As a nonprofit executive with 25 years of diverse experience developing effective programs, systems, resources, and relationships, I provide innovative, values-driven leadership to help individuals, organizations, and communities thrive. Coming of age in semirural Maine, I turned to books about Harlem for cultural affirmation, political insight, and identity formation. Thanks to our school librarian, the ideas, struggles, and victories of visionary Harlemites detailed in The Autobiography of Malcolm X, in James Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time, and in poetry by Langston Hughes, to name a few, inspired my ethics of service, leadership, and justice, and deepened my faith. I yearned to be part of that tradition. Today, 20 years into my own Harlem / NYC saga, I continue to draw guidance and inspiration from both ancestral wisdom and contemporary leading lights as I invest myself in creating a brighter collective future.Those investments are backed by deep personal, professional, and civic experiences. I know firsthand how an outstanding program, service, or institution can improve one’s life chances, especially for those whose families struggle to get by. I also understand that good programs, like good works by individuals and individual organizations, are insufficient; advancing from getting by to fulfilling our promise and potential requires systemic, stakeholder-centered change and collaboration. Integrating program design with systems thinking, I fuel transformation and impact through public engagement, organizational development, strategic partnerships, action research, and advocacy.  On a personal note, I aspire to live my life like a Stevie Wonder album (classic period). I also love chatting with folks about recent reads and the books that changed their lives. Drop me a line if you need a good book rec or have a gem to recommend.