Black Nonprofit Leaders Group

Together SC seeks to create space for its Black members to increase their impact within the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors while being affirmed, supported, and encouraged. Culturally humble learning opportunities, convenings, and workshops offered through the Black Nonprofit Leaders Group (BNL Group) will equip individuals to secure leadership roles while embracing their cultural heritage as their most important asset.

• If you are Black or of African descent, sign up and join the conversation
• Allies, click here to show solidarity and to give support
• "What Are We Waiting For?" a call to action by Nicole Echols, Black Nonprofit Leaders Group Chair

Purpose

1. To foster ongoing dialogue and curate and encourage a space for purposeful, responsible change among nonprofit and philanthropic organizations in order to incorporate race equity, inclusion, achievement, and belongingness for Black people, and to provide culturally aware and culturally sensitive strategies, policies, and practices to entrench those changes into organizational practice. 
2. To curate and encourage a program of culturally aware, competent, and humble learning opportunities, partnerships, collaborations, and access to resources for Black people serving within the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors.
3. To offer programs, initiatives, convenings, workshops and learning opportunities for Black people, specifically, and as well as programming for other People of Color serving the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors.
4. To act as mentors, advisers, and opportunity-makers for younger generations in order to provide a reservoir of social capital for those with limited access.
5. To create and encourage a pipeline of young Black professionals into the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors.

FY 20-21 Objectives

1. Craft an environment in which race equity and inclusion are embedded into the culture of every nonprofit and philanthropic organization within the state of South Carolina.
2. Host regular virtual gatherings offering culturally sensitive and culturally humble learning opportunities.
3. Expand participation in the Black Nonprofit Leaders Group.
4. Create space for nonprofit leaders of color to map relationships with other state, national, and local agencies in order to increase their individual, and collective impact.
5. Engage and collaborate with nonprofit and philanthropic leaders who are already doing the work of advancing racial equity.
6. Encourage Black leaders to reach back to the upcoming generation to help create a racially diverse, sector-wide leadership pipeline.
7. Provide input into and offer support for Together SC’s racial equity initiatives.

PAST EVENTS:

• March 2020 - Nonprofits + HBCUs: Teaming up to Create a Pipeline of Young Black Professionals Into the Nonprofit & Philanthropic Sectors
• July 2020 -"I Am Not Alright" Virtual Forum
• November 2020 - "Being A Black Leader in Today's World" Virtual Forum
• February 2021 - Symposium: Mentors, Mentees: Growing together as nonprofit leaders
• June 2021 - ADD

Participation

Black Nonprofit Leaders Directory

• Membership will be open staff and volunteers of Together SC member organizations
• In addition, individuals affiliated with not-yet member organizations will be invited to join and given a one-year complimentary Friend membership.
• Members must be committed to working towards race equity and inclusion across the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors
• Member Benefits: a network of peers, educational resources, professional development, and exclusive convenings
• Sign up and join the conversation

Leadership Structure

• Each year Together SC will invite a team of experienced nonprofit and philanthropic professionals to help lead the Black Nonprofit Leaders Group. They will be responsible for program, content planning, and providing overall direction for the BNL Group
• They may be invited to represent the BNL Group by attending key events with, and on behalf of, Together SC as opportunities arise
• They will be asked to participate in monthly planning calls and an annual planning meeting; Together SC purposes to fully support Black Nonprofit Leaders Group efforts

Black Nonprofit Leaders Group Leadership Team

Nicole Echols

Pee Dee Branch Executive Director, Harvest Hope Food Bank

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Chair / Together SC Board Member

Alecia Brewster

Program Director, Sustaining Way

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Trimease Carter

Youth Engagement Manager, Eat Smart Move More SC

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Letitia Dowling

Director, Denmark Cares

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Les Echols

Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce, M.I.N.G.L.E. of the Pee Dee

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Shawn Edwards

SPHR, SHRM-SCP

CEO, Solutions by Shawn Edwards

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Joyce Ford

Executive Director, The Naomi Project

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A'Netra Hardy

Regional Outreach Paralegal, SC Legal Services

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Shayne Kinloch

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Jermaine Singletary

CEO, Binding Ties, inc.

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Sherrie Snipes-Williams

CEO, Charleston Promise Neighborhood

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Together SC Board Member

Travis Wharton

Dir. of Education and Economic Mobility, United Way of Greenville County

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Travis Williams

Founder & Executive Director, African American Prosperity Network

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Jessica Sharp

MPA

Nonprofit Consultant with Sharp Brain Consulting , Sharp Brain Consulting

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BNLG Coordinator

Rodney White, Jr

Social Work Intern, Together SC

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Social Work Intern