Session Title: Where Do We Go From Here? Black Women’s Leadership Across the Diaspora and the Advancement of Reparative Racial Justice Across the Nonprofit, International Development, and Philanthropic Sectors.
Date: Tuesday, April 15, 2025 |
Time: 5-6 PM |
Time Zone: Eastern Standard Time
Language(s): English
Location of the side event: The Africa CenterPerformance Auditorium1280 5th Ave, New York, NY 10029
Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/where-do-we-go-from-here-black-womens-leadership-in-a-time-of-crisis-tickets-1311245192669?aff=oddtdtcreatorName and email address of the lead organizer (and permission to publish the leadorganizer’s contact details): Reisa TomlinsonPrincipal, Blentrify Renegade Fundraising Solutions
reisa@blentrify.com |
www.blentrify.com LinkedIn ProfileLavastian GlennIndependent Consultant
lavastiang@gmail.comLinkedIn ProfileBWLW organizers consent to having our contact details published.
Sponsoring organization(s) or entity/ies: The Africa Center Jean-Bart Social Impact Consulting, LLCBlentrify, LLC International Society for Advancing Freedom & Equal Rights (ISAFER)
Lavastian Glenn
Tamara Thermitus, Ad. E.
Dr. Yanique Redwood (Founder, BWLW)
Black Women for Liberated Workplaces
Description of the side event (no more than 100 words): We aim to convene Black women who have been leading social justice efforts—addressing racial, gender, and intersecting identities—in health, education, environmental, and economic sectors, both within formal structures and externally, to assess the current sociopolitical and socioeconomic context. Through storytelling, we will begin to map patterns that broadly help inform individual and collective strategies for addressing reparative justice and human rights for people of African descent with a focus on the experiences of women leaders. The expected outcomes are to create a space for sharing experiences and advance collective advocacy efforts aimed at greater inclusion and systemic change. (99 words)
Guest Speakers Facilitator:
Lavastian GlennA nuance seeker, problem solver, and advocate for transformational change, Lavastian Glenn (she/her) has dedicated over 20 years to supporting people and organizations in pursuit of a more just, inclusive, and caring society. Much of Lavastian’s energy has focused on building aligned and impactful teams internally in senior leadership roles and co-designing capacity-building grantmaking programs that advance racial, economic, and environmental justice across the United States. Over her career in philanthropy, she has directed over $45 million of direct investments to nonprofit organizations leading systemic and cultural change at the local, state, regional, and national levels.
Lavastian holds a sincere belief that together we can accomplish anything. Therefore you will often find her working behind the scenes to bring people together to envision a world we all deserve and creating spaces to birth strategies intended for our collective liberation.
Reisa TomlinsonWith over fifteen years of experience across diverse corporate and non-profit sectors, Reisa Tomlinson is a purpose-driven, community-centric fundraiser who excels in ethical storytelling, transforming data into impactful narratives, and devising solutions to complex challenges through relationship-centered strategies. Her career reflects a steadfast commitment to fostering meaningful relationships, mobilizing over $100 million in resources, and supporting initiatives that meet individuals where they are while empowering them to achieve their aspirations.
Through nonprofit development and philanthropy, she has engaged in varied environments in leadership roles, directly assisting marginalized communities and intersecting identities by backing initiatives that promote a more equitable and just society. Outside the professional realm, Reisa cherishes time with loved ones, engages in volunteerism, and finds grounding through travel, remaining intentional about her impact on the world. She views herself as a cultural connector, believing in mutual growth and evolution.
Her purpose lies in disrupting chaos, aligning with the belief that "in the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity." Recognizing our global interconnectedness, she advocates for utilizing our collective social value to drive meaningful change, emphasizing that while much may seem beyond our control, we have numerous opportunities to shape our lives for the better.
LaTosha BrownCo-founder of Black Voters Matters and the Southern Black Girls & Women’s ConsortiumAt the intersection of social justice, political empowerment, human development and the cultural arts one will find LaTosha Brown. As a catalyst for change, thought leader and social strategist, her national and global efforts have been known to organize, inspire and catapult people into action—not just lip service—enabling them to build power and wealth for themselves and their community. Honored to receive the 2010 White House Champion of Change Award, the 2006 Spirit of Democracy Award and the Louis Burnham Award for Human Rights, it is more than evident that LaTosha is passionate about leading social change for the purpose of advancing humanity, creating a more equitable redistribution of wealth and power around the globe.
As the co-founder of the Black Voters Matter Fund and the BVM Capacity Building Institute, LaTosha is adamant about ensuring that all human beings have access to quality education, safety, security, peace, love and happiness. Striving daily to hear the voices of women in leadership amplified and supported, she is also working to eliminate human suffering through her vision of the Southern Black Girls & Women’s Consortium. Recognizing that her work is not rooted in strengthening political systems, governments or institutions—but in the advancement of people—LaTosha serves as an authoritative figure in the lives of thousands, if not millions. More than ever, she’s crystal clear that she is called to remind people of the power they hold within, pushing them through the birthing process of vision to manifestation.
Susan Taylor BattenSusan Taylor Batten is President and Chief Executive Officer of ABFE: A Philanthropic Partnership for Black Communities. ABFE (established in 1971 as the As
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