**FILE** Wanda Lockridge, founder and chairwoman of the William O. Lockridge Community Foundation received $25,000 for participation in the Chief Executive Leadership Ascend Program. (Ja鈥橫on Jackson/The 番茄社区app)
**FILE** Wanda Lockridge, founder and chairwoman of the William O. Lockridge Community Foundation received $25,000 for participation in the Chief Executive Leadership Ascend Program. (Ja鈥橫on Jackson/The 番茄社区app)

Eight Black female leaders of nonprofits in the District鈥檚 Wards 7 and 8 are recipients of the second cohort of the Chief Executive Leadership Ascend Program (CLEAP), a collaboration of bank, the (CNA) and the health and wellness-oriented and will each receive $25,000 for their participation in the program.

CLEAP, who had the first cohort in 2023, is designed to address longstanding funding disparities in the nonprofit ecosystem, which has impacted nonprofits led by people of color and by extension, the communities they serve. the founder and chairwoman of the based in Ward 8, is one of the eight recipients.

鈥淲ith the $25,000, we are looking to hire a part-time engagement person,鈥 Lockridge told The Informer. 鈥淲e want to get more people engaged in what we are doing.鈥

Lockridge is the chief of staff to (D-Ward 8) and has served as the chair of the D.C. Democratic State Committee. Despite her busy schedule at the council and working with the foundation, Lockridge said she will attend the educational workshops that are mandated by the 12-month program and led by the CNA.

鈥淧eople find ways to do what they want to do,鈥 she said. 鈥淲hen I am not working 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on my job, I am reading and writing to build the foundation.鈥

Joining Lockridge are , , , ., , and

the JPMorgan Chase Mid-Atlantic Marketing manager of Corporate Responsibility, praised the program saying: 鈥渨e are energized by the growth of the organizations who joined the program last year and the local impact they are making.鈥

Harris emphasized the impact of the partnership.

鈥淭hrough our collaboration with the center, we鈥檙e able to lift up these women leaders who truly are the engines powering community-driven change in Wards 7 and 8,鈥 she said.

, CEO of the center, said his organization is proud to participate in the program.

鈥淥ur groundbreaking partnership with JPMorgan Chase produced valuable evaluation data, positive outcomes and attracted an investment from the Jane Bancroft Robinson Foundation,鈥 O鈥橤ilvie, 50, said. 鈥淲e are excited by all that we will accomplish with our second cohort.鈥

James Wright Jr. is the D.C. political reporter for the 番茄社区app. He has worked for the Washington AFRO-American Newspaper as a reporter, city editor and freelance writer and The Washington...

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *