just comes through, like my many, many years of teamwork, through sports, and like, I was JV captain, for girls basketball team at school. And that’s kind of where I picked up like, how to work with people that may have commitment issues, because of things outside of basketball, it has nothing to do with their interest in such a cause. So definitely working with different types of people and making sure I don’t scare them away. And also like being very honest, if I see someone not holding up their end of the deal, or like taking up holding themselves accountable, being responsible, or being honest with themselves or with others, then I just call them out on it. Because as a leader is my responsibility to do that. So that way, they realize their effect on a team on a team or like other volunteers. So those are definitely my strengths, like communication, and like leading people, but I know that I’m not good at art. Yeah, so um, I. So I try to find people that compliment me, like skill wise. And, um, but I don’t try to find people that compliment me like, personality wise, because I like working with different types of people, because that’s how you grow.
Greg Owens 42:37
And so you, do you think you feel good or comfortable giving feedback back back to people, especially if it’s sort of like negative feedback? Or is it still sort of challenging,
Nitya Devisetti 42:49
it is still a bit challenging, because I don’t want to come off as like rude or kind of like, I’m mean, I just want to come off in the sense that I’m giving them constructive criticism, I’m not trying to attack them. So I have to word it, especially through text, you don’t have a tone. So you have to definitely look at your words and see how you’re wording things. Because it could come off as a very nasty message, even though that’s not how you intended it. So that’s something I’ve learned for interacting with various various volunteers and team members and things like that.
Greg Owens 43:23
Yeah, I’m with you on the text or emails, like when somebody slams us, like, like, it just happened today, where we got an email from a customer that was upset, I hardly even read the email, right? Because I was like, I know, like, I know that they were venting in that email. And so what I want to do as fast as possible is get in front of them and have a conversation, right and deal with like, and be able to get the tone of voice in there and that in be empathetic and be able to listen to them. Right. So usually, I found but by the time I do that they’ve calmed down. And it’s not as bad as the all the stuff in the email was right? Yeah. And then so hum YouTube, like what strengths, your weaknesses, what’s been your, like, what have you noticed is your biggest strengths.
Sohum Phadke 44:07
Um, in terms of strength, I guess, managing my time and managing the volunteers. With organizing the events, I have to be on top of like, contacting volunteers on time and making sure that the event actually happens. So I guess that’s been one of my strengths. And I’ve been pretty successful with that. Um, in terms of weaknesses, sometimes I do get a little sidetracked, right, like, my focus is not exactly where I needed to be. So like, I might be like, Oh, we should do this instead of that, or like that instead of this. And then you know, Nitya is quick to let me know that it might not be exactly what we’re looking for at the moment. So find it. You know it. I’m being completely honest here, right? Yeah.
Greg Owens 44:50
Yeah. Well, it’s hard. It’s hard sometimes because you want to go in so many different directions. But you know, you know that you can, as you mentioned earlier, you have to have like, focus energy towards certain things, and you only have limited resources. Right? And limited time we have time, especially now with like school starting and or the changes in school being so much more challenging. And Nikhil. What about you your strengths?
Nikhil Pasumarthi 45:16
Yeah, I think like my biggest strength, like, especially for this organization is like, knowing why I want to do it. Because like, if I, like forget that, then I kind of make it a second priority. But like, right now, I love doing it so much that I make it like one of my first priorities, like, I spend, like so much time, like emailing people, like when I should be doing homework, because I just like, I just don’t know, like, I’d rather do this than like other stuff. So like, I just really like loving something. And that like, that’s what’s like motivating me right now. And my biggest weakness is like getting overwhelmed. Like, I’m not like, so that’s one of the strengths. I don’t really have that great time management. So I might like, spend too much time on this organization, and then like, get around with school, and then like that might affect my work in this organization.
Greg Owens 46:00
Right, right. Right. I can imagine you see, you all seem really passionate about this. And as we sort of wind down here, like, how do people find out more about your organization, and also like ideas of how people can help if they want to help?
Nitya Devisetti 46:16
Yeah, so we’re available on all platforms. So we’re, if you want to follow us on Instagram at masking a difference, search up masking a difference on Facebook, or if you just want to go to masking a difference.com to look at more of what we’ve been doing, you can do that. And all of the information to sign up is on masking a difference, calm all the forums to either make masks, make cards, donate funds, or if you want to get involved in another way, and you have ideas of doing that, please let us know. Um, we also can be reached through Gmail at maskingadifference2020@gmail.com
Greg Owens 46:57
Oh, that’s awesome. And what is the biggest constraints? You guys for going like to reach your next goals? Right? What are you guys running into? And what’s your biggest needs out there? And, you know, maybe we just put it out there, and maybe somebody out there will know or?
Nitya Devisetti 47:12
Yeah, so definitely right now, there’s so much going on with school and adults have work. So people are taking a step back and making less and less masks. So definitely, we could use a lot more masking masters to accommodate for the fact that people don’t have enough time to make like 500 masks like they used to before. Um, we also have a limitations with funds, in the sense that if we have more funds that we can do more things like in different directions. Um, can you guys think of anything else?
Sohum Phadke 47:51
No, I would definitely highlight that. If any of you guys are listening out there, and you guys want to get part of this organization? Please, please, please help us with Master cards. It really only takes 3030 minutes of your time. But like I said, it’s it’s a huge impact on like, frontline workers and our community. So come on, join us. It’s like it’s not that big of a time commitment. And it’s, it’s really rewarding.
Greg Owens 48:16
So are you guys interested in like in kind donations and that kind of stuff to like, sort of like donations of fabric or those kinds of things? If people have that kind of a?
Nitya Devisetti 48:26
Yes, definitely. So we do have that. If you are able to donate fabric elastic, if you have any, like extra materials lying around your house and you want to donate donated to cause we could definitely use that fabric. Um, we do accept those. Yeah.
Greg Owens 48:42
All right. All right. Any parting thoughts then? No. This has been wonderful to have you guys on here. I can feel so much passion from you all. And this is great.
Nitya Devisetti 48:54
Um, no, we do have a YouTube channel. So masking a difference. Basically, on that YouTube channel. It’s mostly a mask, tutorial, and interview. So it’s video interviews led by one of our chapter leaders and she just interviews different people in masking a difference in their roles. So yeah,
Greg Owens 49:15
all right, sounds great. Thank you so much for being on this podcast watching paint dry. I like love your guys’s story. I love your passion. It’s gives me lots of hope for the future of humanity and the planet. The know you guys are out there. Sohum I was. I was on that spot last night. It was unbelievable. Looking at the Golden Gate Bridge last night. If you ever get a chance you have to stand there and you know, check that out. At nighttime. It’s so amazing, right?
Sohum Phadke 49:45
Yeah, I definitely have to go I haven’t gone. Gone a while now.
Greg Owens 49:49
Yeah. Again, thank you so much. Everybody help out, go to maskingadifference.com and we’ll put it all all all the classes. connections into the show notes on this on this podcast. Thank you guys enjoy the year here and it’s going to be amazing to see what you guys like come back in another six months and see what you guys have accomplished.
Nitya Devisetti 50:14
Thank you so much. Thank you so much for having me.
Outro 50:26
Thanks for listening to the Watching Paint Dry podcast. We’ll see you again next time and be sure to click subscribe to get future episodes.
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