Pasadena Executive Roundtable Invites Nonprofit Leaders to Discuss the Impacts of Race on Their Organizations With John Williams

The impacts of race in the nonprofit sector will be discussed when John Williams of the Fellowship Center for Racial Reconciliation leads an interactive conversation at the Nov. 18 meeting the Pasadena Executive Roundtable.

The Pasadena Executive Roundtable, or PERT, is an informal consortium of local nonprofit executive directors who meet to discuss leadership and management issues of common concern and hear presentations by expert speakers of interest.

Williams is a graduate of UC Berkeley and USC Law School who as a lawyer has mediated and facilitated alternative dispute and conflict resolution sessions for individuals and small groups. He is also an adjunct professor at Azusa Pacific University and Life Pacific College teaching on Race, Reconciliation and Ministry.

“At this time in our history, it is critical that nonprofit organizations are creating space to have this conversation on race. We live in a racialized society so it is important that we acknowledge and better understand race, racism, and reconciliation. In order to be successful in the nonprofit sector, we must build a common understanding so that we can confront the racism within our organization and grow into becoming an anti-racist organization,” said Williams.

Williams closed his growing law practice in Pasadena to devote time and energy to teaching at Life Pacific and to the ministry at Fellowship Monrovia, where he serves on staff, according to the Life Pacific College website.

Williams and his team from Fellowship Monrovia led a racial reconciliation workshop for Life Pacific students, faculty, and staff, bringing together every culture represented on its San Dimas campus. His goal was to find common ground for each person and to encourage new conversations from a shared sense of responsibility and grace.

“It is important for leaders in the nonprofit sector to be aware of all issues related to race in our sector. We are change agents and if we work at it, we have the opportunity to create lasting and meaningful change in our sector,” said Elizabeth Dever, executive director of a national nonprofit and PERT chair.

“The initiatives that we implement are a model for other segments of society. Education is where that change can start. I encourage all to attend our upcoming PERT virtual meeting. Our staff, our peers, our clients, and our board members look to us to lead the way,” Dever said.

Because of the importance of this meeting, it will be FREE and open to any nonprofit executive director, CEO, and leadership team members interested in increasing diversity, equity and inclusion in their nonprofit.

“The reason nonprofit leaders should attend this meeting is simple: because Black lives matter,” said Melanie Goodyear, executive director of Jericho Road Pasadena and PERT membership chair. To register, visit http://evite.me/M73nYZYm28.