Learn strategies and systems that support diverse nonprofit boards and leave with ideas to test out in your organization.
Having a board that shares diverse perspectives, expertise and characteristics is good for our organizations. When leadership includes our constituents, partners and community members, the board maintains deeper connection to the organization and the decisions being made. But, it’s not as simple as getting willing volunteers on your board. In this interactive session, you’ll hear about how one organization cultivates, recruits, onboards, supports and maintains a diverse board, through ups and downs that are a natural occurrence in non profit board engagement. You’ll hear about strategies and systems that support this effort, and leave with ideas to test out in your organization.
About the facilitators
Michele Russo (she/her) is YA’s President & CEO, holding in this role since 2015. Under her leadership, the organization has embraced a comprehensive Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access plan, Arts United, touching every aspect of programming, operations, and field leadership. Michele co-chaired the YA National Teaching Artist Credential project and has served on YA National board committees. During the COVID pandemic, Michele served on Governor Murphy’s Arts and Culture Recovery Working Group, and continues to play an important role as a Committee Member of ArtPrideNJ. Michele came to Young Audiences from The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, where she managed the Biennial Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival, welcoming thousands of high school students into poetry experiences. Prior to her time at the Dodge Foundation, she served as a Senior Education Associate at Young Audiences for 10 years, collaborating and managing long-term arts education initiatives in pre-school, elementary, and middle schools. Michele was a member of the LeadNJ class of 2014. She has published articles on early childhood education and the arts, has presented locally and nationally about non-profit equity strategy, and has traveled nationally as a trainer of arts education programs. She is a graduate of The College of New Jersey. Michele serves on the board of The NJ Center for Non-Profits.
Kerri Ann Munoz
Development Manager
Young Audiences Arts for Learning
Bio and headshot coming soon!