JENISE TERRELL Named CEO Of Public Allies

MILWAUKEE, PRNewswire -- The Board of Directors of Public Allies, a nonprofit dedicated to social justice and racial equity, is honored to announce the appointment of Jenise Terrell to the position of CEO. Jenise brings over 25 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, community development, and leadership development to this role. Most of her career has been focused on leveraging national service as a vehicle to create pathways to leadership for marginalized and disenfranchised voices across the United States.

Ms. Terrell began her journey in servant leadership as a Public Allies AmeriCorps member herself in 1997. Throughout her more than 20 year history with Public Allies, Ms. Terrell has held several roles, including Ally mentor and supervisor, field operations leader, fundraising strategist, government relations lead, Executive Vice President of Program Strategy, and most recently, Interim CEO. By accepting this new role, Jenise Terrell becomes the first alumni and first Black woman to hold the CEO title at this organization that has included such powerful women leaders as Vanessa Kirsch, Public Allies co-founder and first CEO, and former First Lady Michelle Obama, founding Executive Director of Public Allies Chicago.

Ms Terrell has been serving as Interim CEO for the past six months, deftly navigating Public Allies through transition following an organizational restructure. Following the organization being called into account for operating in alignment with its values, Ms. Terrell has driven the effort to work with the board, staff, alumni, and key organizational partners to reimagine a vision for the future.

“In a time of increasing inequity and division across the country, Public Allies’ values-based leadership practice, our signature Ally Program, and our talented, mobilized alumni network are needed now more than ever. We have the leadership, network, passion, and programming in place to support that vision.” says Ms. Terrell. “Everyday, I have the privilege of working with an amazing group of driven leaders. My appointment to CEO is a reflection of their brilliance, and a reflection of the values that we hold so dear. It is the greatest honor of my life to serve at the helm of the organization that not only helped shape my own leadership, but has been responsible for launching the careers of thousands of noteworthy changemakers across our nation. I am enthusiastically committed to furthering the reach of our premise that leadership is an action to be taken, not just a position to be held.”

Over the course of its 30-year history, Public Allies has continued to transform lives and impact communities by choosing to see promise and potential in spaces where others see deficit. Centering the values of equity and proximate leadership, Public Allies has launched nearly 10,000 equity-centered and social justice-oriented leaders across sectors and across the country. With the rise in rhetoric that points to an increasingly divided nation, America needs the kinds of diverse, democratic leaders that Public Allies fosters. Public Allies’ mission is more relevant and critical now than ever before.

“Jenise Terrell so powerfully embodies the mission and values of Public Allies,” says Kanwar Singh, Chair of the Board of Public Allies. “Her appointment to this position represents a shift towards the alignment of our values with our practice. We can not help but recognize her as exactly the kind of leader our social justice movement needs today. We commit to walking the path alongside her and in support of her, and we extend our deepest gratitude to her for leading us into this next, exciting phase for Public Allies.”

Public Allies is a 501c3 national nonprofit committed to advancing social justice and racial equity by engaging and activating the leadership of all people. Our mission is to create a just and equitable society and the diverse leadership to sustain it. Since 1992, we have been a pioneer in recruiting and developing equity-focused change-makers. We have built a powerful network of more than 9000 proximate leaders who bridge races, ethnicities, socioeconomic levels, and cultures. Holding roles ranging from elected officials to heads of foundations and organizations, they reflect system re-designers, policy shapers, builders of inclusive cultures, and transformers of cultures – ones that accept, value, and view differences that we all bring to the table as strengths.

The PepsiCo Foundation and Doritos® SOLID BLACK® Invest in 16 Nonprofit Leaders for Black Changemakers Program

PURCHASE, N.Y., PRNewswire -- The PepsiCo Foundation and Doritos SOLID BLACK announced 16 Black nonprofit leaders selected for the 2023 Black Changemakers program, a program developed to uplift Black community leaders and amplify their bold voices to showcase the positive impact they are making. The nonprofit leaders selected for this year’s program represent organizations focused on education, youth development & mentorship, food insecurity, job training, financial literacy, and more.

Selected Black Changemakers will each receive a $50,000 grant, leadership development training with Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, which provides nonprofit professionals and volunteers with research-based education and training, and regular one-on-one fundraising coaching, software, and technical assistance from Network for Good, a Certified B Corporation software company that offers software and coaching for charities and nonprofit organizations.

Black nonprofit leaders are historically underrepresented. Black-led organizations generate 24 percent less in revenue than white-led organizations. The PepsiCo Foundation and Doritos SOLID BLACK are committed to elevating Black leaders who are driving change within their communities.

“Many Black community and non-profit leaders face roadblocks in gaining access to capital to start, sustain and/or scale up their work. In partnership with Doritos SOLID BLACK, the Black Nonprofit Changemakers program, seeks to narrow that gap and provide participants with the assets they need to not only survive but to adapt and thrive,” said C.D. Glin, President of the PepsiCo Foundation and Global Head of Philanthropy for PepsiCo. “We believe lasting impact is led by those with lived experiences in local communities. These Black nonprofit leaders are proximate to the issues their organizations are striving to address and closest to the Black communities we’re working to support more broadly.”

This program supports leaders with philanthropic capital, personal and professional leadership development, fundraising capabilities, impact measurement, and network building. Additionally, the program offers an opportunity to amplify the nonprofits’ mission to inspire and catalyze others to support their cause.

“We’re proud to continue our partnership with the PepsiCo Foundation to grow the SOLID BLACK initiative and take our support of Black Changemakers to another level,” said Stacy Taffet, senior vice president of marketing, Frito-Lay North America. “Doritos has long been a brand that champions bold self-expression and we’re honored to continue providing a platform and resources to the bold individuals who are inspiring change and having an impact on their communities.”

The program’s capacity-building support aims to fuel participants’ dedication to making bold, positive impacts in their communities and arm them with the resources they need to drive transformative, lasting change. Today’s announcement kicks off the year-long partnership with the Changemakers. Visit our website to learn more about the Black Changemakers program and for the latest updates.

“The Mays Family Institute on Diverse Philanthropy and The Fund Raising School are honored to have been selected to assist these 16 Black Changemakers, in partnership with the PepsiCo Foundation and Doritos SOLID BLACK, as they and their nonprofits create positive change in their communities. We look forward to sharing our expertise and proven practices to help these community leaders build upon and expand the leadership abilities they have already demonstrated,” said LaKoya Gardner, Director of Programs for the Mays Family Institute on Diverse Philanthropy. The Mays Family Institute on Diverse Philanthropy and The Fund Raising School are part of the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. The 2023 class of Black Changemakers includes:

Adrinda Kelly, BE NOLA

Alvin Irby, Barbershop Books

Antoinette Caroll, Creative Reaction Lab

Candice Brackeen, Lightship Foundation

Gabrielle Madison, Bonton Farms

Glen Providence, Hebni Nutrition Consultants

Jamila Trimuel, Ladies of Virtue

Jessica Johnson, The Scholarship Academy

Marvin Pierre, Eight Million Stories

Matt Stephenson, Code2College

Nikole Collins-Puri, TechBridge Girls

Phil Olaleye, Next Generation Men & Women

Quadrean Lewis-Allen, Youth Design Center

Dr. Tony Alleyne, Delaware College Scholars

Van Brooks, Safe Alternative Foundation for Education, Inc

William Jackson, Ph.D., Village of Wisdom