VentureSouth’s Post

This weekend, I had the pleasure of kicking off and co-facilitating the first cohort for Bright Power Fellowship program named after the Honorable Louvenia Bright, the first woman of color and Black woman to serve in the Vermont legislature. This unique, year-long fellowship program was inspired by my colleague Ana Mejia and designed by myself & co-facilitator, Sarika Tandon to help train emerging BIPOC leaders based in Vermont to serve on non-profit & philanthropic boards and appointed commissions. A powerhouse-selected cohort of 10 individuals from almost 30 applicants will participate in this journey. Each of the candidates were amazing and our size was only limited by our total funding which enables us to pay each of our fellows. Participants are multi-generational; from recent college graduates and indigenous elders and multiple gender identities. This cohort includes a majority LGBTQIA+ champions with various identities, differing abilities, refugee and migrant experiences, land stewards, entrepreneurs, community workers, parents, and more. This program teaches introductory skills and knowledge of board mechanics and management while helping participants learn: * Standing in your power and dignity, white supremacy in board dynamics * Building distributive power practices * Decolonized financial education * Centering agency in bureaucracies * Conflict Transformation * Self and community practices of care & healing HUGE thanks to the Rutland Branch of the NAACP for providing funding for this much-needed and important work and to the Everything Space in Montpelier for hosting our first gathering. It is our goal to develop and launch an advanced program for current BIPOC leaders who need greater support in their ongoing leadership roles on boards and commissions in the next few months. If you would like to become a financial sponsor for either the Emerging or Advanced courses, DM me or Sarika Tandon here. If you would like us to bring our training program to your area - contact us for availability! Congrats to all involved! Let's goooooo!!!!! #leadership #nonprofit #publicprivatepartnerships #JEDI #equity #indigenousrights #opportunities #mentorship #skillstraining #fellowship #BIPOC #transformativeleadership #powerbuilding #sponsorshipopportunities

Check out this clip to hear directly from our Greater Boston Site Director, Tyrone Ramnath, about how he thinks about leadership and impact. As he said, "the biggest stakeholders that we have are our learners..." Thank you, Tyrone, for always putting learners at the center of your work! And thank you McKinsey.org for developing our organizational leaders! #nonprofitleadership #traininganddevelopment #leadership

🌟 A Journey of Hope: Transforming Lives in Opelousas 🌟 Every week, we dive into the heart of nonprofit endeavors across our beloved nation, unearthing stories of courage, resilience, and unwavering hope. This week, our spotlight shines brightly on #HopeforOpelousas (HFO), a beacon of light in the community it serves, and led by Loren Carriere. Founded in 2008, HFO embodies the transformative power of love, operating under the conviction that "Love Changes Everything." At its core, HFO is dedicated to empowering the youth and their families in Opelousas through comprehensive educational support, neighborhood outreach, and the cultivation of meaningful relationships. 📚 Empowering Through Education and More HFO's impact is profound, touching the lives of children from 1st to 12th grade. The organization offers an array of programs designed to nurture the mind, body, and spirit. To name a few: 👩🏫 Tutoring and academic support 🗺 Field trips and engaging activities 👷♀️ Service and community engagement 🙋♂️ Empowering students to become mentors 🏕 Summer and Camp Experiences 🏠 Building Hope Beyond Education In an exciting development, HFO is expanding its mission with a Home Rehabilitation Project, aiming to rejuvenate the community's physical environment it holds dear. 🚀 As Reggie Dupre' (president of the board) is saying "Starting an organization is like launching to the moon, the hardest part is the first 8 feet. You’ve got to overcome gravity." Their journey reminds us that the most significant change starts with a single step, a leap of faith towards creating a lasting impact. Their story is not just one of success; it's a beacon of hope, proving that with love and dedication, we can indeed change the world, one child, one family, one community at a time. https://lnkd.in/ePdm6XkR #HopeForOpelousas #LoveChangesEverything #CommunityImpact #NonprofitExcellence #EducationEmpowers #BuildingHope #OpelousasStrong

The YO Scholarship Foundation was created by passionate individuals who want to support the Black community in pursuing higher education or trade school. We want to continue to grow and help more students! So we are... 🤝 Seeking Wisdom from Non-Profit Leaders: As we grow, we're looking for knowledgeable and experienced non-profit professionals to advise on best practices and growth opportunities. 💡 Share Your Experiences: We'd love to hear about: 1. Successful strategies in non-profit management. 2. Potential collaboration ideas. 3. Guidance for a foundation in its early stages. 🌱 Connect and Collaborate: Your knowledge and experience can profoundly impact our mission. Let's work together to open more doors for education and success. 📩 Get in Touch: Reach out to us here on LinkedIn or in the comments to start a conversation. Let's make a difference together! #education #NonProfitGrowth #YOscholarshipfoundation #LearningTogether

I am fed up with non-profit programming "centering" Black entrepreneurs. I have been a tech entrepreneur since 2016, and it is so disheartening that millions of dollars are poured into non-Black led non-profits programming and "mentorship" versus actually taking the risk to invest and put dollars in the hands of Black entrepreneurs. I have been disrespected, had my requests for financial help and access needs ignored. Black entrepreneurs deserve money in hand, our ancestors have paid the price time and time again. We are over mentored and under funded and I'm no longer playing these games. Do I need the $1000 or $5000 grant carrot these non-profits dangle over our heads, yes, but at the cost of my mental health, no. These non-profits make us do their programming, take photos, force us to do months of unpaid labor to receive a few bucks, pulling us aside to record videos of us praising their programs, and pretending that this is all for us. No people, this is all for them. Without Black entrepreneurs participating in their programs they wouldn't make money. These non-profits hoard the money raised to invest in Black businesses and instead offer us programming. Programming doesn't equate to starting or scaling a business, dollars do. I am tired but not defeated. I will no longer participate in any of these programs centering Black entrepreneurs that are non-Black led, as they do more harm than good. It is important for sponsors to connect with communities they want to impact directly by investing in Black-led organizations, and investing in Black tech founders directly. I say we audit these non-profits, I say we see the numbers to show how their programming leads to success, I say we see how much money they actually invest in the hundreds of businesses that go through their programs. There's no follow-up just continuous extraction from amazing entrepreneurs hoping we make it so they can claim they attributed to our success. I am for the people. #BlackWomenInTech #DisabledTechEntrepreneur #BlackLiberation #DisabilityJustice #WhereTheMoneyAt

Powerful words from if Co-CEO, Temi F. Bennett and Dr. Amara Enyia with Movement for Black Lives about philanthropy’s unique role in ensuring #reparations for Black communities both in the DMV and nationwide. Philanthropy must engage in redress. Economic justice requires the examination and transformation of the systems that continue to exploit Black people who have always bore the brunt of racial capitalism. Our communities demand control over their own economies. Reparations is the first and crucial step. Visit Nonprofit Quarterly to read The Vision for Black Lives: An Economic Policy Agenda and share the vision for Black economic freedom with your friends and family.

Virginia21 Needs Your Support! 🙏 At Virginia21, we're on a mission to empower Virginia's higher education students to become lifelong leaders and engaged citizens. Through our comprehensive programming - student meetings, policy forums, networking events, campus activations and our Summer Leadership Institute - we engage over 1,000 students annually. These transformative experiences enhance leadership abilities, instill a commitment to driving positive change, and provide tools to make a lasting impact in their communities and future careers. But we can't do it alone. Your support is crucial to ensuring Virginia21's leadership development initiatives remain accessible across the Commonwealth. By investing in Virginia21, you're investing in: 📈 A strong, civically-engaged youth workforce primed to innovate and tackle complex challenges, especially in high-impact sectors like healthcare. 🧑⚕️ Young professionals equipped with vital skills - problem-solving, decision-making, collaboration, communication, ethical decision-making and community engagement. 🌱 The cultivation of principled leaders who will shape the future of our communities. Will you join us by making a tax-deductible donation today? Any amount helps! https://lnkd.in/esuXiVF6 And for corporations, we'd be happy to discuss sponsorship/partnership opportunities that align with your values and social impact goals. Let's elevate Virginia's next generation together!

"The success of the partnership between The Patterson Foundation and Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy is rooted in the power of practical academics...Courses like “Beyond the Check” make the academics come alive, create space for terms and concepts to be challenged and applied, and, if students aren’t already in the field, a chance to see what philanthropy in action can look like. From there, students are even more prepared to make a difference in their communities." Read my latest blog post for The Patterson Foundation about supporting TPF President and CEO, Debra Jacobs, with her instruction of "Beyond the Check: The Patterson Foundation's Approach to Innovative Philanthropy." Kellie Alexander, MA, CFRM Kathi Badertscher, Ph.D.

Women Owned Wednesday ✨ This week we celebrate, Sydney Williams, @coachsrose What inspired you to start your Black-owned business, and how does it reflect your unique vision and values? I didn't want to live my life according to everyone's rules and what success meant. I wanted to define the word myself. I read the book, The Alchemist, and It led me down a spiritual journey of where I found my treasure. It was within me all along. I just needed a push. I value spirituality, individuality, freedom, authenticity, connection and family. Reading The Alchemist helped me realized that my life is my own, and as long as I keep experiencing the journey and the special moments, being kind to everyone I meet, being myself and having faith of the unseen, the wonders of the world would always align with me. Can you share a standout moment or achievement that you're particularly proud of in your journey as a Black business owner?  One particular proud moment is when I decided I wanted to volunteer as a Video Mentor for Infinite Family, a global non-profit mentoring organization, where adults from around the world can mentor ages 12-young adult. This non-profit will allow me to share my experience and expertise with children and young adults in South Africa, where otherwise they wouldn't have any role models. I was super stoked when I found this opportunity. I believe in giving back and serving others for the greater good, whatever that looks like to me. In what ways do you contribute to empowering other Black entrepreneurs, and what advice would you give to those aspiring to start their own businesses?  I would like to amplify my mentorship to young aspiring entrepreneurs through either volunteering, or 1:1 coaching sessions. The #1 advice I would give is to start. Delaying only makes time go by faster, and after aged 16 your life is a blur. Write down 20 ideas, and the 20th idea is what you need to start doing now. #WomenOwnedWednesday #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackWomanOwned #BlackBusiness #WomenOwned #TXWomenOwned

✅$5,000,000. No strings attached. MacKenzie Scott’s donation to The Knowledge House reinforces a growth pathway for the next 5 years. This is a testament to impactful staff members, past and present. It’s also an affirmation of solid leadership. The confidence I have in Jerelyn Rodriguez & its leadership team in executing that new growth plan is the same confidence I had back in 2013 when she pulled me in to help plan out her 8 year vision for TKH; the same confidence I had in her when she convinced me to serve in a larger capacity starting in 2017 and ultimately build out its career team and processes. And this donation doesn’t happen without the commitment of current and former students. I’ve seen approximately 2000 of TKH students, from age 16 to 77, either as their career instructor, head of the career success team, or both. Their persistence, their willingness to refer others, their desires to contribute to TKH even after they have secured life-changing career & college opportunities are why people continue to give in time, talent, and treasure. ✅ Sure there’s too many to list, but I want the following folks and their cohort classmates to know they’re not forgotten: I still think about the fun times pre-2020 with folks like Jennifer Paulino, Augusto Proano, and Iván Felix… There’s my former students turned staff who I see weekly like Remzi Gjikokaj, Jahaziel Israel, CSM, Josue Ramirez-Romero… The Innovation Fellow alums like Janet Perez, ESDRAS DIEGUEZ… And there’s KKCF HS program alums like Maisha Chowdhury, Kavey Zheng, Elliot Babilonia, Shahida C. And of course the 160 new fellows nationwide. ✅So on this #givingtuesday2023 , considering joining me in supporting The Knowledge House to further achieve the mission of empowering and sustaining a talent pipeline of technologists, entrepreneurs, and digital leaders, who will uplift their communities out of poverty: https://lnkd.in/ej-SJuPA #givingtuesday #nonprofit #philanthropy #leadership #tech #careers ==================== P.S. This is the 2nd org I have served that has secured multimillion $$ funding from MacKenzie Scott. Reach out to me / GrantAnswers, and maybe we can help your chances of being the 3rd.