Suhad Babaa

(she/her/hers)

What led to your interest in joining the WDN Board?

I was told once that no matter what you do, you should make sure you do it with good people. Those that I have come to know in WDN’s community – its leadership and staff, members and importantly, its partners – are all kind, thoughtful, and strategic. WDN’s commitment to encouraging a new way of thinking about and approaching philanthropy, one that centers BIPOC communities and understands that power sharing and the need to redistribute resources is an imperative in achieving a more just and sustainable world, is, well, inspiring. I knew I had to be a part of it.

What do you hope to see the Board accomplish during your tenure?

Today, questions about how power operates and the needs of our diverse communities are front and center. My wish for WDN in this next chapter is for us to deepen the practice of our mission by modeling what it means to share power, holding the experiences of those most deeply impacted centrally, and understanding that who is calling the shots (whether financially, politically, or beyond) matters. Our staff and membership have built a strong foundation that we must continue building upon.

Share something about yourself that we wouldn’t know reading your official bio online.

I’m a fish. I love big bodies of water. Salt or fresh. Swimming. Surfing. Snorkeling. Scuba diving or simply hanging out.

If you could change the $100 bill to anyone you wanted, who would it be? Why?

Ida B. Wells. She inhabited intersections before the term intersectionality was coined. She was a skilled journalist, activist and scholar. She confronted the hard things while also understanding the need to bring audiences with her as she rallied international support for the atrocities happening in the United States. When I think about the times in which she was doing all of this, I can’t help but be inspired. It’s the kind of inspiration all of us would benefit from.

Keep up with Suhad on social media:

LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook

 

Eleanor Friedman

(she/her/hers)

What led to your interest in joining the WDN Board?

As a long-time member, I wanted to give back to an organization that has contributed to my learning, my philanthropic impact and to my survival during the last four years, in particular. To serve on the Board with a thoughtful, committed and savvy group of women activists is an opportunity not to be missed. After being a serial nonprofit Board member for 40 years, I hope to offer knowledge and resources to contribute and sustain the organization in its efforts towards redistributing power and systemic change. I am also indebted to the many members and staff members I’ve met through WDN for their friendship, fortitude and sincerity.

What do you hope to see the Board accomplish during your tenure?

During my tenure, I hope to see the Board continue to become (and for WDN to become) a multigenerational, multiracial, multiethnic and multitudinous network of activists. I’d expect it to engage in some difficult conversations about philanthropy, legacy and power dynamics. I know the Board will play a role in creating a new long-range strategic plan, supporting a growing and diverse staff and membership.

Share something about yourself that we wouldn’t know reading your official bio online.

I was co-head of my San Mateo High School cheerleading team. Perhaps, my noblest skill is as a cheerleader. I believe in teamwork.

If you could change the $100 bill to anyone you wanted, who would it be? Why?

There’s already a stamp to print Sojourner Truth’s face over all the guys on every dollar or $100 dollar bill. She’s a fine choice. We should then require that said 50% of $100 bills be contributed to a reparation fund for Black Americans to buy homes, fund college, create businesses and provide healthcare – a New fair deal.

 

Nadia Ismail

(she/her/hers)

What led to your interest in joining the WDN Board?

Growing up as a Muslim Palestinian American woman in this country taught me that the best way to invoke change and impact systems was through activism, community organizing, and education. I grew up organizing and attending rallies, boycotting, petitioning, and protesting injustices plaguing communities like mine and my BIPOC peers. Philanthropy, as I understood it, was another tool used to further this work but was an arena that wasn’t built for me; accessible only by the elite who got to decide what causes were worthy of resources. I joined the WDN board because I believe we are looking to shift this notion of philanthropy completely. I joined the board because I believe in our mission and believe I can help us get there. As a member, I have found that WDN is looking to truly return power back to the hands of BIPOC communities and I wanted to be a part of making this happen.

What do you hope to see the Board accomplish during your tenure?

My professional background lies in organizational development through the lens of learning and development and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). That is a mouthful right? This (very lengthily titled) career path means that I seek to create organizational change by educating its members and cultivating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive space. While on the board, I hope to support our efforts to strengthen the learning culture at WDN in the realms of social identity, DEI, participatory grantmaking, and shifting power. For us to create real change we must all move together on this journey and I’d like to help us find the trailhead and continue the trek!

Share something about yourself that we wouldn’t know reading your official bio online.

While I am a person that passionately believes in radical change and the return of power back to BIPOC communities I understand that change takes time. I am interested in an evolution not a revolution at WDN, which is most reflected through the learning and development style I hope to introduce to members, staff, and grantees. While my bio online reflects a sincere sense of urgency for these changes, I understand it will take us all time to get there and I am looking forward to being a part of that journey.

If you could change the $100 bill to anyone you wanted, who would it be? Why?

The first person that popped into my head was James Baldwin. I find that America has this fascinating ability to forget our history – a perpetual amnesia that leaves us disconnected from our true identity. James Baldwin worked to not just awaken the psyche but the souls of the citizens of this country, to help us understand why we are where we are and that the only way forward is through compassion and understanding of each other’s plight. James Baldwin’s work is so critical to our healing and ultimate power shift because it demands we face the oppressive and systemic truths woven into the fabric of our country’s identity first. Until we do this work – until the majority understands the power they carry and the oppressed understand how that has impacted their own – we cannot move forward.

Keep up with Nadia on social media:

LinkedIn