CREW B

Cultivating Resilience in Executives Who are BIPOC. And Black, Brilliant and Badass.

Community.

Coaching.

Confidence.

This is CREW B.

What is Crew B?  It is an experience and an all-BIPOC community for DC nonprofit CEOs (or equivalent) who identify as people of color, designed by, for and with the people it supports.  Participating leaders join an intimate 6-month cohort experience with 7-10 peers who convene monthly to discuss the following topics critical for executive leadership:  

  • Strategy

  • People and Organizational Management

  • Finance and Operations

  • Governance

  • Fundraising

  • Leader Sustainability. 

While in the cohort, leaders also receive monthly 1:1 executive coaching (from a coach who also identifies as a person of color and has experience supporting senior nonprofit leaders). 

After the cohort, alumni can stay connected to resources and ongoing alumni opportunities (regular opportunities to discuss problems of practice with peers, occasional community in person social events).

Sessions are trauma-informed and designed to promote recovery and resilience in the context leaders of color navigate. Each session considers both technical expertise and the specific challenges, choices and strategies of leaders of color, and most of the time is spent on leaders learning from and connecting with each other and experts or elders about the real tasks they face every day. 

For example, the Governance session might include:

  • Brief discussion of tools and resources related to governance, with particular focus on putting this into practice as a leader of color (e.g., trust and power dynamics between leader and board)

  • Fireside chat with an expert leader of color who has established a strong relationship with his/her board

  • Problem of practice brought by a leader in the cohort who is navigating a challenge with his/her board and discussed using a peer consultancy protocol

  • Dinner as a community

The next cohort of CREW B is expected to launch in 2025. Dates are TBD. All sessions are from 1-4 p.m., followed by dinner nearby as a community.

Tuition for the SY24-25 school year is $6,750 per participating leader and includes coaching and alumni support. Please do not let the cost be a barrier to application. I am committed to making CREW B as accessible to BIPOC DC nonprofit CEOs and EDs as I can.

What leaders are saying about Crew B:

  • “Participating in the inaugural cohort was extremely valuable. Shalini created a safe space to be vulnerable, which enriched our experience and fostered closeness within our cohort. She thoughtfully brought in experts to learn from and created consultancies, which allowed us to receive advice on some of our most significant challenges. These exchanges will stay with me for years to come. Fellowshipping with each other [was] meaningful and fun. I recommend this experience to any leader in DC - new or seasoned - who wants to continue to learn, grow, and find a supportive community that understands the joy, challenges, and sacrifice that come with leadership."

  • “[I was reminded that] the essence of leaders of color is our resilience. Our ability to lead while being Black is a part of my desire to remain in this work. We have to remind ourselves that we are worthy, doing good work for kids and it's ok to take care of ourselves. We are CREW, B."

  • “I'm not alone in this role and I'm not doing it wrong by finding it so hard. It's kind of like motherhood. You think, "I must be doing this wrong, it's SO HARD." But then you find other mothers who are like, "Nope, this is actually just hard." That's what this experience was for me. It absolutely extended the time that I can see myself in the ED role."

  • “As CEOs, we have to appear strong all the time. Shalini created a space for us to be be vulnerable, without seeming weak, so that we can go back to our organizations strong and stay in this work."

After the pilot cohort, here is what participating leaders reported:

ALL of the leaders:

  • would recommend the experience to other leaders of color

  • agreed or strongly agreed that participating in the pilot has validated the experiences they are having as a CEO or ED of color

  • agreed or strongly agreed that as a result of the pilot, they have grown as a leader and have gained skills in specific skill areas.

The MAJORITY of leaders:

  • Felt that participating in the pilot extended the time they could can see themselves in the CEO or ED role and/or has extended the likelihood, they will remain in the DC youth and family-serving ecosystem for the next 5 years

  • Agreed that as a result of the pilot, they have a larger and/or deeper network of leaders of color that they can access for connection and support.

Interested in joining the next cohort?

Do you have a BIPOC DC nonprofit CEO to nominate? Fill out this form to nominate a leader so I can invite them to apply!

CREW B is currently only offered for nonprofit CEOs and in-person in Washington, DC who identify as BIPOC.
Please reach out if you are interested in talking but you or your nominee do not fit these criteria.