It was an opportunity for leaders of color to join a cohort designed to strengthen their individual, organizational, and collective resiliency. A unique way to boost the long-term capacity and infrastructure of eight Flint-based nonprofit organizations.
Fourteen fellows, representing organizations in the Enterprising Ventures of Color (EVC) cohort, are committed to an 18-month process that includes personalized executive-level coaching, socially and culturally tailored technical assistance, and power-building strategies to disrupt systems of inequities. Fellows receive support to advance their organizational development outcomes from expert consultants in topical areas, including revenue generation pipelines, strategic planning, financial management, and effective communication.
“The networking opportunities have led to some new collaborations, mentorship, and exchange of ideas to help me grow as an individual,” said Leon El-Alamin, CEO of the MADE Institute. “EVC has begun opening doors for my organization to access untapped markets, which could lead to new customers and expansion.”
Lillian D. Singh, founder and CEO of EVC, imagines a future where nonprofit leaders of color deliver impact from a place of abundance and opportunity rather than scarcity and limitation. “The EVC cohort in Flint will position the Fellows to advance innovative solutions they have developed to address complex challenges,” she said.
Claudnyse D. Hollman, Executive Director of Voices for Children Advocacy Center, said EVC has “created an indomitable, fortified leader in me. Guided by new knowledge, I creatively reimaged our programs, spurring profound change for the good of children.”
The Community Foundation, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Ruth Mott Foundation, and the United Way of Genesee County have partnered through the Greater Flint Coronavirus Taskforce on Racial Inequities to fund the EVC Cohort. The Enterprising Ventures of Color Fund supports the work.
