Introducing our Executive Director, chimaera
Sept 15, 2020
It is an honor to have been chosen as Powerful Voices’ Executive Director. When I returned as Program Director in June after several years of exploring my path as a consultant and creative, the opportunity to come back with more knowledge and experience in support of an organization that helped shape me into the person I am today felt like a sign I could not ignore.
My journey to Powerful Voices began almost twelve years ago when I reached out in hopes of finding support for similar programs I was running in Tacoma with the YWCA. I had heard of Powerful Voices over the years and was in awe of the impact this organization had on the lives of BIPoC gxrl-identified youth. But, what struck me even deeper was the drive, commitment and collaboration amongst the staff and the radical values they led with. I knew then that this was a place I wanted to be, learn and grow. A couple of years later, I would get that chance.
Being hired as the Middle School Instructional Coordinator in 2011 was a defining moment for my journey as an activist and youth advocate during a time of major upheaval and transformation in my life as I grew into a more liberated version of myself. As I reflect on my wall bio from back then (a tradition at Powerful Voices), my reason for working at Powerful Voices reads:
“Working with young girls helps me grow as a woman. With every young woman I meet, I learn something new about what it means to be a woman, how to support women, and that there are more and more things to love about women! I am called to do this work from a place of healing. Empowering young women is the missing link in social justice work and I am committed to doing my part in bridging this gap by supporting young women in developing and trusting in their innate ways of knowing, becoming skilled advocates and defining allyship on their own terms.”
Although I now identify as Non-binary, this call to action still rings true for me, even as I expand on its depth and meaning to create space within Powerful Voices for Trans and Non-binary BIPoC youth, especially African diaspora youth of all lineages, to discover who they are and how they are called to harness the power of their innate gifts. I look forward to what the future holds for Powerful Voices’ community of supporters, our phenomenal staff, and the youth who continue to amaze and trailblaze against all odds. One of the questions staff are asked to reflect on when starting at Powerful Voices is “what is your wish for girls?” In closing, I’ll share what I wished for then as it is still relevant today:
“My ultimate wish for gxrls is that they develop a knowledge of self where criticism builds character, but does not break their will, where self-actualization is a right and not a privilege, where their essence is the norm and traditionally male spaces reflect their faces, where they are credited as the architects of their lives in a world that is generous with its wise offerings. This would be a great starting point for creating a world just as gracious as it is spacious.”
Thank you again to everyone who has supported me along this journey and to the many fierce young people from whom I’ve learned so much over the years and whose visions for equity and justice continue to guide me in my role as a leader.
In solidarity,
CHIMAERA
LOVE NOTES FROM THE STAFF + BOARD
"The Powerful Voices staff is unanimously and wholeheartedly honored to be bringing CHIMAERA on as our Executive Director! This is a historic moment in our 25 years of being. This is a third homecoming to Powerful Voices for CHIMAERA, and we are more than grateful to have their brilliance on the team again." - Powerful Voices Staff
"The Powerful Voices Board is beyond thrilled to begin working with CHIMAERA who brings innovative vision, expertise, and energy to our mission. Based on this, we believe CHIMAERA will seamlessly take on the role of Executive Director at Powerful Voices, and we believe they will do so with care, commitment, and dedication to the young *girls we work with, the staff, and community at large. We are excited to support and see CHIMAERA continue to flourish as a leader, especially around long-term planning, financial health, and mission-driven programming. Although rare, this unanimous board vote to bring CHIMAERA on as Executive Director was a clear step in the right direction for our Powerful Voices family." - Morgan and Ritasha of the Powerful Voices Board