Leadership is a cornerstone of a strong nonprofit sector — meet these inspiring next generation leaders

Allow us to introduce you to some of the nonprofit sector’s amazing leaders! For a decade, the Nonprofit Center has recruited the next generation of sector leaders through the Emerging Leaders Program. And in 2020, we added a Board Service Fellowship Program to the lineup, designed to recruit and empower untapped community leaders for nonprofit boards.

We’re proud to introduce this year’s diverse and inspiring group — leaders who are already making a difference in the sector and in the community! 

The LGBTQIA+ Emerging Leaders Program

For the second year in a row, we are partnering with the LGBTQ Community Fund for Northeast Florida to offer the 2021 LGBTQIA+ Emerging Leaders Program. It is designed to provide outstanding LGBTQIA+ individuals in the nonprofit sector with access to social capital, leadership development, and network building to advance their careers. Our hope is that by providing these dynamic leaders with beneficial knowledge and support, the next wave of nonprofit leadership will more accurately reflect the diversity that makes our communities so vibrant. During this 5-month program they will take a deep dive into their personal leadership style and skills; take part in networking opportunities; celebrate and raise visibility of the LGBTQIA+ nonprofit sector leaders and their contributions to the community, and equip the Northeast Florida nonprofit sector with the next generation of nonprofit leadership. 

Allow us to introduce the LGBTQIA+ Emerging Leaders: 

• Leslie Harrison (They/Them/Theirs) 
• Wyatt (They/Them/Theirs) 
• Caitlin Matthews (She/Her/Hers)
• Kii Cash (They/Them/Theirs)
• Cheyenne Smith (They/Them/Theirs)
• Haiden Baier (He/Him/His)
• Dryden Mills (She/Her/Hers)
• Ravyn Whinehouse (She/Her/Hers)
• Carlos Omar Agosto-Baez (He/Him/His) 
• Taryn C. Wharwood (She/Her/Hers) 

To learn more about this program and read detailed bios visit here. The LGBTQIA+ Emerging Leaders Program is generously supported by LGBTQ Community Fund for Northeast Florida. 

The Nonprofit Center Board Service Fellowship 

The Nonprofit Center Board Service Fellowship aims to build a talent pipeline that helps local nonprofits strengthen their board pipelines. Board Service Fellows receive top-flight instruction on evidence-based board practices, peer learning, and fellowship mentoring making them exceptionally prepared future Board members. The Nonprofit Center developed this program in response to local demand and research. Boards that reflect the diversity of the community, their mission, and their program participants tend to make better, more strategic decisions. Many organizations struggle to effectively recruit diverse pools of board members because they rely heavily on the social and professional networks of their current board members to find new candidates. As in 2020, the Nonprofit Center Board Service Fellowship 2021 Cohort was generously sponsored by JP Morgan Chase as a part of their broader community efforts to invest in research and programs that work to achieve equity in the nonprofit sector. 

Allow us to introduce the  Nonprofit Center Board Service Fellows, 2021 Cohort: 

• Tamir Taylor 
• Tyteana Barrington 
• Ingrid Bowman Thomas
• Ian Nyquist
• Jesse James
• Maria Camilia Montano
• Shavone Steele
• Daniel Mahfood
• Charlene Jones
• Alexis Jackson

To read detailed bios on each of the Nonprofit Center Board Service Fellows, please view the program page here.