Last month I, the Brava team, and 24 leaders from multiracial, multicultural institutions across the country gathered to begin exploring: What does it mean to share power?

Especially when you might be new to leadership. Or have often felt powerless, even as a leader. Or you aren’t even sure what power is. All you know is that you are finally with your community, have significant decision making rights, and folks are looking to you to not only do what is efficient but also to do what is just. But if you don't? Well…you will know, because everyone will tell you.

These leaders can't afford to just wing it or rely on best practices that don't take into account their unique experiences. In fact, leaders we work with at Brava often share how such practices result in heartbreak and confusion.

This is why three years ago, Brava piloted a new type of leadership program, the Brava Leadership Institute (BLI). BLI is a year-long experience for the exploration and creation of the new rules of leadership. These rules require leaders to understand their own relationship to power, examine internalized biases, communicate hard decisions, while being in community with leaders like them and being honest about the power they hold.

This is not easy work. So we want to celebrate the people who have committed to this journey. We also want to share quotes from our kickoff that demonstrate where the work is headed.

First, our 2026 cohort:

America J. | Immigrant Rights Organizer | Carolina Migrant Network
Amity Paye, Vice President of Narrative Change, Liberation Ventures
Andressia Ramirez, Engagement Coordinator, North Carolina Justice Center
Angelique Santiago, Brugman's Place
Auburn Wideman
Betty Chan, Authenticity Coach and Facilitator
Carlin Rushing
Clarivel Ruiz, (we, us, you), Founder/CEO/Cultural Alchemist, Dominicans Love Haitians Movement
Claudia Leung, Director of Programs, New Breath Foundation
Dominique Hollins (she/they), CEO, WE360 LLC
Elida Ledesma, Executive Director, Arts for Healing and Justice Network
Ellie Smith, LeadOn Program Manager, Impact Justice
Ericka A.G. Windon, Senior Director of Business Operations, Health Leads
Gabriela Hylton Garza, Board Treasurer, For A Loving Future
Gabrielle Chew, Director of Communications, MCF
Jamie R. Riley, Chief Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging Officer, Center on Budget & Policy Priorities
Julie Jung, VP of People and Operations, Inclusive Action
Kirby Page, Director of Equitable Engagement and Culture, CSPI
Lisa Hunter, Director of Finance and Operations, LION Publishers
Neriel David Ponce, Brava Leaders
shantae j. (she | they), founder, human[s]centered
Sylvia Perez Cash, Chief Innovation Officer, Latino Community Foundation
Sheena Medina, writer, strategist, and creative leader
Zakiya Jackson, President, The Expectations Project

Next, reflections:

"There's a world of people out there who want to and do operate differently than the dog-eat-dog world that dominates organizations."

“I'm someone with workplace wounds around leaders of color and the "fairness" of power. While starting my own business allowed me to heal, it was something else to be in a room full of deeply compassionate changemakers who carry their own wounds and hopes. It makes me feel like with this group, there's a real possibility of supporting each other rather than working in silos or against each other.”

“I was glad I came. I did not expect to feel as seen and understood as I did when I left. I did not want to leave the environment that Brava created. It was like I stepped into a different world for three days. The world as it was created to be: accepting, considerate, inclusive, diverse.”

These challenges and reflections go far beyond our cohort conversations. You can see how they play out in the current moment. Recently, Karla wrote in Nonprofit Quarterly the consequences of us not digging deep and committing ourselves to power sharing, reflecting on the revelations about Cesar Chavez. Because this isn't just about our teams or organizations. It is about our values and the impact we want to have on the nation and democracy itself.

You’ll be hearing more from us about this work. In the meantime we hope this serves as inspiration and a call to connect.

-Josh

24 Leaders, One Question: What Does it Mean to Share Power?

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