CFW’s Women’s Leadership Development Initiative is building a stronger nonprofit sector serving women and girls in Chicago. Chicago Foundation for Women is vital to sustaining the network of support for women in the community. We are forward thinking in identifying issues that are essential to women. Through advocacy, leadership development, education and capacity building, we help women and girls reach their full potential. In 2012, CFW, the Crossroads Fund and the Woods Fund of Chicago identified a disparity in Chicago’s nonprofit sector. We found that there were no programs dedicated to developing strong, visible women of color in leadership, advocacy and organizing work. As a response, the three foundations formed the Women of Color Collaborative Project, which is housed under CFW’s Women’s Leadership Development Initiative (WLDI). CFW’s WLDI helps nonprofit professionals throughout their careers- from entry-level to Executive Directors, to board leadership. The WLDI includes The Woman of Color Collaborative Project, The Advocacy Academy, Board Member Boot Camp, and “Core Concepts.” Kim Hunt is one of the 18 women who participated in the Project’s pilot year. She credits the initiative as being one of the “best professional development programs” she’s ever participated in because the Project gives a voice and a space to a group that is often not at the table. As a child, Kim first learned about the effects of excluding key voices. In her Kansas City neighborhood, Kim watched as homes were demolished to make room for a highway. Families were left without a community. The blithe disregard of the urban communities impacted Kim all throughout her childhood. It should come as no surprise that Kim then pursued a career in urban 163 CFW’S WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE TRAINED 163 NONPROFIT LEADERS IN 2012-2013. planning after college. Her work was dedicated to uniting decision makers and community officials in a meaningful way. In her current role as the executive director of Affinity Community Services, Kim is making sure Chicago’s black lesbian and bisexual women’s community have their voices heard. Through the Women of Color Collaborative Project, Kim has learned about her personal leadership style. The Project helped Kim realize that leadership is about being clear in direction and allowing her team to be more reflective. Because of the Women of Color Collaborative Project, Kim says her team dynamic is more collaborative in creating the strategy behind Affinity’s work. Kim also said the Women of Color Collaborative Project has inspired her to prioritize Affinity’s focus on emerging leaders and their development process. A major component of the Project is building a pipeline of leadership and mentorship for women of color leaders. Kim is making sure that Affinity’s young leadership programs develop both the practical and personal skills of the participants. Participants in the Project are also planning, developing and discussing alternative models of organizing. They are being challenged to abandon silos and work together across issue areas of women’s rights, labor rights, civil rights, LGBTQ rights, and immigrant rights. Through the Women of Color Capacity Building Project, CFW is a pioneer in teaching women how to be civic leaders and encouraging women, like Kim, to create and transform each of these movements from the inside. 10 11