In this episode, Trenia Parham and David DeVaughn dive into the intricate dynamics of how non-Black Americans, people of color, and Blacks who did not grow up in predominantly Black communities experience and understand race and oppression. They explore personal stories, the impacts of anti-Blackness, and the complexities of solidarity within diverse communities. Trenia also shares her work with Sustainable Leadership Consulting and Coaching, helping women leaders recover from burnout and improving organizational culture.

00:00 - Introduction by Trenia Parham and David DeVaughn 02:13 - David shares his personal journey growing up in a white suburb and learning about Blackness 04:50 - Trenia discusses her strong sense of identity as a Black woman from the Midwest 10:05 - The shock of non-Black people using the N-word and cultural appropriation 12:35 - The diversity of the Black experience and the misconception of a monolithic Black culture 17:39 - The impact of African Americanness on solidarity and support within communities 21:23 - The proximity to whiteness and its influence on experiences of people of color 24:25 - Experiences with non-Black people of color in nonprofit spaces 31:41 - The global perspective on oppression and the focus on Palestine 37:34 - Reflections on the 2020 uprising for racial justice and its aftermath

• Trenia Parham https://www.treniaparham.com
• David DeVaughn's StrivEquity Consulting

Episode Description:

In this episode, Trenia Parham and David DeVaughn delve into the complex issue of classism within the nonprofit sector. They discuss how class disparities manifest in nonprofit organizations, impacting both the internal dynamics and the external work being done in communities. Trenia and David share personal experiences and insights into the often overlooked intersection of class and race in this field.

In This Episode:

[00:01] Introduction and overview of today's topic

[02:03] David's experience with classism growing up and in the nonprofit sector

[05:43] Trenia's background and perspective on class dynamics

[10:30] The impact of class assumptions on nonprofit work and solutions

[14:35] Organizational structure and class stratification

[19:45] Challenges of working in nonprofits with class disparities

[22:52] The role of funding and maintaining the status quo

[26:19] Class and salary dynamics within nonprofits

[30:26] Opportunities for ground-level staff to move up and decision-making roles

[32:36] Final thoughts and call to action for listener feedback

Episode Links:

• Are you a woman in leadership or founder that's depleted and exhausted? Join me for Rest. Reset. Reimagine. A virtual Retreat on Saturday, September 14, 2024. Click here to learn more and register.
• StrivEquity Consulting

Episode Description: In this episode, Trenia Parham and David DeVaughn delve into the phenomenon of white people failing upward in the nonprofit sector. They explore the dynamics and impact of this trend on Black staff and people of color, sharing personal experiences and strategies for navigating such challenging environments. The discussion highlights the disparity in how mistakes and failures are treated based on race, and the systemic issues that allow for such inequities to persist.

In This Episode:

• 00:00 - Introduction: Trenia and David introduce the episode's topic and share personal insights.
• 01:58 - Sustainable Leadership: Trenia discusses her company and its mission to help women leaders recover from burnout and work sustainably.
• 02:44 - White People Failing Upward: Trenia and David describe their experiences with white colleagues who are allowed to fail repeatedly and still advance.
• 06:13 - Latitude in Failure: The latitude given to white employees to experiment and fail without severe consequences.
• 08:49 - Impact on Black Staff: How these dynamics affect black employees and their career prospects.
• 14:27 - Organizational Dynamics: The subtle ways white people justify failures and shift blame.
• 20:20 - Coping Strategies: Trenia and David share strategies for navigating these challenging dynamics.
• 26:14 - Realigning Work: Practical advice for documenting roles and building relationships to mitigate the impact of incompetent leaders.
• 31:24 - Final Thoughts: The importance of re-evaluating your position in an organization that perpetuates these dynamics.

Episode Links:

• Are you experiencing burn out? Join Trenia for the Rest. Reset. Reimagine Retreat for women leaders & founders. Click here to learn more and register.
• StrivEquity Consulting
• Not 4 Prophets LinkedIn Page