BPACF PROFESSIONAL PROFILES

The BPACF is all about highlighting and promoting Greater Cleveland professionals (hence, Black Professional Association). As the ranks of Black, Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) in corporations, nonprofit organizations, entrepreneurship, and government continue to grow, we are encouraged that change is happening. We are filling seats at all the tables. In this issue, we’re presenting eight professionals who exemplify BPACF’s vision and mission. Where you can support them, please show them lots of love.

Chantel Davis-Tolbert

Birthing Beautiful Communities ctolbert@birthingbeautiful.org www.birthingbeautiful.org

Social Media: @birthingbeautiful (Facebook and Instagram)

@birthnbeautiful (Twitter)

As Chief Advancement Officer, Chantel Tolbert is responsible for securing financial support from the community-at-large to ensure the team at Birthing Beautiful Communities has the necessary resources to achieve its mission. Addressing and improving the systemic and community structures that lead to poor birth outcomes through Culture, Education, Advocacy, Support and Engagement (CEASE). She works closely with the Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors to create and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy focused on increasing short and long-term giving from individuals, foundations, corporations, government agencies, and other community-based organizations.

What prompted you to choose your public servant career?

I have always had a passion for giving back. I can recall instances where I participated in service projects at church and school, and other instances where I was a recipient of service efforts in my community. At that time, I did not realize the impact that these early experiences would have on my life. However, now as an adult, I see how they have resonated in every professional and personal endeavor kaygriff22@gmail.com allvotingislocal.org // www.clevelandnaacp.org

I have taken on.

What have been some of your challenges?

I have always viewed challenges I face as learning and growth opportunities. One of these opportunities is my move into leadership – a move that has stretched me in more ways than one. This is my first opportunity to lead the philanthropic efforts of a nonprofit organization and I am continually learning the ropes for leading a team to success through skill development, training, and understanding.

What is your superpower?

Organizing is my superpower. Since a young age, I have always understood the importance of arranging my space, information, and thoughts in a way that helped me achieve goals. Now as a professional, I share my organizing skills with nonprofit organizations to strengthen the tools they possess to be successful.

What words of wisdom can you share? Slow down. Life is too short and precious to rush through it or busy your schedule with activities that are not meaningful to you.

Social Media: @kaylasgriffin

Kayla Simone Griffin serves as the state director for All Voting is Local Ohio. She tracks changes to election administration in key areas, and develops an assessment of the implications of these changes, particularly for historically disenfranchised communities. Griffin works in coordination with the existing network of voting rights organizations to develop and implement strategies to expand access to the ballot and respond to needless and discriminatory obstacles to voting.

She also serves as the president of the Cleveland Branch of the NAACP where she presides at meetings and acts as Chair of the Executive Committee, appoints the Chair and members of all Committees not otherwise elected by the General Membership or the Executive Committee of the NAACP Branch.

What prompted you to choose a career in public service?

I have always been an advocate. From the time I was a youth I knew I would go to law school. Every job that I’ve had and desired has been in public ser- vice. I truly believe that people should be able to live in their full capacity and, by in large, it is systems that disenfranchise people. I wanted to bring a change to that. During law school I got an up close look at the criminal legal system and decided to lean into the policy making and reform.

What are some challenges?

My greatest challenge has been constantly struggling with “imposter syndrome.” It is a cancer that must be uprooted out of so many people’s hearts, minds, and spirits. In order to get over it, I do what Nike says – Just Do It!

What is your superpower?

I am a natural visionary and a dreamer! My superpower is not only to see a big vision but being able to convey that to many different people. The most beautiful thing is seeing a window opened in someone's mind.

What words of wisdom can you share? We are not created to walk through this journey alone. Find your community!

Valissa Turner Howard

Greater Cleveland Food Bank vhoward@clevelandfoodbank.org www.greaterclevelandfoodbank.org

Social Media: @vthesq (Insta) www.facebook.com/valissa.howard linkedin.com/in/valissaturnerhoward

Valissa Turner Howard, Esq. is the Vice President of Talent and Legal Affairs at the Greater Cleveland Food Bank. She provides advice and counsel to the President & CEO, as well as strategic oversight of the human resources, volunteer experience and compliance teams. Howard also leads the work to ensure diversity, equity and inclusion are strengths of the organization and serves as in house counsel engaged in legal affairs like contract review, labor & employment, and Board governance issues.

Howard is a resourceful and civic-minded community leader, passion- ate about service to others. She serves as an engaged member of the Lakeland Foundation Board of Directors; Our Hope Our Future Giving Circle; Jack and Jill of America, Inc., Erie Shores Chapter; Top Ladies of Distinction, Greater Cleveland Chapter; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Alpha Omega Chapter; and Western Reserve (OH) Chapter, The Links, Incorporated. She has been recognized for her experience and commitment to serve with several awards, including Ohio State Bar Foundation Statewide Community Service Award for Attorneys 40 and Under; 2021 Rising

Lindsey Lott

Birthing Beautiful Communities

llott@birthingbeautiful.org www.birthingbeautiful.org

Leadership Award from the NAACP Cleveland Branch; the 2021 President’s Award from the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association; 2021 Ruth T. Lucas Award from the Junior League of Cleveland.

She obtained her B.A. from the University of California at Irvine and received an M.A. and Certification in Diversity Management from Cleveland State University. She received her J.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Law. Howard is married to Karrie D. Howard, Esq. They have four children and live in South Euclid, Ohio.

What prompted you to choose a career in public service?

My parents are my inspiration for public service – both military veterans who have always had a heart for service. I stand on their shoulders as I aspire to have a successful career while helping others.

What are some challenges?

Not always having a roadmap to help me navigate to my chosen career path. What is your superpower? Discernment

What words of wisdom can you share? When there is no clear path – create your own.

At Birthing Beautiful Communities (BBC), Lindsey Lott works alongside the Chief Executive Officer, Advancement Officer, and Individual Giving Specialist to meet and exceed fundraising goals. She focuses on donor relations and communications by maintaining the donor management database. She also manages the gift acceptance, entry, and acknowledgment process, helping to foster an understanding of philanthropy at BBC in the community. Ultimately, these efforts allow BBC to continue making strides in realizing the vision to provide exceptional perinatal support, birth, and breastfeeding options to communities at risk for infant mortality in their communities.

What prompted you to choose a career in public service?

I started with BBC as a perinatal support doula in 2020, and during my service, I grew to love the mission and heavily identify with the work. Over time I went from wanting to advocate for mothers in the hospital room to en- suring BBC has the means to continue supporting their community by providing free services. When the opportunity arose to join the Development Team, I knew it was the best choice for me to further my public service. I am proud to work daily with such a fantastic team of powerful Black women and know we are truly making a difference in our community.

What are some challenges?

I am new to the development world and have little experience in the art of fundraising. Every day is a fast-paced environment with many moving parts and requires me to think critically and accurately. Storytelling in a way that informs but emotionally sits with a person is very difficult, but something I am excited to learn under the guidance of my coworkers.

What is your superpower?

I am very adaptable and willing to fit in where needed. In my position, change happens almost every hour, and you have to be able to pivot quickly and

Spread the Love Foundation info@spreadtheloveOH.com spreadtheloveoh.com

IG FB: spreadtheloveoh efficiently. Even through some chaotic days and last-minute changes, I have still gotten the job done.

What words of wisdom can you share? Being in a new position, regardless of your experience, can be stressful, especially in a smaller work environment. Being patient with yourself as you learn your organizational role is essential. Give yourself the grace to fail, ask for help, and always know you can try better tomorrow! The negatives or anxiety you feel during the first few months will slowly disappear, and you will look back in a year, hopefully, pleased with your growth.

Ossie Mae Neal is responsible for leading organizational development, branding and capacity building for Anthony “Krayzie Bone” Henderson’s 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization Spread the Love Foundation (STLF). She is also commissioned to build the Bone Thugs-N-Harmony Urban Arts District & Academy and the Ohio Hip-Hop Museum in Cleveland’s E. 99th Street & St. Clair Avenue neighborhood.

What prompted you to choose a career in public service?

I started my career in public service as a temp worker for former Mayor Michael R. White, quickly becoming Scheduler to the Mayor during his last office term. I served in several senior management positions for the City of Cleveland’s Department of Parks, Recreation & Properties, Division of Water Pollution Control and Department of Public Utilities. In 2016 I resigned from the City to launch my consult- ing firm OMC, Ltd., to assist small businesses with change management services. In 2020, I was approached by Anthony “Krayzie Bone” Henderson to launch Spread the Love Foundation.

What are some challenges?

My biggest challenges have been: Finding people with the time and skillsets to get the work done for a nonprofit startup that requires some serious heavy lifting; Becoming comfortable being the out-front leader alongside an internationally iconic, Grammy Award-winning artist; and, being a newcomer to the nonprofit industry— learning the ropes and relationship building.

What is your superpower?

My intuition.

What words of wisdom can you share? Pennies make dollars but crumbs don’t make a loaf of bread. Know the difference.

#ossieism

Brittany Randall-Pope

OhioGuidestone brittany.pope@ohioguidestone.org www.ohioguidestone.org

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ brittany-pope-6119b3b/

As the Assistant Vice President of applied clinical sciences and research at OhioGuidestone, one of Ohio’s largest community-based behavioral health organizations. Brittany Randall-Pope leads OhioGuidestone's center of excellence for research, training and advocacy, The Institute of Family & Community Impact. She engineers the translation of research and integration of clinical sciences and other applied disciplines into practical applications, advocacy, training and evidence-based practices and programs.

What prompted you to choose a career in public service?

Since I was a kid, I have always been a solution-focused person, needing answers to questions like: Why do Black Americans have greater health, economic and social disparities? Exploring sciences hardcore from middle school through undergraduate studies, I learned and accepted that the root causes of these disparities was due to social conditions- and operating as a public servant was one way to find, examine, and implement solutions across communities.

What are some challenges?

Three of my biggest challenges have been navigating as a young Black mother in spaces where I am often the only one with my intersection of identities; figuring out how to break economic strongholds such as stu- dent loan debt for myself and for my daughters’ futures while working in public service; and accepting that I do not have to figure out everything right now – or have to figure out everything period.

What is your superpower?

My daughters ask me this a lot, and my answer is being their mom. Growing up my mom, two grandmothers, and great-grandmother were my superheroes. So, I’ll continue to say that being a mom is my superpower, because it balances my strengths and weaknesses. I’m privileged to mother alongside an amazing husband and father of my girls, which demonstrates that I do not have to solve every problem and face hard times solo.

What words of wisdom can you share? Ask for and accept healthy help. Have a strong spiritual foundation. Get a good board of mentors and advisors to help guide you personally and professionally. Learn how and when to let go- work on mastering acceptance. Continually identify your values, and let them guide your decisions. Never dull your light, and never try to be someone elsebecause, then, who will be you? And lastly, always live with love, compassion for self and others, extend grace to yourself just as much as you extend it to others, and find a way to build joy into every day.

Abigail Thomas Birthing Beautiful Communities

athomas@birthingbeautiful.org https://www.birthingbeautiful. org/

As the Individual Giving Specialist for Birthing Beautiful Communities, Abigail Thomas, is responsible for planned giving. She works to further establish their individual giving program, increasing philanthropic support. She also plans and organizes major fundraising campaigns and events. Thomas builds impactful relationships to engage and retain donors.

What prompted you to choose your public service career?

I have always been passionate about learning and connecting to the stories of the people and places around me. Since I was a child, I understood that every person and thing have a story that landed us all here together on this planet and in this community, even if our lived experiences are not the same. For me, public service is just that. It's taking those stories – the beautiful, the ugly, the complex – and letting them drive my work. From all sides of the spectrum, we are building a better world and writing a better story.

What have been some of your challenges?

Being new to the fundraising world as a development professional, you learn quickly how fast paced it is. You are simultaneously managing multiple projects and initiatives and each day brings a new challenge and opportunity to pencil into the already complex workload. The job is multifaceted and each task, relationship, and endeavor whether big or small still requires the same level of attentiveness and attention to detail.

What is your superpower?

My superpower is my creativity. I am driven by the bigger picture and am energized by brainstorming and implementing new and unique ideas that can elevate our work and other's experience with our work. I love thinking from various perspectives and being a part of the thoughtful strategic planning that goes on behind the scenes to evoke a meaningful memory or connection to our mission.

What words of wisdom can you share?

You must get out of your own way. Your loved ones, mentors, peers, and strangers can all root for you, but until your inner voice is giving yourself that same love, respect, grace and acknowledgement, you will keep getting stuck.

To fully receive your blessings, you must first believe you deserve them. Learning to love and truly know each new version of yourself as you ebb and flow and soar throughout your life will elevate your mind, your potential, and your joy both professionally and personally. Tend often to the pieces and parts of yourself that are missing you and ask them what they need. You probably already have it all within you. You have what it takes to be whole and to do big things, and people see it. Make sure you are one of those people.

Delante S. Thomas, Esq.

City of Cleveland dthomas3@clevelandohio.gov www.mayor.clevelandohio.gov

Social Media: @DThomasEsq www.linkedin.com/in/dsthomas

As the City of Cleveland’s first-ever Chief Ethics Officer, Delante S. Thomas is responsible for fostering a culture of ethical conduct, upholding integrity, and promoting public trust. He serves as chief ethics advisor for the executive branch of government by providing advice and counsel on issues involving the application of ethics laws and policies to avoid misconduct and navigate conflicts of interest. In his role he develops and facilitates training, presentations, and other educational content/programs for elected City officials, vendors, and a workforce of over 8,000 employees to ensure compliance with ethics laws and to encourage ethical conduct. Thomas recommends new and strengthened policies, as needed to promote high standards of excellence, equity, efficiency, transparency, and effectiveness of city operations, services, and programs.

What prompted you to choose your public service career?

In everything I do, the goal is maximum impact. By working in government, I found the unique opportunity to grow my career and development professionally, all while bettering the community that I am a part of. I never thought I would end up in public service, despite everyone telling me I would since I was a child. So, while I did not quite seek out public service, it chose me, and I have not looked back.

What are some challenges?

As rewarding as public service is, it also brings significant challenges. Among those challenges are the lack of resources. Many public offices are understaffed, underfunded, and technologically limited which can lead to inefficiencies, restricted growth, and dips in morale. It can be tough navigating that space – particularly when you are surrounded by other extremely talented people who collectively could do more if we had more.

What is your superpower?

My superpower is empathy. More specifically, having the ability to connect with people, meet them where they are, and to help build them up. I have always thought myself to be an “influencer” before it was cool - the organizer and the one who can bring everyone together. Admittedly, I did not always embrace this superpower, but I have learned that when you work to understand yourself and can share the feelings of others, the world opens up to you in unimaginable ways.

What words of wisdom can you share?

Embrace challenges rather than shy away from them. Taking on challenges allows you to discover things about yourself and the world that you never really knew. They empower you to go beyond the norm and that is where you can make the most impact.