The Servant Leader’s Role in Racial Equity

Dear Community Colleagues, 

As board members and executive directors, many of us have been grappling with how to center our organizational work in racial equity. Some don’t know quite where to start and others may be feeling stuck. As we learned in our recent panel discussion on equity, to earnestly address white supremacy culture, we need to be united in this purpose and have a clear plan forward, starting with learning and listening. 

This work begins by understanding and addressing the different levels at which racism operates and how white supremacy impacts organizational culture. (To receive further resources and news on related trainings, add your name to our waitlist for Frameworks For Addressing Organizational Inequity.)

The next step is building a plan for change. To support this work, CNE is excited to partner with Vernetta Walker, senior advisor on diversity, inclusion, and equity (DI&E) at BoardSource. Through a combination of workshops, peer discussions, and organizational coaching (beginning April 21), Ms. Walker will help board members and their executive directors build the skill to examine racial inequity within organizations and draft an organizational action plan for their work on racial equity. (Applications are available online. Review will begin March 15.)

We can also consider looking beyond the organizations we are currently serving to invest in organizations new to us doing important community-building work. Locally, ReImagine CVA, a new community resource platform soon to launch, will provide an online portal to connect community members with the organizations and initiatives that need their time and treasure the most. CNE is partnering with The Equity Center, Thriving Cities Group, and The United Way of Greater Charlottesville to steward this project and will be hosting an information session this month for organizations who want to join the directory February 18. On the national level, Give Blck and Charity Navigator are helping connect funders with Black-led and Black-founded nonprofits. 

Here’s what we know: This work is hard. It requires commitment at every level. It is a process, not a destination. And yet how can we as a sector be about building more just communities if we don’t center who we are and what we do in equity?

Please be in touch if we can support you on the journey. 

Cristine Nardi