CRC accepted 15 nonprofit leaders to its 2023 Racial and Economic Justice Cohort, which officially kicked off Thursday.

The highly-interactive, six-month program helps equip senior and mid-senior leaders with the skills to help their organizations undue the unequal distribution of wealth in California, and address the power structures that perpetuate structural racism. Cohort members meet several times throughout the year for skill-building workshops and receive personalized development plans tailored to their personal and organizational goals for the year.

“The REJ program is an opportunity to work with passionate professionals who want to improve the socioeconomic realities experienced by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color through issue advocacy,” said Paulina Gonzalez-Brito, CRC CEO. “This program provides a true network of support for cohort members through peer collaboration, community building and leadership development.”

Aliyah Shaheed, CRC Northern California Organizer and the program’s co-lead trainer, noted the track record of the 15 cohort members, who represent a range of nonprofit organizations.

“I’m excited by this excellent group of professionals and their commitment to fighting for economic equity,” Shaheed said.

This year’s cohort includes:

  • Brenda Walters, Innovative Housing
  • Bethsaida Ruiz, Divine Matrix Life Coaching & Consulting
  • Janelle Warren-Evan, Access Plus Capital
  • Jean- Huy Tran, Viet Vote and Center on Policy Initiatives
  • Wendy Arevalo, Esperanza Community Housing
  • Emme Buczko, CA Farmlink
  • Addison Peterson, CAMEO
  • Heather Fenney, Community Services Unlimited Inc.
  • Karina Bucciarelli, Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center
  • Ayodele Nzinga, Black Arts Movement CDC
  • Angely Miranda, My Path
  • Natasha Salgado, Logan Heights CDC
  • Shamieka Leon, SAC Environmental Justice Coalition
  • LeeAnn Brown, Wilton Rancheria Tribe
  • Mitch Mankin, SFHDC
  • Faizah Barlas, Beverly Vermont Community Land Trust

Launched in spring 2021, the program’s first cohort included participants from 14 organizations, including the Center for Responsible Lending, Law Foundation of Silicon Valley, and Unite A Nation.