In my last post Create * Space * For * Us * To * Lead I shared some stats from Racetolead.org about underrepresentation of the bipoc communtiy in nonprofit leadership, I discussed how micro aggressions kept me from being my best self, and how I want to find ways to make sure the bipoc community has access to leadership positions in the nonprofit sector.
I found this next article interesting. It discussed how many black leaders taking on leadership roles in large nonprofits are having to navigate things their white predecessor have not. Creating space for us to lead isn’t about just placing us into leadership roles. It’s changing the entire dynamic so that everyone as equal access to succeess.
Here’s a quote from The Chronicle if Philanthropy
Before Joe Scantlebury became chief executive of Living Cities in September, he knew he had a daunting task ahead.
An unnamed group of employees who had fled the nonprofit made it clear that they thought the organization needed a radical overhaul focused on removing racial bias from its operations.
By Alex Daniels
JANUARY 20, 2022
The article goes on to explain how Scantlbury and many others from the bipoc community are put in leadership in order to clean up racial issues all while dealing with biases within their own organizations. Here’s another quote
While 93 percent of white leaders who succeeded other white leaders said they felt their boards trusted them, that number plummeted to 77 percent among executives of color.
By Alex Daniels
JANUARY 20, 2022
Today, I wanted to discuss how to create space for us to lead.
First I’d like to focus on my community bipoc who are already in leadership. How can we be intentional about how we make more space for us to lead?
- Take time to research and understand how to navigate dialogue that focuses on the disparities among the bipoc cultures. (I’m still working on this myself) This isn’t only our responsibility everyone should be doing research on how to have tough conversations.
- If you don’t feel comfortable speaking on this topic for any reason, you are fully within your rights to say, “I’m not comfortable with this conversation. ”
- Bipoc in leadership, create jobs, grants, and policies that support upward momentum for bipoc individuals in your organization.
- Mentor who you can when you can. This is life saving!
- Believe them even when their experience is vastly different from yours.
- ***The most important of all** Take care of yourself mind body and soul so future bipoc leaders know how to do the same. Burned out leaders are only going to create more burned out leaders. REST!
Sources
Jayne.press 