Before we enter 2025, I want to take some time to re-introduce myself as I have been entrusted once again to serve as Interim President & CEO of the Meyer Foundation…

“We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes.” These words, spoken by the visionary Ella Baker, resonate deeply as I reflect on my one-year anniversary as Vice President, Community Partnerships & Strategy at the Meyer Foundation and the vital work of our grantee partner community.

Insights from program evaluations and feedback from grantee partners have shaped our new sabbatical program to be more equitable and accessible.

In envisioning an economically just future, we continue to strive for a world in which a liberated economy would allow workers to be met with safety, security, and care.

Earlier this month, the Meyer Foundation was honored to host an intimate gathering of local community and philanthropy partners for a special event titled, “Nothing Would be More Tragic Than to Stop at This Point: The Fight to Overcome Segregation in the Nation’s Capital,” featuring George Derek Musgrove, associate professor of history at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and co-author of Chocolate City: A History of Race and Democracy in the Nation’s Capital.

I’m excited to share a few key areas of our work at the Meyer Foundation this year that I believe reinforce our values, enhance our partnerships in the community, and ultimately bring us closer to our vision of a more just, connected, and inclusive region.

We’re thrilled to announce the hiring of our two newest staff members joining our Community Partnerships & Strategy team, dedicated to stewarding relationships with our partners and the development of our grantmaking and programs.

Our first step back into capacity building begins in earnest on October 16, when we open our grantee portal for Organizational Development (OD) grants. You can also learn more about Field Building grants, through which we aim to strengthen the ecosystem in which grantee partners work.

The Meyer Foundation is delighted to announce the appointment of Jaqueline Tucker, Esq. as its new Vice President for Community Partnerships and Strategy following a nationwide search led by nonprofit executive search firm LeaderFit, effective August 1.

One year ago, I began my appointment as president and CEO of the Meyer Foundation. I joined the Foundation at a unique time of possibility for the organization and for our region. Today, I remain hopeful and enter my second year even more committed to achieving racial equity and justice in our region.