The first is the Nonprofit Connector — an initiative Midwest Bank Centre has hosted for several years to help connect more Black and Brown professionals with nonprofit boards that need their service.
The second is the CAASTLC Community Action Agency of St. Louis County event, where I had the privilege of sharing space with inspiring honorees across St. Louis. Both moments reminded me of how far we’ve come and how much more we can do together.
The Nonprofit Connector was born during the pandemic, when my phone was ringing nonstop with board requests. When I asked why I was being approached, I often heard, “We’re looking for diversity.”
I realized I couldn’t personally serve on every board, but I could create opportunities for others. So, we built a bridge — connecting nonprofits seeking diverse voices with talented Black and Brown leaders ready to serve.
That effort continues to make a real difference. And yet, the work isn’t finished. Today, 77% of nonprofit board chairs identify as White, and 63% of board members overall are White. Many boards also skew older, with a majority of members over 55.
We’re closing that gap one relationship at a time — and that’s something worth being grateful for.
Later that evening, I had the honor of attending the CAASTLC Community Action Agency of St. Louis County event — a reminder that the real work of transformation happens at the intersection of social, human, and financial capital.
CAASTLC stands in that space — helping people stabilize, survive, and ultimately thrive. As I reflected on their mission, I was reminded of my own journey through foster care, and how organizations like CASTL helped me discover peace in the midst of chaos.
Gratitude, for me, isn’t abstract — it’s personal. It’s rooted in the people and organizations who stood in the gap when life was hard, and in the opportunity to now help others rise.