What do Black people inside nonprofits owe the communities they came from?

That's the question at the center of this episode, sparked by Kevin Hart's defense of a George Floyd joke at his own Netflix roast, and sharpened by a story Van Lathan Jr. shared about his time at TMZ: a brother from the Nation of Islam told him plainly, if this goes wrong, we're blaming you, not the institution.

David and Trenia dig into the dishonesty of claiming limited power when it's convenient and outsized credit when it's not, and what accountability looks like when you're the one inside the room.

Have you ever been the Black person in the room when an institution did something harmful to your community? What did you do, and what are you still carrying about it?

Want to get in touch with David at StrivEquity? Visit https://strivequity.com/

Are you a new nonprofit executive director or senior leader that’s overwhelmed in your new position and looking for support? Schedule a complimentary, 30-minute consultation with Trenia. Click the link to book your call https://bit.ly/slconsultation

Most workplaces have a version of Blackness they'll tolerate: polished, grateful, low-maintenance, and a version they won't. In this episode, David and Trenia get into what organizations reward and punish, how the current political moment is tightening the unspoken rules around "acceptable" Black identity at work, and what it looks like when your sense of self collides with what your workplace needs you to be. From bare-minimum advocacy to performing radical language for white funders, they name the cost of closing that gap every day, and make the case that Black professionals deserve to name that tension honestly, not manage it silently.

Listener prompt: What version of yourself do you bring to work, and what version do you leave at the door?

Want to get in touch with David at StrivEquity? Visit https://strivequity.com/

Are you a new nonprofit executive director or senior leader that’s overwhelmed in your new position and looking for support? Schedule a complimentary, 30-minute consultation with Trenia. Click the link to book your call https://bit.ly/slconsultation

Not all support is supportive.

In this episode, we dig into how professional development like mentorship, coaching, and training can be misused as a tool for control, especially for Black professionals. What’s often framed as “growth” or “investment” can quickly turn into compliance culture, performance surveillance, and performative care.

We explore:

• The blurry line between support and supervision
• How race and power shape who gets real mentorship vs. forced coaching
• The emotional toll of “development” plans that feel more like disciplinary action
• Strategies for setting boundaries around help that isn’t really helpful

RESOURCES

Are you a woman leader who is depleted, exhausted and looking for a way out? Check out Trenia's 5-part limited series podcast The Burnout Rescue Plan. Click here to listen.

Want to schedule a 1-1 consultation with David? Visit https://strivequity.com/

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