The Hidden Power Dynamics Inside Nonprofits (and How to Use Yours)
Why do some people get labeled "passionate" for pushing back while others get called "aggressive" for the exact same behavior? This episode unpacks the privilege and power operating in nonprofit spaces, plus actionable ways to use whatever influence you have to create real change.
From boardrooms to program design meetings, power shapes every aspect of our work in ways we don't realize. We explore why "good intentions" don't protect you from harm, how white supremacy culture shows up as "professionalism," why brilliant ideas get ignored while others get praised, and what to do about it.
You'll learn how to:
- Recognize when "professionalism" is actually gatekeeping based on race and class
- Identify the power you hold even without a fancy title—and use it strategically
- Redirect credit and amplify voices that usually get ignored
- Call out bias without getting labeled as "difficult" or "divisive"
- Spot when you're benefiting from systems you claim to oppose
Featured Researchers: Paul Kivel, Patricia Hill Collins, Building Movement Project's Race to Lead research, Tema Okun, Kimberlé Crenshaw, Loretta Pyles, Frank Omowale Satterwhite, Göran McGonagill and Claire Reinelt, and INCITE! Women of Color Against Violence,
