LeaderSpring Center

To close out 2024, the LeaderSpring team gathered in Oakland, CA -- to celebrate the work we've accomplished together. Over a shared lunch, we reflected on our work and honored our collective efforts. The event was made even more special with the presentation of an intentional and meaningful art piece by artist Dev Heyrana, which beautifully symbolizes the essence of our community and mission. Dev’s heartfelt note to the team: I am deeply honored to paint these pieces for you all, inspired by the incredible work you do. Being part of this is truly special, and I hope these reflect the care and dedication you bring to your community. Each piece begins with a white and cream base, crafted from hand-made acrylic paint infused with Siruma Kaolin Clay—a natural material from Siruma, Camarines Sur, in the Philippines. It took me two years to perfect this process, weaving my Philippine heritage into my abstract work. The light yellow you see in this piece consists of this Clay. I love that the last jar of this clay and paint mix will be going home with you. In 2023, I had the privilege of being chosen as one of the artists to paint SFGH's Mini Hearts for their 150th Anniversary. My daughters came home from school one day, with so much excitement about what they had learned, how California's Golden Poppies once blanketed Ohlone land. Their joy sparked my own research and reflection when sending in my proposal to SFGH. I have celebrated the poppies for 3 years now with SFGH Foundation. I am one of two Large Heart Artists of 2025 and it will be displayed at The Ferry Building from January through mid-February. The pieces you have in your hands are the inspiration that led me to the large heart. These native flowers have a circadian rhythm driven by a nyctinastic behavior—they open and close in response to light and temperature. My favorite bit I learned is that scientists still don’t fully understand when certain plants developed this ability, but they believe flowers learned to do this to protect their pollen, allowing the outer petals to grow and shelter the inner core. This idea—the balance between growth and protection—resonates deeply with me. When I think about poppies, I see a reflection of the people in my life who inspire me: fierce, delicate, protective, growing, thriving, and always learning. They are a reminder of resilience and beauty, blooming against all odds. Through these pieces, I hope to share this spirit with you, blending the warmth of heritage, the inspiration of nature, and the power of connection. Thank you for allowing me to be part of something so meaningful. -- Thank you, Dev, for this beautiful gift. As we look ahead to 2025, we're filled with anticipation for what the year will bring and how we can continue to show up for both our communities and the incredible team that drives our mission forward. Together, we'll embrace the challenges and opportunities that come our way with a deep commitment to our purpose.

📣 Join us tomorrow for #ThursdayTalks on December 5th at 12 PM PST! We’re excited to welcome Neva Walker, Life and Strategy Coach at IME Consulting and Coleman Advocates. Neva is also a valued member of our Advisory Council and a proud alumna of our Class of 2015 San Francisco fellowship. Don’t miss this upcoming conversation! About Neva: Neva Walker is a life and strategy certified coach. Her coaching business, IME is focused on supporting individuals and organizations through inspiration, motivation, and execution. In addition, Neva spent twelve years as the Executive Director of Coleman Advocates for Children and Youth, a member-led, multi-racial, intergenerational community organization working to build a city of hope, justice, and opportunity for all families in San Francisco. A long-time community organizer and political leader, Neva has decades of experience building power with impacted Black and Brown youth and families for racial justice, education justice, and criminal justice. Neva was born into an activist family in Minneapolis – her mother founded and ran the social service programs at Sabathani Community Center, which was located across the street from their family’s home, and whose legacy was honored by having their street named after her: Clarissa Rogers Walker Way. At age 28, Neva was the first Black woman elected to the Minnesota Legislature in state history; serving as a legislator for eight years, she centered training and including young people of color as leaders in every area of her work. Neva’s work at Coleman reflects her lifelong commitment to systems change through the leadership of Black and Brown students and their families through community organizing, strategy, coaching, advocacy, and civic engagement. Neva is also the former Executive Director of Coleman Action Fund, the 501(c)(4) sister of Coleman Advocates. Learn more about Coleman Advocates: https://lnkd.in/gbWnYS92

Empower Change: Join Us This Giving Tuesday!❤️ This #GivingTuesday, we invite you to come together in support of leaders who are redefining what's possible for our communities. These leaders face constant systemic barriers, resource scarcity, and burnout—all while working tirelessly to uplift those around them. By joining forces and putting our dollars toward this effort, we can create powerful shifts. Your gift helps us provide the vital support, resources, and collective care our leaders need to keep leading boldly and sustainably. Let’s invest in a future where we have a community of leaders who are empowered, supported, and united in their mission to create transformative change in our beloved communities. 🔗 Donate today: https://lnkd.in/gGfyvd4f

This Thanksgiving, we are filled with deep gratitude for all those who believe in our mission and support the work we do at LeaderSpring Center. A special thank you to the incredible Nonprofit and Social Sector Leaders who have been part of our fellowship program, the Funders whose generosity makes our work possible, and the Partners who collaborate with us to create lasting change. Your support allows us to continue empowering leaders who are doing the hard work on the ground to build stronger, more equitable and healthy communities. As Giving Tuesday approaches, we invite you to join us in continuing this important work. Your donation helps strengthen the leaders of tomorrow and ensures our programs can grow and thrive. Donate today: https://lnkd.in/gGfyvd4f

📣 Join us for #ThursdayTalks on November 21st at 12 PM PST! We’re honored to have LaShawn Routé Chatmon, Executive Director of National Equity Project, for an insightful discussion on her leadership journey. About LaShawn: LaShawn Routé Chatmon is the founding Executive Director of the National Equity Project, leading the organization’s transition from the Bay Area Coalition for Equitable Schools (BayCES). Under her leadership, the National Equity Project has become one of the leading voices in a movement to change the conversation and approach used to achieve racial equity in education. She previously served as director of the high school redesign initiative, where her team pioneered new school design processes, principal network development and site coaching that transformed educational experiences and outcomes for teachers and students in Oakland, CA. LaShawn earned a B.A. in political science from the University of California, Berkeley; a Masters of Arts in Teaching from Brown University; and an Administrative Credential from California State University, Sacramento’s Urban Leadership Program. Learn more about the National Equity Project: https://lnkd.in/gbtMVs54

Dive into the transformative power of healing as a cornerstone of justice and liberation at our upcoming event. Discover how nurturing both individual and collective healing enhances our well-being and drives meaningful change. 🔗 RSVP NOW: bit.ly/healingisjustice In the aftermath of the recent elections, the call for healing is louder than ever. We invite you to engage in an impactful dialogue that highlights the essential role of healing in fostering equity and justice. Together, we’ll examine how centering healing—of our hearts, minds, bodies, and communities—can lay the groundwork for personal and societal flourishing. What to Look Forward To: - Insights into the critical relationship between individual and communal healing and its impact on justice and liberation. - An exploration of the necessity of caring for our environment as a foundation for thriving communities. - A discussion on the influence of movement building on our collective well-being and the systems we create. - An introduction to holistic healing practices that extend beyond traditional methods. Event Details: 🗓 Date: November 20th, 2024 🕒 Time: 10 AM to 12 PM PST 📍 Location: Virtual via Zoom Ticket Information: 🎟 $25 - Ideal for students and early-career nonprofit professionals 🎟 $40 - Early bird general admission 🎟 $50 - General admission We invite you to choose a ticket that reflects your identity and capacity, as we strive to create an accessible and equitable experience for everyone. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, heal, and co-create a brighter future! Register today and join this essential conversation!

Dear LeaderSpring Community, The recent election highlights the deep work needed for a just and equitable future. In times of uncertainty, we must ground ourselves in community, resilience, and a shared vision for a better world. We believe that leadership rooted in love, collective care, and liberation is essential. We will continue to walk alongside our leaders, amplify their voices, and provide tools and resources to help them navigate the changes these results will bring, supporting them to continue their critical work in their communities. The work will be hard, and yet we will navigate this moment and work toward a future where equity, justice, and compassion are at the center of all that we do. We stand with our leaders—committed, hopeful, and ready for what lies ahead. In community and solidarity, The LSC Team

Explore the vital connection between healing and justice at our upcoming event. We’ll delve into how both individual and collective healing contribute to liberation and enhance our overall well-being. 🔗 RSVP HERE: bit.ly/healingisjustice In these post-election times, the need for healing is urgent. We invite you to take part in a meaningful conversation about the indispensable role of healing in achieving justice and equity. Together, we’ll uncover how prioritizing the healing of our hearts, minds, bodies, and communities can foster well-being at both personal and societal levels. What You’ll Gain: - Insights on the importance of individual and community healing for justice and liberation. - An understanding of why caring for our environment is essential for our community’s survival and growth. - Exploration of how movement building influences our well-being and the frameworks we establish. - An introduction to holistic healing practices that extend beyond traditional methods. Event Details: 🗓 Date: November 20th, 2024 🕒 Time: 10 AM to 12 PM PST 📍 Location: Virtual via Zoom Ticket Options: 🎟 $25 - Recommended for students and early-career nonprofit professionals 🎟 $40 - Early bird general admission 🎟 $50 - General admission We encourage you to select a ticket that reflects your identity and capacity, as we aim to create an equitable and inclusive experience for all. Don’t miss out on this chance to connect, heal, and envision a hopeful future together! Register now and be part of this crucial discussion!

Our friends at CompassPoint are offering a new online learning series for Black leaders that starts on Friday, Nov. 15th! 'How You Be?' Radical Visioning as Black Leaders is a three-part training that provides the time, spaciousness, peer support, and resources for Black people in leadership to grow their creativity and vision in order to reground in their purpose and increase their transformative impact on the organizations, communities, and movements they lead. For more info and to register: https://lnkd.in/dkbDrSBG

Our Class of 2023 Women of Color LeadStrong alum: Leah Kimble-Price, the Executive Director of BAWAR, shared their organization's announcement: #BAWARisBRAVE Updated Information on their Services and Availability at BRAVE Bay Area! Need more details? Give them a call during business hours at 510-430-1298 Información actualizada sobre nuestros servicios y disponibilidad en BRAVE Bay Area. ¿Necesita más detalles? Llámenos durante el horario comercial al 510-430-1298 Learn more: bawar.org