Candidate for President

Member since since 2017

Why are you running for this position? 

I am thrilled to be seeking the position of President for the 2025-2026 term. I am extremely energized by this era of Thursday Network. Having been in this organization for a decade now, I have seen many eras of Thursday Network, from leadership and membership changes to sustainable growth through a global pandemic. We are now facing unprecedented federal pushback and cultural shifts that are directly impacting the work we do and the people we serve. I am seeking the role of President to help guide Thursday Network through this season. 

I have the critical thinking, organizational and management skills to support the initiatives of GWUL and Thursday Network. In my experience as a political fundraiser and public policy manager, I have honed my ability to connect people and resources, and forecast and engage in public policy. These skills directly translate to the President’s role as liaison for Thursday Network and GWUL, NULYP, and other partners in The Movement.

The Movement is more than just an umbrella term for the work that we do. It’s forward thinking. It’s energetic. It has momentum. As we continue to push and advocate and move to meet the needs of our community in this moment, I am asking for your vote to steer Thursday Network forward. I would be honored to re-join the board and serve in this capacity. 

What qualifications do you possess that make you uniquely qualified for this position?

Experience is the name of the game. And I am grateful to be able to pull from a depth of experience in Thursday Network and National Urban League Young Professionals. 

Serving as Vice-President afforded me a different level of understanding of the time commitment, resources, and support Chairs and committees will need to be successful. I was able to to strike a balance between TN mainstays and innovation, be that events or operating procedures.

Prior to serving as Vice-President, I served for two years as fund development chair following a 3 year vacancy of the position. I have experience building, leading, and maintaining a committee so I’m able to better support the board in that capacity.

I already have a working relationship with the CEO and CFO. I also have a host of social and political connections with organizations in and around DC that I am willing to leverage in support of our goals.

What initiatives would you implement if selected for this position?

The President is responsible for bridging Thursday Network and GWUL, and TN and NULYP. I want to make sure that this vin diagram becomes a circle in support of those we serve. I am committed to seeing that our programming and partnerships arm our members and broader community with information they need to be successful contributors in all areas of the Urban League. 

Some initiatives I would like to implement include: 

• A biannual scorecard where we can look at the goals of our organization and intentional tracking where we are on those goals. 
  
• Develop a leadership development program where members can learn more about Urban League leadership and develop their personal leadership skills as well. 
  
• Prioritizing intentional and impactful partnerships to support the organization and its members in terms of financial resources, networking opportunities, and career development programming. 
  

If selected for this position, describe how you would use your role to impact on the Thursday Network, the Greater Washington Urban League, and the National Urban League Young Professionals?

If elected as President, I want to leave the organization stronger and more connected than I found it. I want to support the inaugural Advisory Board in their role as the voice of TN on the GWUL board, and deepen our work as strategic partners with our affiliate. I want to work more closely with our sister chapters, particularly those at in the Eastern Region, to partner on leadership development and civic engagement opportunities to offset the economic and political uncertainties we’re facing that are unique to this region. I want to closely align with NULYP President Litt’s organizational priorities of community, commitment, cultivation and culture. 

How much time can you commit to this position per month? 

10-20 hours