The R.A.C.E. Podcast

Welcome to Episode 6 of Season 3 of The R.A.C.E. Podcast. Today I am in conversation with Robert Raben, President and Founder of The Raben Group. Robert is a dynamic individual with a heart that matches his passion for his work. There are many jewels and “odes to the greats” within our conversation and I really hope that it is one that leave you inspired to continue in action. A special thank you to Robert for his work and his time.

Meet Robert Raben:

Robert is a “strategist's strategist” on a lifelong mission to inject humanity, common sense, equity, and justice into the fabric of American politics and culture. Since its founding in 2002, Raben has grown to include a diverse team of 100+ experts, consultants, activists, and communicators working tirelessly to change the faces of power in public policy, media, education, business, philanthropy, the arts, and more.

With decades of experience as an attorney, senior Hill staffer, and assistant attorney general, Robert easily navigates legal subtleties and powers through political realities. Robert was the first openly gay man to receive Senate confirmation, and to lead in a law enforcement agency. 

Beyond his work with the firm, Robert has served on the boards of game-changing entities, including The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, NRDC, the UnidosUS Action Fund, President Barack Obama’s My Brothers’ Keeper Alliance. the American Constitution Society, the Alliance for Justice, the Iraqi Refugee Assistance Project, the Mississippi Center for Justice, and more.

As a serial NGO entrepreneur, Robert has started initiatives impacting the leadership of our country, including Friends of the Museum of the American Latino, the March on Washington Film Festival, and Green 2.0. Robert hails from Miami and holds degrees from the Wharton School and the New York University Law School.

Listen in as Robert shares:

• How his identities, particular his identity as Jewish shape him and inform his work
• What Racial Equity means 
• What keeps him anchored and whom are his sources of support
• Why he created the Raben Group and his vision for the firm
• What he wants folks to know, do, or feel, in this work
• And more

Connect with Robert Raben:

• Website: The Raben Group
• LinkedIn: Robert Raben
• TedTalk: Battle Soldiers: Telling the Truth About Civil Rights History

Hi listener! Please take our short Listener Survey HERE to give The R.A.C.E. Podcast team feedback on the show. We will use the feedback to inform how we approach conversations in the future. Upon completion, you will be entered in our quarterly drawing for a $100 Visa gift card! Your email address will only be used for this purpose. Thanks in advance - we appreciate your feedback.

Connect with Keecha Harris and Associates:

• Website: https://khandassociates.com/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/keecha-harris-and-associates/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/khandassociates
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCukpgXjuOW-ok-pHtVkSajg/featured

Connect with Keecha:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keechaharris/

Welcome to Episode 5 of Season 3 of The R.A.C.E. Podcast. Today I am honored to be in conversation with Carmen Rojas, President and CEO of Marguerite Casey Foundation. Our intimate and rich conversations shine a light on the humanity and community aspect of the work we do and the importance of keeping the community connection and the people at the center. I am truly humbled through our conversation and want to extend a special thank you to Carmen for her journey, her spirit, and her life’s work.

Meet Carmen Rojas:

Dr. Carmen Rojas is the president and CEO of Marguerite Casey Foundation. Under her leadership, the foundation launched the prestigious Freedom Scholar award, committed to ensuring that a majority of MCF’s endowment is overseen by diverse managers, and since starting in 2020 granted more than $130M in funding to dozens of organizations doing the hard work of shifting power to those people who have long been excluded from having it.

Prior to MCF, Dr. Rojas was the co-founder and CEO of The Workers Lab, an innovation lab that partners with workers to develop new ideas that help them succeed and flourish.

For more than 20 years, she has worked with foundations, financial institutions, and nonprofits to improve the lives of working people across the country. 

Dr. Rojas sits on the boards of Nonprofit Quarterly, Blue Ridge Labs, and San Francisco Federal Reserve's Community Advisory Council as well as the  Confluence Racial Equity Initiative Advisory Committee. She was also recently named one of the “50 Most Powerful Women in U.S. Philanthropy,” by Inside Philanthropy.

She holds a PhD in city and regional planning from UC Berkeley and was a Fulbright Scholar in 2007.

Listen in as Carmen shares:

• Her core identities and how they inform how she leads in the world
• What Racial Justice means and how it is often misinterpreted
• What self care looks like for her in the context of collective well-being
• What she is most excited about in terms of the results of her work
• What advice she would have for her younger self
• And more

Connect with Carmen Rojas:

• Website: Marguerite Casey Foundation
• LinkedIn: Carmen Rojas

Hi listener! Please take our short Listener Survey HERE to give The R.A.C.E. Podcast team feedback on the show. We will use the feedback to inform how we approach conversations in the future. Upon completion, you will be entered in our quarterly drawing for a $100 Visa gift card! Your email address will only be used for this purpose. Thanks in advance - we appreciate your feedback.

Connect with Keecha Harris and Associates:

• Website: https://khandassociates.com/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/keecha-harris-and-associates/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/khandassociates
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCukpgXjuOW-ok-pHtVkSajg/featured

Connect with Keecha:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keechaharris/

Welcome to Episode 4 of Season 3 of The R.A.C.E. Podcast. Today I am delighted to be in conversation with Stephanie McLemore Bray, Founder of Touchstone Leadership Group. This conversation is filled with depth and beauty around showing up fully and authentically within the Philanthropic space and beyond. Although we have only been in community a short time, our connection runs deep, and I am truly honored to share the space and this time with Stephanie.

Meet Stephanie McLemore Bray:

Stephanie McLemore Bray has 35+ years of experience working in the government and nonprofit sectors to secure justice, resources, and access to opportunity. She has held leadership roles in higher education, healthcare, and human services organizations. As a fundraiser, she has raised over $300M through annual appeals and capital campaigns. 

Stephanie has written about philanthropy and is a frequent lecturer on strategic philanthropy. She serves on the board of Orchid Capital Collective, an impact investing firm centering community-owned solutions to transform birth and reproductive care; Pacific University of Oregon’s advisory committee for the masters in nonprofit leadership program; and the Hurston/Wright Foundation that discovers mentors, and honors black writers. Stephanie is a graduate of Rutgers University’s Douglass College, an institution founded and centered in shaping minds about justice and power. She’s also a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management.

Listen in as Stephanie shares:

• Her identities and how they have impacted how she leads on Race
• Her identity as a Writer and its impact on her work and her life
• Her thoughts and experiences as a “unicorn” in being a Fundraiser in the world of Philanthropy
• How she views racial equity and its role in the world
• The role and importance of grace and empathy
• And so much more

Connect with Stephanie McLemore Bray:

• Website: Touchstone Leadership Group
• LinkedIn: Stephanie McLemore Bray

Hi listener! Please take our short Listener Survey HERE to give The R.A.C.E. Podcast team feedback on the show. We will use the feedback to inform how we approach conversations in the future. Upon completion, you will be entered in our quarterly drawing for a $100 Visa gift card! Your email address will only be used for this purpose. Thanks in advance - we appreciate your feedback.

Connect with Keecha Harris and Associates:

• Website: https://khandassociates.com/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/keecha-harris-and-associates/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/khandassociates
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCukpgXjuOW-ok-pHtVkSajg/featured

Connect with Keecha:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keechaharris/

Welcome to Episode 3 of Season 3 of The R.A.C.E. Podcast. Today’s conversation is with a fellow consultant and colleague, Jeff Bradach, Co-Founder of Bridgespan. Our discussion is filled with new knowledge and connection points and centers around the importance of ….. in the world of Philanthropy. A special thank you to Jeff for his time, work, and colleagueship.

Meet Jeff Bradach:

Jeff Bradach is co-founder and former managing partner of The Bridgespan Group. In this role he leads the organization's strategy and mission for accelerating social impact. He works directly with foundations, philanthropists and nonprofit organizations to help them scale the programs that work. Jeff writes, teaches, and speaks extensively on topics relating to nonprofit strategy, business planning, and philanthropy.

Prior to establishing The Bridgespan Group, Bradach taught at Harvard Business School, where he was a member of the Organizational Behavior and the Social Enterprise Initiative faculty. Jeff began his career at Bain & Company. He is a graduate of Stanford University, elected Phi Beta Kappa, and completed his master's in sociology and PhD in organizational behavior at Harvard University. He serves on several nonprofit boards, including the board of directors for Independent Sector.

Listen in as Jeff shares:

• His identities and how they impact how he shows up in the world
• How his identity as a trained Academician has influenced his journey
• How he challenges himself to go deeper
• What he would like folks to know, do, and feel in the Philanthropic space, and more

Connect with Jeff Bradach:

• Website: Bridgespan
• LinkedIn: Jeff Bradach

Hi listener! Please take our short Listener Survey HERE to give The R.A.C.E. Podcast team feedback on the show. We will use the feedback to inform how we approach conversations in the future. Upon completion, you will be entered in our quarterly drawing for a $100 Visa gift card! Your email address will only be used for this purpose. Thanks in advance - we appreciate your feedback.

Connect with Keecha Harris and Associates:

• Website: https://khandassociates.com/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/keecha-harris-and-associates/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/khandassociates
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCukpgXjuOW-ok-pHtVkSajg/featured

Connect with Keecha:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keechaharris/

Welcome to Episode 2 of Season 3 of The R.A.C.E. Podcast. On this episode we are joined by David McGhee, Chief Executive Officer of The Steve Fund. We discuss the role of humanity and philanthropy not only in our work but throughout our lives. This conversation left me with many gems and I hope that it resonates with you.  A special thank you to David McGhee for his time, work, and passion.

Meet David McGhee:

David R. McGhee is an experienced change agent and servant leader in the non-profit, government, higher education, and philanthropic sectors. He is dedicated to empowering marginalized communities and strongly advocates for the well-being of children, youth, families, and communities. 

McGhee has held leadership roles in prominent organizations such as The Schultz Family Foundation and The Skillman Foundation and has designed, developed, and delivered strategies, programs, and initiatives at the national and local levels. He is known for his ability to execute organizational development and change efforts effectively and inspire teams to achieve significant results. 

McGhee’s commitment to service is reflected in his involvement in various national boards and committees and his role as an adjunct professor at Oakland University and Mott Community College. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Oakland University and a master’s from Central Michigan University.

Listen in as David shares:

• How his identities and values impact how he leads on Race
• How he deals with success and struggle
• The people that support and inspire him
• How he lives (not only works) a life of philanthropy
• What he would like folks to know, do, and feel in this work
• And so much more

Connect with David McGhee:

• Website: The Steve Fund
• LinkedIn: David McGhee

Hi listener! Please take our short Listener Survey HERE to give The R.A.C.E. Podcast team feedback on the show. We will use the feedback to inform how we approach conversations in the future. Upon completion, you will be entered in our quarterly drawing for a $100 Visa gift card! Your email address will only be used for this purpose. Thanks in advance - we appreciate your feedback.

Connect with Keecha Harris and Associates:

• Website: https://khandassociates.com/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/keecha-harris-and-associates/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/khandassociates
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCukpgXjuOW-ok-pHtVkSajg/featured

Connect with Keecha:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keechaharris/

Welcome to the first episode of Season 3 of The R.A.C.E. Podcast. Today I am honored to be joined by my dear friend and mentor, Ishmael Tetteh. Our conversation is centered around unity and the importance of knowing that “you are not meant to go at it alone.” This wise advise has grounded me in my work and I hope that you are able to leave our conversation inspired and full. A special thank you to Ishmael Tetteh for his time, wisdom, and eternal guidance.

Meet Brother Ishmael Tetteh:

Brother Ishmael Tetteh is a Spiritual Master, whose international presence and message of World Peace over the past 35 years has empowered thousands of lives from Africa, to Germany, to the UK, and now the United States.

As Founder and Spiritual Director of the Etherean Mission in Ghana, a trans-denominational metaphysical organization dedicated to self-awareness and study of the natural sciences, Brother Ishmael’s charismatic presence has graced the podiums around the world. Brother Ishmael has published over twenty books including the “The Way Forward,” eighteen principles to radically change your way of thinking, living and being to bring about a life of harmony, peace and success and “Inspired African Mystical Gospel,” a rediscovery of lost treasures within African mystical and cultural practices. He has also developed tools and seminars for stimulating creativity, mental and emotional cleansing and self-healing. 

Those who know Brother Ishmael enjoy the magnificence of his spirit and warm, loving presence. His truths are filled with divine wisdom and healing, which move people deeply and bring about profound transformations.

Listen in as Brother Ismael shares:

• The power of identity and its connection to unity and oneness
• How his identities have impacted the ways he leads on mindset and spirituality
• The intricacies of level setting each other's humanity while leading on race at work
• The role of spirituality and ancient wisdom in philanthropy’s racial equity transformation
• What he wishes for listeners to know, do, or feel as they live into the true meaning of philanthropy – the love of all humankind

Connect with Brother Ishmael Tetteh:

• Website: Bro. Ishmael Tetteh - Ethereanlife
• Facebook: Ishmael Tetteh | Facebook

Hi listener! Please take our short Listener Survey HERE to give The R.A.C.E. Podcast team feedback on the show. We will use the feedback to inform how we approach conversations in the future. Upon completion, you will be entered in our quarterly drawing for a $100 Visa gift card! Your email address will only be used for this purpose. Thanks in advance - we appreciate your feedback.

Connect with Keecha Harris and Associates:

• Website: https://khandassociates.com/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/keecha-harris-and-associates/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/khandassociates
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCukpgXjuOW-ok-pHtVkSajg/featured

Connect with Keecha:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keechaharris/

Welcome to the final episode of the 2nd season of The R.A.C.E. Podcast. Today we are switching things up and are humbled to bring you the journey of our host and founder of Keecha Harris and Associates, Keecha L. Harris. A special thanks to Erika Seth-Davies for facilitating this conversation.

Meet Keecha L. Harris:

Keecha Harris is president and CEO of Keecha Harris and Associates, Inc (KHA), a US Small Business Administration 8(a) certified firm. KHA leads organizational development, project management, and evaluation projects for publicly and privately funded efforts. The firm has worked with grantmaking organizations with assets exceeding $340 billion.

Among current efforts, Dr. Harris balances a portfolio that includes environmental, reproductive, economic mobility, and leadership development projects. Clients include the Robert Wood Johnson, AARP, William and Flora Hewlett, Schmidt Family, Bill and Melinda Gates, Open Society, and Energy foundations as well as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Wells Fargo. The firm has also been retained by clients to facilitate power-differentiated stakeholders in processes framed to redress racial inequities.

Dr. Harris is the thought leader and founder of the InDEEP Initiative and the Presidents’ Forum, KHA’s signature leadership development offerings on racial and ethnic equity. Her writing has been published in The Chronicle of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Quarterly.

She is a distinguished alumna of both Iowa State University and the University of Alabama at Birmingham, from which she was awarded each institution’s highest awards.  She serves on the board of directors of Orchid Capital Collective.

Listen in as Keecha shares:

• Her identities and how she shows up in the world
• When race and racial equity became core to the work she does
• How she found herself in the consulting business and the moment she decided on her business name
• How giving herself permission became one of her greatest opportunities and lessons
• How she takes care of herself and her networks of support and inspiration

Hi listener! Please take our short Listener Survey HERE to give The R.A.C.E. Podcast team feedback on the show. We will use the feedback to inform how we approach conversations in the future. Upon completion, you will be entered in our quarterly drawing for a $100 Visa gift card! Your email address will only be used for this purpose. Thanks in advance - we appreciate your feedback.

Connect with Keecha Harris and Associates:

• Website: https://khandassociates.com/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/keecha-harris-and-associates/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/khandassociates
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCukpgXjuOW-ok-pHtVkSajg/featured

Connect with Keecha:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keechaharris/

Welcome to Episode 16 of the 2nd season of The R.A.C.E. Podcast. Today’s episode is a continuation of our Race, Healing, & Joy Series. During this series, I will engage Reproductive Justice leaders to spotlight KHA's Race, Healing & Joy initiative and share preliminary insights gathered through more than 40 conversations (including interviews, circles of accountability, and an in-person convening).

I am honored to share space with Elise Belusa of Tara Health and Tenesha Duncan of Orchid Capital Collective on today’s episode.

Meet Elise Belusa and Tenesha Duncan:

Elise Belusa Elise Belusa is the Chief Operating Officer for Tara Health. She leads strategy and investments within the Reproductive Health portfolio, as well as oversees all programs and operations work at the Foundation. 

Elise received a B.A. from the University of Minnesota and earned a Master of Science in Reproductive & Sexual Health Research from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. As a seasoned program director, she is an expert in strategic planning and in aligning operations to maximize impact. She cultivates trust-based relationships and focuses on grantmaking strategies to advance racial equity and the needs of women. 

Tenesha Duncan

Tenesha is a Black feminist strategist exploring the intersections of reproductive and economic justice. She is the Founder and Managing Director of Orchid Capital Collective, and leads the work leveraging grants, loans, and investments to fund the shift toward community-owned and driven comprehensive birth and reproductive care.

Tenesha received her Executive MBA from Howard University, holds a Master's degree in Psychology from Kingston University, and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Oklahoma.

Prior to founding Orchid, Tenesha led the Tara Health Foundation’s strategy and investments in Birth Equity, where she focused on the intersection of birth and economic justice to elevate community-led solutions that improve care quality and outcomes.

Listen in as Elise and Tenesha share:

• Their identities and how they have impacted how they lead
• How, as changemakers, they live deeper into their identities to create more possibilities for progress.
• The importance of owning your leadership
• The journey of Tara Health truly  living out its mission
• The journey to creating Orchid Capital Collective to level the playing field in community birth and reproduction care
• And more.

Hi listener! Please take our short Listener Survey HERE to give The R.A.C.E. Podcast team feedback on the show. We will use the feedback to inform how we approach conversations in the future. Upon completion, you will be entered in our quarterly drawing for a $100 Visa gift card! Your email address will only be used for this purpose. Thanks in advance - we appreciate your feedback.

Connect with Keecha Harris and Associates:

• Website: https://khandassociates.com/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/keecha-harris-and-associates/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/khandassociates
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCukpgXjuOW-ok-pHtVkSajg/featured

Connect with Keecha:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keechaharris/

Welcome to Episode 15 of the 2nd season of The R.A.C.E. Podcast. Today I am joined by Matthew Tejada, Director of the Office of Environmental Justice at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Our conversation was rich and filled with truth, responsibility, and humanness around racial and ethnic justice and how was all can make a difference. I look forward to you tuning in.

Meet Matthew Tejada:

Matthew S. Tejada joined the EPA in March of 2013 as Director of the Office of Environmental Justice.  As Director, Matthew leads the Environmental Justice Program’s cross-cutting work throughout the EPA and federal government. This includes working with communities, other EPA divisions, federal agencies, academic partners, business and industry, and state, local and tribal partners to further the mission of the EPA and its efforts to advance environmental justice.  

Before his career at EPA, Matthew spent over five years in the non-profit world as executive director of the environmental advocacy Air Alliance Houston, where he focused his efforts on environmental justice issues affecting the many overburdened communities in the Houston and Texas Gulf Coast area, regionwide ozone reduction policies and alleviation of toxic and particulate matter hotspots. In this position, Matthew was also centrally involved in local, state, and federal level legislative and policy formation as regards environmental and public health issues. 

Matthew received his Doctorate and Master’s degrees from the University of Oxford where he was a member of St. Antony’s College. His research and dissertations largely focused on environmental and energy policy, international relations, politics, and the development and role of civil society.  Matthew is a native of Ft. Worth, Texas 

Listen in as Matthew shares:

• How sharing his race and identity has become a touchstone to him and his work
• What racial equity means to him on a personal level
• People who have been a support and inspiration in his life and also keep him accountable
• What he would like people to know, do, or feel when it comes to racial equity and justice

Learn more and connect with Matthew Tejada:

• Website: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | US EPA
• LinkedIn
• Twitter

Hi listener! Please take our short Listener Survey HERE to give The R.A.C.E. Podcast team feedback on the show. We will use the feedback to inform how we approach conversations in the future. Upon completion, you will be entered in our quarterly drawing for a $100 Visa gift card! Your email address will only be used for this purpose. Thanks in advance - we appreciate your feedback.

Connect with Keecha Harris and Associates:

• Website: https://khandassociates.com/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/keecha-harris-and-associates/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/khandassociates
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCukpgXjuOW-ok-pHtVkSajg/featured

Connect with Keecha:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keechaharris/

Welcome to Episode 14 of the 2nd season of The R.A.C.E. Podcast. Today I am joined by Nancy Harris, Founder and CEO of Restart Consulting. Our conversation is filled with the complexities of racial equity and creating internal change within an organization. I look forward to you tuning in.

Meet Nancy Harris:

Nancy Harris is the Founder and CEO of Restart Consulting. Nancy considers herself a “people geek” and is fascinated by how people respond to change. She is the host of The Intersection podcast, a Coach/Facilitator at Northwestern (Kellogg Executive Education and MSLOC Leading Equity & Inclusion Certificate Program). Nancy’s passion for this work is rooted in her own career working as a Human Resource leader and Change Consultant for world-renowned organizations like Accenture, BP, and Ford Motor Company.

Listen in as Nancy shares:

• Her identities and how they impact how she leads on Race
• The importance of making space for yourself as you make space for others
• What Racial Equity means to her
• Her support systems and how she keeps herself accountable in her work
• The results of her work and what she wishes people knew

Learn more and connect with Nancy Harris:

• Website: Restart Consulting
• LinkedIn
• Podcast: The Intersection with Nancy Harris

Hi listener! Please take our short Listener Survey HERE to give The R.A.C.E. Podcast team feedback on the show. We will use the feedback to inform how we approach conversations in the future. Upon completion, you will be entered in our quarterly drawing for a $100 Visa gift card! Your email address will only be used for this purpose. Thanks in advance - we appreciate your feedback.

Connect with Keecha Harris and Associates:

• Website: https://khandassociates.com/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/keecha-harris-and-associates/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/khandassociates
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCukpgXjuOW-ok-pHtVkSajg/featured

Connect with Keecha:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keechaharris/