C06 Affinity Group: People of Color

People of Color Affinity Group Annual Gathering

Tuesday, August 1, 11:00am - 6:00pm

Price:  No additional charge; Alliance membership and sign-up required

Facilitators

Monica Herrera, Community Consulting Group; Margo Bailey, Melwood; Dahnesh Medora, National Community Development Institute; Jim Milner, Urban Strategies

Description

The People of Color Affinity Group (POC) Annual Gathering is a time when capacity builders of color can come together to strengthen our presence and contribution to the field, the nonprofits and the communities we serve. The annual gathering provides an informal setting for newcomers and current members to share about themselves, connect with peers, laugh and gain insights on issues of common interest.

About the Facilitators

Monica Herrera, Community Consulting Group

Monica Herrera has over 18 years experience working with nonprofit and government organizations in policy development, planning, administration, finance, and organization development, with special emphasis on issues that impact women's and children's lives. This work has included training and consulting services on strategic planning, governance, teambuilding, conflict resolution, community building, collaboration, and cultural equity. Monica has degrees in child development/family life and public administration, has completed two mediation programs, and is a member of the Minnesota Facilitators Network.

Margo Bailey, Melwood

Dr. Margo Bailey is an evaluation consultant to nonprofit organizations and has assessed such initiatives as Innovation Network's Learning Circles Project, which provided competitive awards to Washington, DC-area nonprofits of organizational coaching, training and technical assistance in a range of areas, including participatory evaluation and managing for diversity. As a scholar, her research and teaching interests include human resources management and nonprofit management. Her most recent work "Cultural Competency and the Practice of Public Administration," examines the relationships between equal employment opportunity (EEO), affirmative action, managing diversity and cultural competency and their importance for public managers. Her published work has appeared in Public Administration Review and the Journal of Public Management and Social Policy. Margo's professional experience includes serving as a policy analyst at NASA and evaluation consultant to nonprofit organizations. She is currently the Director of Planning and Evaluation at Melwood, a leader in the advancement of services for people with developmental disabilities. She completed undergraduate studies at University of Pennsylvania and graduate studies—earning a Ph.D—at Syracuse University.

Dahnesh Medora, National Community Development Institute

For the past fifteen years Dahnesh Medora has worked to support the organizational capacity of nonprofits located both in the United States and in other parts of the world. In the role of staff, consultant and board member, Dahnesh has focused on fundraising, strategic planning and human resources. Before joining NCDI, Dahnesh directed external relations at the Tides Center by providing assistance to new and emerging nonprofits. Dahnesh received his M.A. at Michigan State University where he focused on nonprofit management and has served on a number of boards including Youth Action for Global Justice, Community Toolbox for Children's Environmental Health and the Foundation Center of San Francisco.

Jim Milner, Urban Strategies

Jim, a Certified Community Action Professional, has more than 25 years of communications, public relations and marketing experience, including over 15 years in broadcasting. Through 12 years of business ownership in construction-related and distribution businesses, Jim learned the "ups and downs" of entrepreneurship.

While serving at the Social Development Commission (SDC) as the Director of Communications and Governmental Relations (CGR), Jim developed and sustained relationships with community leaders, key members of Congress, State Legislature, and local elected officials.

Jim is an effective public speaker and has the creative skills to interface with a diverse range of individuals. He is a community organizer with proven abilities to analyze, prioritize, and evaluate situations for the best results. As an experienced trainer in for-profit and nonprofit businesses and organizations, he has developed a number of educational and job training programs.

His programs continue to be used by the Social Development Commission, Milwaukee Urban League, Milwaukee Jobs Initiative, Lincoln Park Community Center, Milwaukee Public Schools, State of Wisconsin Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, and Milwaukee Area Radio and Television Stations.

Jim is a certified Board Development Trainer by the Nonprofit Management Fund /BoardSource, a Fund Development Professional trained by the African American Fund Development Institute, and a trained professional to develop industry standards for organizations, programs, and evaluations processes by the national association Community Action Partnership.