Equity in Action: Fueling black women's leadership for nonprofit transformation

The Chief Executive Leaders Ascend Program (CELAP), Black Women Cohort, sponsored by JPMorgan Chase, is a comprehensive initiative designed to empower and support Black women nonprofit leaders in District of Columbia Wards 7 & 8. The program is dedicated to grantmaking, enhancing individual and organizational capabilities, and promoting overall wellness.

The 2024-25 Cohort 

The program selected eight outstanding women nonprofit leaders to participate in a tailored capacity-building program. These selected participants also received a $25,000 (totaling $200,000) general operating support grant to strengthen their organizations further. To learn more about the program, click here.

This cohort's participants include:

Tia E. Bell – THE T.R.I.G.G.E.R. Project

  • Website: thetriggerproject.org
  • Mission: Promotes anti-violence, gun safety, and education in underrepresented communities.
  • About Tia: Tia E. Bell is a passionate advocate against gun violence. As the founder of THE T.R.I.G.G.E.R. Project, she uses her personal experiences to inspire and lead communities towards healing, education, and peace. Her efforts focus on addressing systemic causes of violence and providing youth with the tools they need to break cycles of trauma.

Ryane B. Nickens – The TraRon Center

  • Website: traroncenter.org
  • Mission: Provides trauma-informed mental health and healing services for gun violence survivors.
  • About Ryane: Ryane B. Nickens is a survivor and advocate for victims of gun violence. She founded the TraRon Center to ensure that survivors, especially women and children, have access to the mental health resources they need. Ryane uses art and expression as therapeutic tools to facilitate healing and community support.

Wanda Lockridge – William O. Lockridge Community Foundation

  • Website: williamlockridgecommunityfoundation.org
  • Mission: Offers scholarships and educational resources to underserved D.C. youth.
  • About Wanda: Wanda Lockridge continues the legacy of her late husband, William O. Lockridge, by leading the foundation in its mission to support youth education and empowerment. She is deeply committed to offering pathways to higher education for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, ensuring their potential is nurtured and realized.

Yasmine Arrington – ScholarCHIPS, Inc.

  • Website: scholarchipsfund.org
  • Mission: Provides scholarships for children of incarcerated parents to reduce educational disparities.
  • About Yasmine: Yasmine Arrington, the founder of ScholarCHIPS, is a changemaker focused on closing the education gap for children with incarcerated parents. Yasmine’s personal story of overcoming adversity inspires her mission to ensure that students in similar situations have access to scholarships and mentorship.

Glory Edim – Well-Read Black Girl, Inc.

  • Website: wellreadblackgirl.org
  • Mission: Celebrates Black women writers and amplifies their voices through literary arts.
  • About Glory: Glory Edim is the founder of Well-Read Black Girl, an initiative that amplifies Black women’s voices through literature and storytelling. She has been featured in numerous publications and is recognized for creating inclusive spaces that celebrate the narratives of Black women writers. Glory is a passionate advocate for literary representation and cultural change through literature.

Ramona Barber – Fresh Wind Community Development Corporation

  • Website: freshwindcdc.com
  • Mission: Revitalizes underserved communities with housing, economic development, and health programs.
  • About Ramona: Ramona Barber is the visionary leader behind Fresh Wind Community Development Corporation. With a focus on improving quality of life in marginalized communities, Ramona champions efforts to provide housing, economic opportunities, and holistic community development. Her passion lies in ensuring that individuals in low-income areas have access to resources and opportunities for growth.

Nakeisha Neal Jones – Black Women Thriving East of the River

  • Website: thrivingeotr.org
  • Mission: Supports Black women with resources for health, financial literacy, and career development.
  • About Nakeisha: Nakeisha Neal Jones is a fierce advocate for Black women and girls, leading the charge to dismantle systemic barriers through her work with Black Women Thriving East of the River. Her organization offers services that promote financial independence, health and wellness, and professional success for women of color in underserved areas.

 

Nakeda Gilbert – Shining Starz Inc.

  • Website: Coming soon
  • Mission: Empowers youth through violence interruption, trauma support, and career services.
  • About Nakeda: Nakeda Gilbert, a local advocate for underserved communities, founded Shining Starz Inc. in 2021 with a mission to promote peace and opportunity among youth. With a background in advocacy and community work, Nakeda seeks to transform the lives of young people by offering them the resources and support needed to realize their full potential.

 

2024-25 Timeline:

  • Program Launch: September 2024.
  • Kickoff Event: October 17, 2024 (hosted at JPMorgan Chase Headquarters).
  • Organizational assessments and wellness sessions began in October 2024.
  • Capacity-building sessions are scheduled from January 2025 to July 2025.
  • Program conclusion and final evaluations: September 2025.
This cohort was preceded by our inaugural CELAP cohort - learn more about the first round of participants here.

Funders and Acknowledgments

The Center for Nonprofit Advancement collaborated with the Mid-Atlantic Region Director and Corporate Responsibility team to ensure crucial funding and capacity-building support for program participants. We thank JPMorgan Chase and the Jane Bancroft Robinson Foundation (JBRF) for their generous support in making CELAP possible.

The second round of the CELAP program launched in September 2024, with the official kickoff held on October 17, 2024, at JPMorgan Chase Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Our Approach

Grantmaking: The program offers a $25,000 general operating support grant to selected participants, providing financial assistance to strengthen their organizations and advance their missions.

Strengthening Individual & Organizational Capacity: Participants engage in customized capacity-building activities and gain access to training sessions and offerings at the Center, enhancing their leadership skills and fostering organizational growth. Each organization also completed an organizational assessment and received a customized capacity-building plan.

Overall Wellness: The program prioritizes the well-being of Black women nonprofit leaders through dedicated sessions focused on wellness and health, promoting self-care, rest, and a healthy work-life balance. These wellness sessions have been tailored and led by Erika Totten, founder of Unchained Visioning. These sessions focus on emotional resilience, mental clarity, and self-care strategies for nonprofit leaders.

Neighborhood organizations mobilizing and advocating to assist businesses and to coordinate sustained, community-driven revitalization efforts within UGA neighborhoods and the organization.

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