3 minute read
Michelle Rhone-Collins
CALIFORNIA LIFT, LOS ANGELES
IN ONE WORD, I WOULD DESCRIBE the Catalyst Collective program as powerful. Between the pandemic, the reckoning and uprisings against deep rooted racism in this country, economic insecurity, and electoral volatility and insurrections — to say this was a challenging few years is a severe understatement. This space created was a solace in it all. A place to learn, heal, commiserate, and gain inspiration for my leadership. Through the structure provided, including the coaching sessions, I was able to actively work on my leadership, build confidence in the expression of my leadership as a Black woman, and apply lessons learned in real time during difficult times. I saw my own struggles, curiosities, and experiences reflected — and sometimes challenged — in others as they shared on articles read, response to speakers, or in group coaching moments.
As a leader of a nonprofit working to break cycles of poverty, I often speak of the need to remove the barriers of bureaucracy, siloed operation, confusing pre-requisites and instead, lead by treating families with dignity and trust in providing services that are success-based, not sanction-based. I believe the same can apply for philanthropy in their support for the nonprofit sector. Solutions to funding that became readily apparent during crises should remain, including reducing unnecessary barriers and requirements. Philanthropic giving that leads with trust and at levels that allow us to truly innovate will continue to push our sector forward.
Michelle showcasing LIFT’s theory of change.
Michelle stands in front of street wall art reading, “Love Never Fails”.
I believe that the nonprofit sector and its leaders possess the power to change policies, systems, and practices that perpetuate inequities. We are seeing this now with the Child Tax Credit and state and city guaranteed basic income initiatives that started with innovations from grassroots efforts. Almost two years ago, stats were showing that 10% of nonprofit CEOs represented communities of color; and received 4% of the revenue. I hope the shifts we have seen in the last year, increased executive level opportunities for BIPOC leaders and increase in access to major funding, continue on.
I am hopeful that we will see more BIPOC leaders driving this work because it will be more effective, inclusive, and bring solutions that get at the root in doing so.
Michelle poses with LIFT clothing merch.
ABOUT Michelle joined LIFT in 2012 as the Founding LIFT-LA Executive Director. Under her leadership, she seeded program innovations that are now core to LIFT’s model, most notably the focus on an intergenerational approach to breaking the cycle of poverty. She has been instrumental in developing LIFT’s vision to launch a systems change strategy to reach the nearly six million families with young children living in poverty in the US. Michelle LIFTs because she believes in the power of hope, money, and love.
