Lift Your Voice: Leading with Courage, Purpose, and Story
Posted in Announcements News Story
Join the Center for Public and Nonprofit Leadership on January 30th for Lift Your Voice: Leading with Courage, Purpose, and Story – a gathering of philanthropic and community partners to explore and showcase the power of storytelling in leading and driving social change.
Today’s volatile environment calls upon philanthropy and social sector leaders to lead with vision and purpose – providing a clear north star among all the uncertainty. In our urgency to respond to immediate community needs, we risk burying the lead, missing the story altogether, or underestimating the power of our voices, both individually and collectively, to center and protect the humanity of our work.
Communicating our collective vision takes courage and during the convening, we will showcase leaders who have been unafraid to use their voice to help shift narratives on issues ranging from mass incarceration, gun violence prevention, racial justice, and health equity.
Join us on January 30th at Georgetown University to:
- recognize, honor, and amplify philanthropic and community leaders who are using their voice to advance social justice;
- learn ways to create new narrative pathways and strategies for funding them; and
- join breakout sessions to explore specific storytelling tools.
This event is designed for leaders from the nonprofit and philanthropic sector who are interested in learning how to better leverage their voice, grantmaking dollars and organizational resources in promoting their mission, community partners, and sector as a whole.
Event Speakers
You will have the opportunity to engage with speakers, including:
- Michelle Alexander, author, New York Times columnist , and civil rights leader
- Bridgit Antoinette Evans, Chief Executive Officer, Pop Culture Collaborative
- Richard Besser, President and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
- Miguel A. Santana, President and CEO, California Community Foundation
- Rinku Sen, Executive Director, Narrative Initiative
- Clint Smith, award winning author, poet, and teacher
“Tools for Action” Breakout Sessions
Stop Burying the Lead: Storytelling Mistakes Nonprofits and Foundations Don’t Know They’re Making
Why do so many people misunderstand the power and impact of the philanthropic sector? Because even with earnest (and expensive) effort, we’re still struggling to tell a clear, compelling story—our story. In this candid, high-energy session, Emmy-winning storyteller and founding Senior Producer of CNN Heroes Michelle Génecé Patterson reveals the narrative missteps that make organizations sound generic or invisible—and how to fix them fast. Learn how funders and nonprofits can avoid flattening lived experience, center people over institutions, and craft stories that build trust, inspire action, and reflect real impact. Participants leave with sharper narrative instincts and practical tools they can bring back to their teams immediately.
Filmmaking for Truthtelling & Challenging the Status Quo
Explore how to use filmmaking to surface essential truths about your community and challenge the systems that shape it. Drawing on iF’s approach to impact-driven film projects, including Diminished Returns: The Black Wealth Gap in Washington, D.C. and the Let’s GO DMV! series, this session grounds participants in structural analysis, practical lessons learned, and real-world impact. It’s a primer for bringing film into your toolkit for change with greater clarity and confidence. The session will be lead by iF’s Co-CEOs and staff.
How to Finish a Book, Really: The Author as Changemaker
Bring your book idea and be ready to dive in! In this intimate and interactive conversation, hosted by award-winning author and social justice book coach Minal Hajratwala, you’ll learn the next steps for the book that’s burning inside you. We’ll discuss the specific challenges and opportunities for progressive authors in today’s publishing landscape and how to make your idea, whether fiction or nonfiction, stand out from the crowd. You’ll leave with at least one concrete next step toward birthing a book that will create joy, open hearts, and reshape our understanding of the world.
The Art of Op-Ed Writing
Got an opinion to share? Stop yelling at the TV and start writing! This session will help you develop the confidence and know-how to share your personal commentary with a broader audience. A well-crafted op-ed can help raise your profile, generate funds, and increase awareness of issues important to the communities you serve. You’ll learn about the do’s and don’ts of getting published and leave with tips to get your creative juices flowing. Write on!! The session will be lead by Judy Belk, the Center for Public and Nonprofit Leadership’s Waldemar A. Nielsen Philanthropy Fellow, former President & CEO of the California Wellness Foundation, and published writer and frequent contributor to The Los Angeles Times
Podcasting as a Tool for Social Change Story-Telling
In this breakout session, Sushma Raman will facilitate a discussion on podcasting as a tool for social change story-telling. Sushma conceptualized and launched a podcast that reached listeners in 184 countries–she identified innovative and creative themes, frames, interview approaches, and guest speakers; and translated complex topics into accessible and compelling frames for a global audience. You will learn about how to identify your framing, audience, and messages, and leave with some tools and resources that will inspire you to take action on your creative dreams!
Event Details
Location: McCourt School of Public Policy, 125 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20001
Date: Friday, January 30, 2026
Time: 8:00am (registration and light breakfast), program begins at 9:00am
Accommodations and Parking: Click here