According to Bianca Anderson, co-CEO of Independent Sector member ProInspire, the Fellowship for Liberated Futures began with a conversation. Dr. Chera Reid, philanthropic advisor and founder of Freedom Dreams in Philanthropy, and Shamar Bibbins, recently promoted to managing director of the Environment Program at Kresge Foundation, were discussing the need for Black women in climate justice to rest and be celebrated as they do the long work of seeking equity and justice.
Around that same time, ProInspire was shifting its strategic direction to focus on holistic wellbeing and thriving for social sector leaders who are Black, Indigenous, and other people of color. Anderson and Reid co-hosted a collaborative design retreat in late 2022, bringing together women of color in climate and racial justice who could inform the approach and design of a new fellowship program and advocacy effort. The initial visions and insights from the early collaborators gave rise to the Fellowship for Liberated Futures.
The 18-month fellowship program is designed to celebrate and honor Black women and femme leaders in the social sector. Its goals are to celebrate, provide space and conditions for rest, and invite in the creativity of Black women and femmes working across and at the intersections of climate, racial, and gender justice.
The fellowship is co-hosted by ProInspire, Dr. Reid, and The Chisholm Legacy Project — a nonprofit that connects Black communities with resources to advance systems change and climate justice. Currently in pilot, funders for the fellowship include Independent Sector member Kresge Foundation, JPB Foundation, and McKnight Foundation. All are committed to investing in the long-term leadership of leaders of color in the social sector.
“The cohort is comprised of Black women and femmes. In their work, they’re used to leading change in their communities, but not always feeling valued and supported, particularly by funders or people with lots of money and power,” said Anderson, who was a fellow in Independent Sector’s 2023 NGen Leadership Program. “And so we bring to the forefront that this fellowship is unapologetically about centering the needs of Black women and femmes. Our funders understand that means we need a level of trust as the people who are leading and stewarding the program, and we demonstrate that trust for the folks participating in the program, as well.”
Elize Rostant, managing director of WIRRED
“I felt very honored to receive the invitation to join the first cohort of the Fellowship for Liberated Futures,” said Elize Rostant, managing director of WIRRED. “As a Caribbean person not residing in the USA and managing projects across Small Island Developing States (SIDs), I feel a deep sense of responsibility to amplify the voices of my community. When this opportunity was offered to reflect on rest, what this means in my life, and by extension the lives of others who do this work, I felt called to give myself this gift. It has been wonderful learning and growing through this experience!”
Interestingly, the fellowship’s focus on rest and restoration aligns with feedback received by Independent Sector during its Listening Tour for members and partners started in 2023. At almost every stop, there was a consistent theme — the nonprofit workforce is tired and lacks adequate support.
“This is such a collaborative effort,” according to Anderson. “Dr. Reid holds relationships with funders and contributes to the overall program advocacy. With its background in climate and environment, The Chisholm Legacy Project is our subject matter expert and ecosystem partner in the climate and justice space.” And with its collaboration-focused mission and history of hosting fellowships, ProInspire was primarily responsible for planning cohort convenings and thinking about the participant experience.
Anderson called the program a complete care package. “It’s like when you come home from college after being gone for a while, and your grandma hugs you and puts care all around you. It is a place of respite and peace, a place of joy for the people coming in. The fellowship is centered around exploring well-being and creating the conditions you need to be well in very challenging work.” Fellows are asked to commit to three expenses-paid, in-person retreats, as well as eight virtual gatherings over 18 months.
The fellowship program centers on the theme of self-determination. “Importantly, the first phase is about self-exploration,” Anderson explained. “My mother didn’t teach me rest. And my grandmother didn’t teach me rest because they didn’t have the opportunity. For some of us, it’s learning that we are deserving of rest. We are deserving of slowing down and being cared for, and not putting the world on our shoulders and feeling we’ve got to do it all.”
On determination, Anderson explained, the fellowship is about seeing what is possible when Black women and femmes commit to individual rest and share experience with a growing collective. “They are learning about pacing and slowing down, being in community, and about building relationships. We want them to know it’s essential — not only while in this fellowship program, but also in other aspects of their work and life.
Diamond Stylz, program fellow and executive director of Marsha’s Plate Media
Diamond Stylz, a program fellow and executive director of Marsha’s Plate Media, said, “Rest is crucial for everyone, but for a woman at the intersection of being Black and Trans, it can be particularly significant. These challenges range from identifying unknown murder victims, to housing Trans teens who have been kicked out of their homes by parents, to getting a rifle pulled out on you by conservatives at rallies to fight anti-LGBTQ bills at the Texas legislative sessions. Sad, but that is my reality as a grassroots organizer. Adequate rest supports overall well-being, mental health, and resilience, helping to manage stress and improve the quality of life. We need all of that to enable us to better navigate and cope with daily challenges and contribute to a more fulfilling life.”
Anderson added, “Generationally, we weren’t taught about rest. We want the fellows to walk away knowing it is possible to make effective change in their communities — and be well. Not to put themselves last on the list.
“We want them to know that in their urgent work when they can’t go to a retreat, there are things they can incorporate in their day-to-day work that will allow them to calm their center and rest more easily. You don’t have to earn wellbeing. And we want them to walk away knowing that they are enough and deserving just the way they are.”
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Debra Rainey is the manager of communications at Independent Sector.
