TBP’s New Interim Executive Director
TBP INTERN AVERY PATTERSON INTERVIEWED TORI FERNANDEZ WHITNEY TO DISCUSS HER POSITION AS THE INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BEAUTIFUL PROJECT WHITNEY HAS AN EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND IN LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT, SPECIFICALLY IN WASHINGTON DC SHE BEGAN HER POSITION AT THE BEAUTIFUL PROJECT IN JANUARY OF 2025
Canyoustartbytellingmealittlebitaboutyourselfandyour position?
Iamanorganizationaldevelopmentspecialist I'veworkedwith nonprofit organizations probably for the past 20 years in different capacities So, as an administrator of a government agencywhereIfundednonprofitsandthenactuallysupporting nonprofits in various executive management positions I developedsortofaspecialtyorexpertise,ifyouwill,workingwith nonprofitsthataremanagingcomplexchanges Thatisactually what brought me to The Beautiful Project because I was recruitedtosupportTheBeautifulProjectthroughitstransitionof itsformerexecutivedirectors
HowdidyoufirsthearaboutTBP?
My first touchpoint was responding to the solicitation for an interim executive director As I was looking up the organization andkindoftryingtofigureoutwhat'sgoingon,Iwasintrigued I waslike,"Oh,TheBeautifulProject"Itwouldbesoamazingtobe a part of that. So, when I got the call for the interview and ultimatelywasofferedtheposition,Iwasreallyexcited Number one, because the mission is so compelling Number two, becauseIbelievethatnowmorethanever,TheBeautifulProject iscriticaltothehealthandwell-beingofeverypersonofcolor, honestly,inthiscountry.
Whatareyourmainobjectivesastheinterimdirector?
Mymainobjectivesaretoattractmoreinvestmentinourwork WehavesuccessfullymaintainedourpartnershipwiththeTides Foundation We're also seeking new partnerships with other foundations as federal funding for groups that do equity and inclusionworkhavereallydriedup
Howdoesthisnonprofitdifferfromothernonprofitsthatyouworkwith?
This one is the first arts focused nonprofit that I've ever worked with The others have been either direct service organizations, where they're providinghomelessservicesormentalhealthservices,orthinktanktypeof organizations that are contributing to the knowledge of a field So, this is the first time that I'm working with a group of creatives, and it's very energizing Itmakestheday-to-dayprobablyalotmoreexcitingthan,you know,workingwithphysicists
Doesthefactthatyouareworkingwithcreativeschangethewayyou approachyourpositionasdirector?
Itforcesme inaverygoodway tothinkoutsideofthoseconstructsthat usuallyguidemyengagementswithorganizations Organizationalculture drivesalotofhowyouworkwithpeopleandsupportthem WhatIfound with Beautiful is that there's no right way or wrong way to do anything, whichmeansthatthere'ssomanypossibilitiesthatit'smademealittlebit moredaringinmyapproachandwillingtochallengethelimits So,Iliketo sayIliketoearnmynoes WithBeautiful,Iwanttopositiontheorganization to always try and earn the no as they come but to also learn from them andgrowfromthemandfigureouthowtoearntheyesthenexttime.
Whatdoestheir[TBP’s]missionmeantoyou?
Well,themissionformeisprobablymorepersonalthanitshouldbe Ilike to tell people I'm a daughter of New Orleans and being born and raised there is a unique experience and a very special experience, but it's one that'salsofraughtwiththehistoryofbeingfromaplacethatwasfounded before the United States With that founding came a lot of differences in howpeopleofcolorinLouisianainparticularevolvedandflourished,and partofthathasbeenalong-standinglegacyofacolorcontrastandcolor lines that are strictly enforced in Louisiana It was important for me to becomeinvolvedsothatwecandemonstrateandcelebratethebeautyof blackwomenandgirlsacrossallcolorspectrums
Continuing the Legacy
What do you want your legacy to be at the organization[TBP]?
Sustainability. I would really like to position Beautiful in a manner where we are secure in funding sources. I think that it's really challenging to attract investment in this work. So we have ebbs and flows, andIthinkinorderforthemissiontoreallycontinue to grow beyond where we are now, we need to have secure funding and stable expectations to supportthatgrowth.
Divine Purpose
Isthereanythingelseyou'dliketosharewith me regarding how you came into your professionoryourjourneywithTBP?
I was attracted to The Beautiful Project because I've been a natural advocate my entire career. I've been guided by that desire to help organizations where I can. Whether thatbeadvocatingforaccesstobetterhealth care and mental health or advocating for peoplewhoareexperiencinghomelessnessor advocating for just about everything That's my spirit. I feel like if God's bestowed on you the talent and the time to be of service, that youshouldbeofservice.