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Executive Directors Leading for Equity and Inclusion

River Forum I Conference Room
4380 SW Macadam
Portland

About this event

A peer learning cohort offered by The Nonprofit Association of Oregon in partnership with the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation.

What does it look like to practice equity and inclusion within our nonprofits? As leaders, how do we transcend the histories of bias and privilege that impact our society—including the nonprofit sector?

The Leading for Equity and Inclusion cohort will convene Executive Directors of Oregon nonprofits over 5 months to refine their leadership skills and develop a supportive environment in which to engage in regular, direct, and honest conversations on what it means to integrate a practice of equity, inclusion and systemic change within their organizations.

Growing into the dynamic leadership needed to navigate our way towards equitable and inclusive governance, management and service delivery systems is a daunting long-term endeavor. Learning together within an environment of trust and mutual support is critical for success.

As a cohort participant you will have an opportunity to:

  • Increase your awareness of the impacts of institutionalized inequity within the Portland community and your subsector (i.e. housing, education, arts, etc.)
  • Recognize and learn to manage your own biases
  • Govern your emotions for more effective leadership
  • Utilize feedback from colleagues and co-workers without defensiveness
  • Apply an equity lens to organizational policies and practices
  • Develop specific leadership strategies to navigate differences and address dynamics of oppression, power and privilege
  • Engage with peers in creating a supportive learning community

Program Components and Commitment

The cohort consists of 5 peer learning and training sessions.



Peer Learning Sessions
Thursdays: 4:30 p.m – 7 p.m
*Dinner provided

Training Sessions
Fridays: 8 a.m – 12 p.m

Dates for the 2014/15 series are February 12th & 13th, March 5th & 6th, April 16th & 17th, May 14th & 15th, and June 11th & 12th.

As a participant you will be matched with one of the cohort faculty who will partner with you to support your getting the most out of the cohort. You will develop a project that assists your organization in furthering its equity objectives. Attendance is required at all five peer learning and training sessions.

Who Should Attend

This cohort is designed to support nonprofit Executive Directors in becoming transformational leaders building equity and inclusion within their organizations. We welcome applications from Executive Directors or similar executive positions within Oregon 501.c.3s.*

Cohort Faculty

The core faculty and designers of this cohort are Cliff Jones and Maria Lisa Johnson. Cliff is an NAO senior consultant who joined NAO in 1992 with a primary focus on equity and inclusion. He was a co-founder of NAO’s Tools for Diversity, a project that helped hundreds of diverse groups to better understand the dynamics of oppression and to build alliances across differences.

With more than 25 years of experience as a consultant and trainer, Cliff has served more than 1,500 nonprofit organizations, utilizing a variety of tools to create equity and inclusion including awareness training, organizational assessment, leadership development, coaching, power analysis, and action planning. Cliff has a background in community education, community development, diversity education, and counseling. He has a BS in Community Services and Public Affairs from the University of Oregon with a focus in community education and social psychology.

María Lisa Johnson has worked with nonprofit and public sector organizations for over 20 years to help build equitable and inclusive organizations and to support leaders in understanding and addressing bias. As NAO’s former Director of Consulting, María Lisa oversaw organizational development consulting services and managed peer learning cohort projects that provided tools and support to diverse nonprofit leaders. María Lisa has served as the Director for the City of Portland’s Office of Human Relations and Human Rights Commission and as the Founding Executive Director for the Latino Network. She is an active volunteer leader with the Community and Police Relations Committee of the Portland Human Rights Commission.

María Lisa is a bi-racial Latina, born in Venezuela and raised in Peru. She settled in Oregon to pursue a higher education, and has earned Master of Arts degrees in Public Administration and International Studies, both from the University of Oregon

Cohort Program Fees and Contact Information

Participant fees are on a sliding scale, from $750 for organizations with annual budgets under $1 million, and $1500 for organizations with annual budgets over $1 million. NAO members receive a 25% discount. A limited number of scholarships are available. Please inquire.

To apply, please download the application and send it to Janelle Culley at [email protected]. Call Janelle at 503-239-4001 ext 113 if you have questions. Applications are due by January 15, 2015.