“These are the stories that will help people in the middle of their own journeys.”

One year ago, as I prepared for the launch of my first book, this was the mantra I repeated to myself when I felt vulnerable about the stories I was going to share. I’m amazed at how this still rings true today.

I just read that 25% of women don’t want to progress into a senior leadership position at their company because of its culture. (This is straight out of Deloitte’s recent annual Women @ Work Report.) And the most recent issue of Nonprofit Quarterly is fully dedicated to celebrating Black women leaders’ stories—and reminding us that we’re not the only ones facing “death by a thousand paper cuts” in our sector.

Both point to cultural issues I know well. I worked for mostly white-led organizations throughout my nonprofit career, and the higher I climbed, the more I uncovered in terms of equity and fairness (or lack thereof).

Feeling Stuck in the Middle

Back then, I was in the middle of my own journey. I knew something had to change, and that I had to be a part of that change. So I always asked myself, “LaTresse, what CAN you do to improve the culture? To interrupt these harmful institutional patterns of behavior and decision-making?”

Patterns as predictable as:

Black, Indigenous or other people of color’s input being ignored. Or, they’d have an idea and someone else would reframe it – which everyone would then jump on.
Being treated differently by supervisors. Bosses would use a collegial, gentle tone with most of their team, but then would openly be critical or aggressive with the BIPOC folks (especially for Black team members).
Being outright lied to. Others received bonuses, promotions, or salary increases yet the Black, Indigenous or other person of color would not get those same benefits despite having similar circumstances.

Sometimes, my efforts to intervene were successful. Other times, they were not – which made made me feel both guilty and worried that I’d be seen as someone who actually supported that culture!

Choose the Spaces and Places that Bring Joy

Now, I find joy in the work I do at Bonsai, helping nonprofits discover a pool of talented candidates to consider for careers within their organization. And I found joy in writing When Black Women Rise, which I hope helps readers learn to use their voices fearlessly, negotiate for what they need, and build relationships that will serve them for years to come.

So to all of you who are in the middle of your journey, and maybe feeling stuck or unsure of what’s next, know that I’m rooting for you. Keep choosing the spaces and places that bring you joy, and you’ll not only transform your own path, you’ll be part of the chorus of voices creating a ripple effect across our sector.