” WHEN THE COLLECTIVE CHOOSES THEMSELVES, WE DEMONSTRATE WHAT TRUE INCLUSION AND RESPECTFUL DIFFERENCE LOOKS LIKE. “
THE INTERVIEW
What Drives you?
My life’s work is all about advocating for boys and young men of color and fighting for personal liberation for all. As someone who identifies as an openly black gay Christian cis man, I feel driven to teach those near and far how I have navigated my identities and built the growing career that I have. I launched “The JUST BE campaign.” in 2019 with the goal to help dismantle current and historic systemic forms of oppression or indifference, foster anti-racism, eliminate hate, and activate individuals both personally and professionally to choose themselves and love themselves by putting on their H.A.T’s (be Honest, Authentic, and Transparent with self-first before helping others). I always say, “when the collective chooses themselves, we demonstrate what true inclusion and respectful difference looks like.” To many times people of color, men, women, the LGBTQ+ community, Christians (or any religion/faith), and any person/community that has ever been “othered”; are forced to live by the white able body cis-gender male heteronormative and white supremacist patriarchal and capitalistic societal standards of what it means to exist in the world around us. This is especially true for black and brown boys, young men, and men who identify as such. The JUST BE campaign. is a social movement to allow ALL people to “JUST BE”!!! “JUST BE” their honest, authentic, and transparent selves. So put on your H.A.T’s. and live.
I realize that you work for Chicago Scholars. What is the inspiration behind your work with them?
Yes, this summer, July, I will be with Chicago Scholars for five years and the reason I continue to get up every day and do this work is because I believe in our vision. Our vision at Chicago Scholars is a vibrant Chicago powered by diverse leaders from every neighborhood. At its core, our work at Chicago Scholars is about economic mobility, leadership development, and belonging. It’s about making sure our Scholars have everything they need to journey from Chicago’s neighborhoods and classrooms to Chicago’s boardrooms—or to wherever their dreams may lead. We are genuinely working to support young people to be the next generation of leaders that will support the city of Chicago.
I believe we have a very robust program model that allows us to support our Scholars, to get into college, persist through college, graduate from college, and enter the workforce with living sustaining wages. I think the thing that I love most about Chicago Scholars is that we’re not just doing the surface work, but we’re working to help eliminate the wealth and achievement gap that we’ve seen increase over the years for black and brown communities. So now, for us, our root case work is stronger than ever. We know that we work with some of the best and brightest young people from the city of Chicago and every neighborhood. We also understand that the media perpetuates the violence that happened in our city. So, we often work to make sure we’re counteracting all of that by sharing the positive stories of these powerful young leaders in our program.
As a Nonprofit Management professional, what would you say are some of the challenges facing Nonprofit Organizations?
As the world is reopening and getting adjusted to the third year of the pandemic and figuring out how to navigate what was or is a three-part pandemic: COVID, racial justice, and now a mental health crisis – there is still much work to do. The nonprofit sector was hit hard, and many nonprofits closed their doors. This means some people and their communities lost resources and services. Not to mention there is a teacher and airplane pilot shortage. Additionally, inflation is at almost 10% in some communities if not higher. So, when it comes to the nonprofit sector the name of the game now is “collaboration and collect impact”. Many nonprofit organizations are serving the same communities and youth at various touchpoints.
To maximize our operating budgets and services – we need to find the throughline in services/resources and develop pipelines of warm hand-offs to see the full growth and success of the youth and communities we serve. We must force the corporate and philanthropy sectors to fund us (the nonprofit sector) differently and stop the organic competition tactics that are making it difficult to do the root cause work that 2020 showed us all needs to happen. Due to COVID and the roller coaster of emotions and loss, long gone are the days of working in silos and trying to get all the recognition. We must do the work of social impact collectively and without egos.
“CARING FOR MYSELF IS NOT SELF-INDULGENCE; IT IS SELF-PRESERVATION, AND THAT IS AN ACT OF POLITICAL WELFARE. “
BY AUDRE LORDE
What is the one motivational word or quote that keeps you moving every day?
I’m someone that collects quotes and sayings often. So, the current quote that I’m consistently meditating on is “caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare” by Audre Lorde. 2021 was a challenging year for me. It was a year full of wins and losses, and I felt like the losses I experienced were some of the hardest I had ever experienced in my life. I buried myself in my work and community service to hide from the realities of life that were knocking at my door daily. It got to the point that I became burnt out from work and community service and couldn’t hide any longer. In December 2021 I decided to recenter my self-care and started back therapy because I realized every area of my life was shifting/changing and I couldn’t show up and respond to this thing called life the same way. It was time to do some things differently. So, to all my workaholics, servant leaders, and caregivers – please follow the teachings of Audre Lorde, “caring for myself (yourself) is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” You only get one life and one body, do right by both!
Socials:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dfleming1987/
Instagram: @derrickthegent
