Josh Davis

STRIVETOGETHER, CINCINNATI, OHIO

THE CATALYST COLLECTIVE PROGRAM has established itself in the sector at a time of great need. For me personally, it has reaffirmed the challenges I’ve faced in the nonprofit sector as a leader of color, while reminding me of the assets available to me. How timely of Catalyst Collective to arrive when I needed the space and community.

In thinking of the next few years and the future of the nonprofit sector, I urge philanthropic decision-makers to consider the value of lived experiences. Our lives and experiences as people of color are irreplaceable, and greatly inform the true direction that our work needs to take. With the ripple effects of current events these past few years on our sector, inclusivity and diverse representation of communities of color in nonprofit leadership is the new standard. Seeing these movements in effect brings me so much excitement as our sector continues to grow and learn.

From left, Jane Hodgdon (U.S. Department of Education), Josh Davis (StriveTogether), Caleb Herod (Delta Health Alliance), Dreama Gentry (Partners for Education) and Christian Motley (StriveTogether) shared ideas for improving education in rural America. Source: “Learning about College Access in Rural America,” March 2019, The Prichard Committee.

Josh Davis serves as vice president of policy and partnerships for StriveTogether. He provides leadership and strategy for the organization’s policy, advocacy and mobilization work, while also leveraging national partnerships to accelerate progress throughout the Cradle to Career Network. Prior to StriveTogether, Josh was vice president of external affairs for the Delta Health Alliance (DHA), a nonprofit dedicated to supporting health and education initiatives across the 18-county Mississippi Delta region.