Imagination and Rejuvenation

Boar’s Head Resort Charlottesville, VA April 4–6, 2022

The inaugural cohort of the Catalyst Collective convened in Boar’s Head Resort in Charlottesville, Virginia for a culminating retreat after sixteen months of virtual sessions.

Designed to celebrate and embody the core tenants of the program, this three-day retreat centered around giving senior Leaders of Color the spaciousness for self-care and reflection, and to support collective reimagination towards better outcomes for BIPOC leaders to thrive.

THE RETREAT SESSIONS provided the cohort an opportunity to reflect and build on their experiences as leaders and practice articulating their unique impact through peer coaching and storytelling. The collective was able to identify the sector changes needed to inspire lasting transformation.

My cup was empty...this retreat reminded me of what it’s like to have a cup that’s overflowing.

Rey Faustino

Retreat Objectives

01 Foster meaningful connections

02 Practice prioritizing inner well-being

03 Imagine changes to mitigate burn out and accelerate racial equity

04 Leverage the power and voice of this collective to advocate for tangible changes that will create a more supportive and sustainable experience for BIPOC Leaders

Thank ‌ you for the space and spaciousness to dream again.

Sarah Lockridge-Steckel

Cohort members meeting for the first time and engaging with in-person peer coaching.

Catalyst Collective members participate in a storytelling workshop led by our Executive Coach, David Mensa.

ProInspire's Co-CEO, Bianca Anderson, kicking off the 3-day retreat week.

I have such a heart of gratitude for ProInspire. I have been a part of six cohorts since the pandemic. The Catalyst Collective cohort was my favorite.

The inaugural Catalyst Collective Cohort of 2022. From left to right: Monisha Kapila, Kathy Park, Erika Gee, Rey Faustino, Asali deVan Ecclesiastes, Victoria Jones, Cheryl P. Johnson, Jacqueline Goh, Sarah Lockridge- Steckel.

The inaugural Catalyst Collective Cohort of 2022. From left to right: Eureka Gilkey, Lisa Lee, Michael O’Bryan, Stephanie McKee, Mauricio Calvo, Eva Mosby, Michelle Rhone-Collins, and Bianca Casanova Anderson.

ABOUT PROINSPIRE

Founded in 2009, ProInspire activates leaders at all levels to accelerate equity.

Recognizing that leadership and equity are the keys to systems change, we strive to impact change by designing and delivering workshops, facilitating racial equity change processes, convening communities of practice, and conducting research focused on equitable leadership practices in the social sector.

VISION

ProInspire envisions an equitable and just society free of systemic oppression where all people thrive.

MISSION

ProInspire activates leaders at all levels to accelerate equity at the individuals, organizational, and systems levels.

BOLD GOAL

ProInspire’s bold goal is for social sector leaders at all levels to accelerate race equity in outcomes and experience by focusing on practices, capacity, and thought leadership from self to systems.

PROINSPIRE HAS ENGAGED with over 4,000 leaders at all levels across the social sector as we work towards our vision of a more equitable and just society. Our position is that by centering the needs of Black people, Indigenous people, and People of Color (BIPOC), organizations will create lasting change that disrupts racism. Our values of equity, authenticity, collaboration, and courage are essential to who we are and what we do, and we strive to embody these ideals in our lives and our work with leaders and organizations.

ProInspire was named by the Chronicle of Philanthropy as one of 7 Nonprofits to Watch in 2015, and as a Top-Rated Nonprofit from 2015 to 2018. In 2021, ProInspire moved to a shared leadership model, where Bianca Casanova Anderson was promoted to co-CEO serving alongside Founder and co-CEO Monisha Kapila. While we bring our knowledge and expertise to this work, it is only through our partnerships and the collective wisdom and actions of our community that we can achieve our mission and realize our shared vision. We are grateful for the leaders and organizations who have partnered with us.

Key Highlights

2009: Founded by co-CEO Monisha Kapila & launched ProInspire Fellowship in Washington, D.C.

2015: Named one of 7 Nonprofits to Watch by the Chronicle of Philanthropy

2017: Launched ProInspire Fellowship in Digital Finance & hosted first Impact Fellowships Summit

2019: Celebrated tenth anniversary & hosted the ProInspire Summit

2020: Created and launched the Catalyst Collective

2021: Shifted to shared leadership, promoted Bianca Anderson to co-CEO & published Self to Systems: Leading for Race Equity Impact

What We Do

ProInspire brings together a multi-identity team of eleven people that delivers programming and resources designed to activate all social impact leaders to accelerate racial equity.

1. Individuals We support individuals through our public programs that provide a space for professional growth and help leaders at all levels build skills, tools, and mindsets to accelerate racial equity through leadership.

2. Organizations We support organizations to advance their race equity journeys, build inclusive leadership practices, and strengthen leaders at all levels to accelerate equity.

3. Social Sector We influence the social sector through research, writing, and convening.

Major Publications

01 A Force for Impact: Millennials in the Nonprofit Sector

02 Self to Systems: Leading for Race Equity Impact

03 Crises as a Catalyst: A Call for Race Equity & Inclusive Leadership — ProInspire

04 A Decade In The Making: ProInspire’s Lessons on Leadership and Equity Work

05 10 Year Impact Report

Published Op-Eds

01 How MacKenzie Scott’s Gifts to Leaders of Color Fuel Transformation. CHRONICLE OF PHILANTHROPY

02 Failure Is Not an Option: How Nonprofit Boards Can Support Leaders of Color. NONPROFIT QUARTERLY

03 How Nonprofit Workers and Leaders Can Make a Difference as Racial Tensions Flare. CHRONICLE OF PHILANTHROPY

04 Talent Matters Blog Series. STANDARD SOCIAL INNOVATION REVIEW

The Leadership Model Overview

WE IDENTIFIED these Windows of Leadership, Areas of Advancing Race Equity, and Core Commitments to build shared language and highlight the many ways that all leaders — across identities, roles, issue areas, and organizations — can interrupt inequities, namely race equity, through their leadership in the social sector.

Demonstrating these Core Commitments and deepening one’s skill sets and mindsets does not correspond to years of experience, level of workplace hierarchy, or job title.

Our belief is that leaders at all levels should work towards building inclusive and equitable workplaces that have a positive social impact.

We hope that leaders can use this framework, the Core Commitments, and the practices to activate their leadership and accelerate race equity through their work.

Windows of Leadership: Our term for the perspectives or levels from which leaders can create impact — namely leadership of Self, People, Organizations, and Systems.

[ILLUSTRATION]

Self Exploring Identity

People Centering Relationships

Organizations Aligning Values

Systems Collective Reimagining

Core Commitment: Accompanying each window is a Core Commitment, which captures the nature of the practices in each level of leadership.

The ProInspire Team. From left to right: Neriel David Ponce, Kristen Lucas, Monisha Kapila, Rachel Leonidas, Namira Anani.

The ProInspire Team. From left to right: Rosie Aquila, Kate Loving, Chiavone Mobley, Monica Biswas, and Bianca Casanova Anderson (sans Monea Abdul-Majeed).

Co-CEO & Zine Project Director Bianca Casanova Anderson

Founder & Co-CEO Monisha Kapila

Senior Communications Manager & Zine Editor Rachel Leonidas

Senior Manager & Zine Project Manager Neriel David Ponce

Designer Jeff Louie

© 2022 ProInspire

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