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BLK ED Network

@blkednetwork

Narrowing the racial leadership gap for Black Nonprofit Executive Directors

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✨ We’re Off to an Amazing Start!

On October 24, we kicked off our 2nd cohort of the BLK Leadership Accelerator with a retreat at The Cube! The day was full of excitement, inspiration, and connection as we welcomed our new group of leaders ready to make a big impact.

Thank you to Fulton Bank for sponsoring this retreat and to our incredible partners, T. Rowe Price Foundation, West Baltimore Renaissance Foundation (WBRF), and BGE, for their ongoing support.

We also want to give a special shout-out to our facilitators, the BLK ED Network board, our dedicated mentors, and everyone who joined us. Your support made this launch unforgettable and set the tone for an amazing year ahead.

Here's to a year of growth, learning, and empowering Black executive directors!

Video Credits:
@creativemindzproductionzllc
Creative Mindz Productionz

#BLKLeadershipAccelerator #Leadership #Community

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2 years ago

On June 4th, 2024, we marked a milestone with the closing ceremony of the 2023-2024 BLK Leadership Accelerator program. The heartfelt reflections shared by our inaugural cohort were profoundly moving and reinforced the core mission that led to the founding of the BLK ED Network. Back in 2016, our Founder & Executive Director, Jade Nicole Neverdon Merritt, identified a significant gap in support for Black leaders. This observation inspired the creation of the BLK ED Network in 2021, aimed at bridging the racial leadership gap, promoting inclusion and diversity, and developing solution-based models to challenge cultural biases.

We are deeply appreciative of the support from our partner organizations who joined us during the ceremony: the West Baltimore Renaissance Foundation (WBRF), Maryland Nonprofits, and the Elbow Fund.

📅 Missed out last year? There’s still a chance to join us! Applications for the 2024-2025 cohort of the BLK Leadership Accelerator are now open until August 31, 2024, with classes starting on October 22, 2024. Nonmembers are welcome to apply, and we are offering scholarships to eligible Black executive directors. The upcoming program offers advanced lessons and opportunities for personalized coaching/mentorship with industry leaders, now available in a hybrid format for greater accessibility.

Visit our website at www.theblackednetwork.org or click the link in our bio to learn more about how you can be part of this transformative journey.

Video Credits:
@creativemindzproductionzllc
Creative Mindz Productionz

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2 years ago

"We all have a seat at the table, but are the portion sizes on our plates equal?"

Back in 2020, Jade Nicole Neverdon Merritt (@charmcitypretty), our Founder & Executive Director, spotted a gap in support for Black-led nonprofits. She envisioned a space where leaders could grow stronger together.

That vision became the BLK ED Network - a way of ensuring that every black leader not only has a seat at the table but also enjoys a full plate of opportunities.

In a bid to elevate the experience and opportunities for our members, BLK ED Network has proudly launched the BLK Leadership Accelerator Program. A passion project by Jade and our board member and programming expert, Jania Massey (@dearjania). This program is a response to the yearning for growth, community, and support among Black-led nonprofits. A year of planning led us to a powerful beginning on October 24th. Our first group of leaders gathered, eager to share, learn, and strengthen their skills.

Want to be part of transformative experiences like this? Join the BLK ED Network and unlock access to member-exclusive benefits, including our Leadership Accelerator.

Discover how you can lead the change at www.theblackednetwork.org

Video Credits:
@inkwellrecordingstudios
Inkwell Recording Studios

#BLKEDNetwork #BLKLeadershipAccelerator #LeadershipDevelopment

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3 years ago

HERstory Matters: Rooted in Power, Not Permission.

This recap captures moments from an evening where Black women nonprofit leaders came together to engage in honest conversation about what it means to lead in today’s climate. Across the sector, leaders are navigating shifting funding priorities, increased community need, and growing expectations while continuing to build and sustain organizations that communities rely on.

The conversation reflected real experiences, balancing responsibility, protecting mission, and finding ways to stay grounded while leading through uncertainty. It also created space for connection, shared perspective, and the kind of dialogue that doesn’t always happen publicly but is necessary for leadership to move forward.

We are grateful to our featured speakers:
Dr. Nia Imani Fields, Executive Director, GreenLight Fund Baltimore
Dana Cole, Executive Director, Impact Hub Baltimore
Geri “Coach G” McCarter, Founder & Executive Director, Coach G Academy, Inc.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to the energy in the room. This work continues beyond the convening.

📍 Stem & Vine | Baltimore, MD
🎥 Video: Inkwell Recording Studios | @inkwellrecordingstudios

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4 months ago

Last week at HERstory Matters, our Executive Director, Dana Cole, joined a powerful conversation with @greenlightfund & @coachgstepislife centered on leadership, growth, and what it truly takes to sustain our communities

We’re grateful to @blkednetwork for creating space for these moments and for bringing together leaders committed to meaningful impact! 💛

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4 months ago

Come w me to meet the top funders in baltimore. Casey Foundation, France-Merrick Foundation, Hoffberger Family Philanthropies, Robert W Duetsch Foundation, Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, the Glow Forward Foundation, Straus Foundation, Green Light Fund, Respond to Grace Foundation, and Equity Project Foundation. #foundergirly #womanceo #501c3 #grants #nonprofit

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5 months ago

Learning about executive presence was one of the best things I could’ve done as a founder!

Shoutout to the Black Executive Director network @blkednetwork for this incredible leadership accelerator🥂

I had literally never been to The Center Club before and who knew the view was insane like that!! Maybe better than Bygone tbh

#foundergirly #entrepreneur #womanceo #executive

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6 months ago

✨ A Powerful Beginning to the Year Ahead

On Friday, January 23, we gathered at The Vessel to kick off the BLK Leadership Accelerator Class of 2025–2026 with an immersive retreat centered on connection, reflection, and leadership grounding. The day created space for cohort members to build relationships, share experiences, and step into this journey together with intention.

We’re grateful to Fulton Bank (@fulton.bank) for sponsoring the retreat and helping make this moment possible. Their support continues to play an important role in creating meaningful spaces for Black nonprofit leaders to connect and grow.

Thank you to our facilitators, mentors, board members, and everyone who contributed to making the day impactful. This retreat set the tone for a year rooted in learning, accountability, and collective leadership.

We’re excited for what’s ahead.

Video Credits: Inkwell Recording Studios @inkwellrecordingstudios

#BLKLeadershipAccelerator #BLKEDNetwork #NonprofitLeadership #BlackLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment

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6 months ago

Episode 021: Measuring What Matters: A Leader’s Guide to Meaningful Change with Franklyn Baker is Now Streaming on Spotify & YouTube!

This episode of the Dear BLK ED Podcast features Franklyn Baker, President and CEO of United Way of Central Maryland. Franklyn shares how he’s led culture shifts, scaled impact across Baltimore City and five surrounding counties, and stayed anchored in community voice while guiding a complex regional organization through changing funding and policy conditions.

In this conversation, Franklyn talks about leading “one level up” before you’re titled there, building a strong internal culture that people can actually feel, and pairing trust with real accountability systems. He breaks down how United Way tracks outcomes (housing stability, school stability, income gains), how leaders can make hard calls to pause or sunset programs when results are off track, and how nonprofits can stand out in a crowded ecosystem by sharpening their value proposition, reporting impact clearly, and cultivating younger donors with strategies that match how they engage today.

If you’re a nonprofit leader, board member, or funder, this conversation will challenge you to rethink what it means to lead with clarity, humility, and purpose, especially when the stakes are high and the mission is bigger than you.

Listen now on Spotify (link in bio) and YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BLKEDNetwork/podcasts

This marks our final episode of the year. Thank you for listening, learning, and building alongside us throughout 2025. Stay tuned for new conversations, new voices, and continued reflection when the Dear BLK ED Podcast returns in 2026.

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7 months ago

Episode 020: Mission in Motion — Leading with Purpose featuring Derryck Fletcher is Now Streaming on Spotify & YouTube!

This episode of the Dear BLK ED Podcast features Derryck Fletcher, Chief Operating Officer of The Y in Central Maryland, a charitable organization serving more than 145,000 members. Derryck oversees a wide range of impact areas, from youth development and workforce readiness to community health, food access, and social responsibility, while helping the Y operationalize its mission at scale.

In this conversation, Derryck talks about faith-driven leadership, purpose in motion, and what it takes to guide people and systems with integrity. He opens up about the lessons learned from dissolving a nonprofit, navigating board dynamics, balancing growth with mission, and centering community voice in every decision.

If you’re a nonprofit leader, board member, or funder, this conversation will challenge you to rethink what it means to lead with clarity, humility, and purpose, especially when the stakes are high and the mission is bigger than you.

Listen now on Spotify (link in bio) and YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BLKEDNetwork/podcasts

Follow and subscribe to the Dear BLK ED Podcast for more stories amplifying Black leadership, equity, and community impact.

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8 months ago

🎙️ Episode 019: The Capacity Code: Accelerating Leaders & Communities with Jania Massey is Now Available on Spotify & YouTube! 🎙️

This episode of the Dear BLK ED Podcast features Jania Massey, Founder & ED of Stiletto Boss University, CEO of Huepact, and Program Director of the BLK Leadership Accelerator. Jania bridges business strategy and social good, having equipped 1,000+ young women with entrepreneurship, mentorship, and leadership skills while helping organizations design community-centered programs that actually move the needle.

Inside the episode, Jania traces her path from healthcare consulting to youth development and capacity building, then breaks down what capacity really takes: clear goals, honest limits, consistent habits, and an equity lens. We get into leading with confidence, making smart pivots in a tight funding climate, and designing earned-revenue and curriculum that solve real problems. She shares on-the-ground metrics and offers practical tools for building systems that support people without losing the mission.

If you’re an ED, program lead, board member, or funder, this convo will leave you with plug-and-play strategies to strengthen teams, prove outcomes, and sustain impact.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify (link in bio) and YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BLKEDNetwork/podcasts Follow us and subscribe to the newsletter so you never miss what’s next! ✨

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9 months ago

✨ What a Restorative Day

On September 26 at Vessel, Baltimore Peninsula, we gathered nonprofit leaders for Rooted in Restoration, a full-day experience of movement, reflection, nourishing food, and real connection. The room felt grounded, focused, and ready for the work ahead.

Leaders took time to slow down, reconnect with themselves, and build community with peers who carry similar responsibilities. This gathering was a powerful reminder that caring for ourselves is part of how we lead well.

🎥 Video by @inkwellrecordingstudios

#BLKEDNetwork #BLKEDRootedinRestoration #NonprofitLeadership #LeadershipWellness #SocialImpact #LeadershipDevelopment #EventRecap #BaltimoreEvents

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10 months ago