Nominator Comments:
The team (comprised of Adam Hess, Alpa Patel, Lyndsay Nugent, Monika Go, Nayeon Kim and Samra Habib) is recognized for their collaborative commitment and consultative approach to representing the communities we serve, setting and embodying a future model, and driving forward a future of philanthropy built in solidarity with our communities and each other. Their direction and foundational approach is bringing important alignment across constituent donor and community positioning. The group went beyond by building a clear transformational plan including asset-based narratives, strategies of equity and inclusion, and measurable outcomes developed to achieve and pave the way in our own equity work, and more broadly in the UW movement and across the sector. The team is recognized for their aim, effort, and steps taken to improve both the composition of and conversations within and beyond UWGT. They let go of problematic and oppressive practices to improve and influence the donor experience by focusing on systemic barriers, systems change, continuous training, and conversations that incorporate an equity-based lens. The team created a safer, supportive, and inclusive space within their department and has been essential in fostering an organizational culture of belonging, retention and representation of equity deserving groups.