“In order for us as poor and oppressed people to become a part of a society that is meaningful, the system under which we now exist has to be radically changed.” -Ella Baker
What I know for sure:
-We all do better when we all do better;
-No institutions, traditions, people, or beliefs are so sacred they are beyond questioning;
-What we believe is possible is shaped by our thinking, whether narrowly-informed or expansive and critical; and
-Sustained progress is dependent on our commitment to truth-telling about ourselves and others.
Art that inspires me: Robert Shetterly’s Americans Who Tell the Truth
Operations Manager | she/her
A creative problem solver with an entrepreneurial spirit, Alona brings over a decade of experience amplifying movements for freedom, justice, and economic inclusion for all to her operations manager role. As a member of the Partner Services Team, she builds bridges between our partners and the vital resources and relationships necessary to sustain and broaden their impact.
Prior to joining Possibility Labs, Alona developed a passion for empowering marginalized communities while working to advance civil rights, LGBTQIA protections, justice system reforms, and workers’ rights in a diverse range of digital communications, project management, and fundraising capacities. She has held positions at several legal advocacy organizations, including the National Employment Law Project, the ACLU of Missouri, and the MacArthur Justice Center, as well as several mission-aligned for-profit communications companies.
Alona is a proud graduate of Howard University (B.A. Sociology).
“We are all implicated when we allow other people to be mistreated. An absence of compassion can corrupt the decency of a community, a state, a nation.” – Bryan Stevenson
When we begin to center compassion- in the way we interact with others, the way we make decisions, the way we live our lives, then we can effectively talk about what it takes to break down the systems that have been built to oppress and work towards equity and justice.
Director, Partner Services | she/her
Randall has made it her mission to utilize her professional expertise in support of mission driven work that centers both people and our planet. She is thrilled to serve as part of the Partner Services Team as a primary point of contact for partners, and to work in collaboration to further work being done to advance economic, social, and environmental justice.
Randall brings extensive experience in both the for-profit and nonprofit spaces, serving in operational, finance, and relationship-building capacities with a commitment to marginalized communities. She comes to PL after nearly four years in climate and social justice work, supporting grassroots initiatives across the country. Randall holds a B.S. from Old Dominion University in Speech Language Pathology & Audiology.
As performance artist Taylor Mac says, “we are dreaming the culture forward,” and this work must happen now, informed by the past, holding space for the future, and rooted in respect for and care of people and planet.
Chief Executive Officer | she/her
Donna is deeply engaged with the challenge of building liberatory frameworks that enable all people to thrive. Trained as a cultural anthropologist, she has traveled a fruitful path from higher education through venture capital, market research, social entrepreneurship, and philanthropy to her current work as CEO at Possibility Labs. Donna draws on a history of success at developing and executing initiatives that advance racial and economic justice. At Possibility Labs, she is excited to grow the community of innovative projects, community-focused resourcing initiatives, and progressive donors. Known as a creative and agile leader, Donna leans into collaboration, thoughtfulness, honesty, and humor as she guides teams, advances missions, and facilitates growth. Before joining Possibility Labs, she served as vice president of integrated capitals and communities at the Heron Foundation and vice president of philanthropic services at RSF Social Finance. Donna currently serves as a Just Economy Institute advisor and a member of the investment committee at World Education Services. Donna holds a Ph.D. in anthropology from Stanford University, an M.A. in African American Studies from Yale University, and a B.A. in sociology from Haverford College.
This belief serves as my guiding light in all endeavors. Recognizing the intrinsic worth of individuals, I strive to cultivate environments that prioritize human connection, empathy, and mutual respect. By intertwining the values of people, compassion, and understanding, I aim to contribute to a world where meaningful relationships flourish, fostering a collective spirit of harmony and support.
Operations Coordinator | she/her
Drawing on her wealth of past professional experiences, Ashley takes great pleasure in the art of supporting companies as they blossom, eagerly contributing to their growth from the ground up. Passionate about becoming an integral part of the journey, she is driven by the excitement of seeing it flourish and advance. Committed to the mission and vision of Possibility Labs, Ashley is excited to utilize her varied experience and knowledge supporting workplaces in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors.
Giving BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ visionaries hidden deep into our communities their power. Communities thrive when we begin to learn from each other and grow in understanding. The first approach to change is building and creating resources that help knock down the barriers that are built in our society. I truly feel empowered witnessing others find their voice and move towards a call to action.
Operations Manager | she/her
Jasmin is part of the Partner Services team as the Operations Manager and her primary role is to diligently support our partners. With a background in human resources spanning over five years, she is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where diversity is not just recognized, but celebrated. Jasmin’s approach is rooted in the development of fair practices and initiatives that promote a sense of community and belonging. She has a unique blend of work experience in healthcare, education and technology which contributes to her diverse operational knowledge.
Jasmin holds a B.S. in Business from the University of Nevada, Reno.
Everyone has a story to tell. Often times our lived experiences shape the work that we want to accomplish, but the barriers make us think this isn’t possible. I believe working with others that share similar experiences creates community and within community is power.
“Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.” – Ryunosuke Satoro
Institutional racism and white supremacy underlie many, if not all, of the social and health crises that exist today, whether it be the racial wealth gap, homelessness, or climate change. I believe that we all have a role to play in dismantling these deeply engrained ideologies and practices. Together, we can make a change by consistently engaging and listening deeply to those who are most impacted, educating ourselves, acknowledging and using our privileges to advocate for change, reflecting on and challenging our biases and assumptions and those of others, and supporting BIPOC organizations that are leading the movement.
Manager, Operations & Admin | she/her
Anika works closely with the Operations and Partner Services teams to implement strategic business initiatives. She serves as a thought partner by offering data analysis and perspectives, identifies improvement opportunities and formulates solutions, and provides communication, research, and administrative support.
Anika brings five years of expertise in evidence-based program development, implementation, and evaluation, grant writing, strategic planning, contract management, and project management to this role. A passion for advancing equity for BIPOC through systems change underlies her career trajectory.
Previously, she worked as a Performance Management Analyst, Project Manager, and Manager of Special Projects for the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA). During this time, she played a key role in the active contract management of a $44 million portfolio of homeless service programs in Los Angeles County. Prior to this role, she worked as a Health Equity Fellow for the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), during which she developed recommendations for organizational leadership on how they can improve their research and evaluation approach to issues affecting tribal communities. Anika holds a B.A. in Public Health Policy from UC Irvine and an M.P.H. in Community Health Sciences from UCLA and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).
“Diversity is a fact, equity is a choice, inclusion is an action, and belonging is an outcome.” – Arthur Chan. Every person has the ability to take on the action of inclusion. As community members, it is our responsibility to be inclusive and demand inclusive action. Although systemic change takes time, it is through inclusive action that community members and organizations can move our society to one that everyone can feel like they belong. Being inclusive is not about race, gender, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Inclusivity is about seeing people as people and treating them with the dignity and respect personhood calls for. Being inclusive is being compassionate, having empathy, and respecting a person’s right to simply be themselves.
Sr. Director of Operations & Admin | she/her
Jill possesses over a decade of distinguished experience in serving historically underrepresented communities through the development of systems and programs. With a robust background in nonprofit program management and operations, she has been at the forefront of launching several initiatives aimed at enhancing data collection and analysis, bolstering grant and donation revenue, expanding volunteer engagement, and refining operational processes. Her professional ethos and personal values are deeply rooted in principles of equity, empowerment, and a steadfast commitment to supporting every member of the community.
At Possibility Labs, Jill is instrumental in managing the day-to-day operations, administration, partner service operations, and human resources. She holds an M.B.A. from National University and a B.A. in Political Science and African American Studies from California State University, Northridge.
Help build a platform to confront capitalist financing mechanisms and operational systems that are driving worker exploitation and planetary destruction and help community-driven, BIPOC-led initiatives to operate with the scale and agility of white-led enterprises, without capitalistic values.
Director of Partnerships | he/him
Raymond leads Possibility Labs’ partnership work, including business development, philanthropic relationships, strategic communications, and field building efforts. He has 15 years of experience in the social justice sector leading work around fundraising, partnership strategies, philanthropic advising, project development, and research.
Previously, Raymond worked as Fund Officer at Movement Strategy Center, Director of Development for Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, and as a consultant for the Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team. Raymond holds a B.A. in Anthropology from CUNY Hunter College and a Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology from the CUNY Graduate Center. As an economic anthropologist, his research examines how infrastructure shapes the possibilities for economic development and our relationships with the environment.
That uplifts traditional knowledge, disrupts extractive practices, and creates a regenerative and just economy that meets the needs of communities and the planet.
Senior Advisor | she/her
Kelley supports Possibility Labs as a Senior Advisor for the DAF program design, focusing on creating a transparent, values-aligned program that offers integrated capital deployment. Kelley brings 15+ years of expertise working with integrated capital, DAFs, philanthropy, and participatory grantmaking. Previously, she worked for RSF, where she implemented trust-based practices and community-led decision making, ran the DAF program and supported organizational culture. She is a 2020-2021Fellow for the Just Economy Institute and a founding member of the Participatory Grantmaking Community.
Kelley holds a B.A. in Anthropology from San Diego State University – California State University.
Communities support us. See us. Hold us accountable. And contain our collective wisdom. In developing our communities we add richness to the commons. And in working in solidarity with our communities we enable sustainable and long-lasting progress.
As the African proverb goes, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
Senior Advisor | he/him
Lucas Turner-Owens is a Senior Advisor in the Office of the President and the founder of The Sankofa Group (TSG), a consulting practice that he manages with several independent contractors, which counts among its clients a host of integrated capital funds: the fintech unicorn Stripe and the coalition of lenders and investors known as SPARCC. Lucas brings to TSG skills in fund management, impact investing, and strategic advisory work having worked as a consultant at Next Street and The Bridgespan Group prior to founding TSG. Most recently, Lucas was a Principal at the venture capital firm TMV where he led four of the firm’s investments in categories ranging from fintech to supply chain and sustainability. Prior to founding TSG, Lucas managed The Ujima Fund, an integrated capital fund based in Boston, where he helped to launch and raise the fund, as well as underwrite its initial investments.
Lucas received his BA from Wesleyan University and his MBA along with a Certificate of Sustainable Business from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business.
Agility is critical to be responsive to the needs of communities. And so is having strong, accessible, transparent systems that operate with integrity so that we can move towards a more equitable form of capitalism.
Senior Advisor | she/her
As Senior Advisor, Jackie works with Possibility Labs’ CEO, team, and partners on operations and strategic finance as well as on designing impact-first capital programs and initiatives that move capital and opportunities into historically under-invested communities. Jackie also utilizes 30+ years of her experience in impact investing, philanthropy, and investment banking to contribute towards PL’s evolution into an impactful, agile platform for funding, structuring, and outcomes-tracking for the growing community-driven, integrated capital ecosystem.
Before joining PL, Jackie was most recently a Vice President of Impact Investing at Social Finance. Prior to that, she was Vice President for Programs for College Futures Foundation, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Imprint Capital Advisors, Associate Director at the Rockefeller Foundation, and Vice President in the public finance investment banking department of Lehman Brothers. She also serves as an Investment Advisor to the California Wellness Foundation’s Investment Committee and Strategy Consultant to the MacArthur Foundation.
Jackie holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of California Berkeley’s Haas School of Business and a Master’s in Public and Private Management from the Yale School of Management.
None of us are seeds cast into the wind. We were lovingly planted in the rich fertile soil of family, friends, and culture. We cannot forget where we come from and act as if we have done it all on our own. We acknowledge the collective and ancestral contributions to our success and act accordingly by paying those efforts forward to our chosen tribe.
Social Investment Consultant | she/her
Anna N’Jie-Konte, MBA, CFP® is a proud Puerto Rican, Gambian-American entrepreneur who is committed to shifting the inequitable wealth distribution in our society. Anna spent eight years working in wealth management advising ultra-high net worth families and institutions how to grow and secure their wealth for longevity and impact. She currently serves as a financial advisor and investment consultant to individuals and institutions who wish to build wealth in an intentional and values-aligned fashion.
Anna is among a small, but impactful group of BIPOC CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER certificants who are trained to give comprehensive, holistic financial advice. She has won Investment News’ “Top 100 Influential Financial Advisors” twice and has been featured in well-known publications such as Bloomberg, CNBC, VICE News, The New York Times, Telemundo, Financial Planning, RIA Intel, Think Advisor, and Next Advisor. She currently is Partner and President for GRID 202 Partners.
Social Investment Consultant | he/him
Keith Beverly is the Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer for GRID 202 Partners, an independent Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) firm. GRID focuses on achieving attractive financial returns in a manner fully aligned with the personal or organizational mission of its clients.
Keith brings over 15 years of investment management and financial planning experience to the firm. His responsibilities include building customized investment portfolios to implementing sophisticated financial planning strategies – primarily for medical professionals, attorneys, and professional athletes. Keith is passionate about financial education, particularly in underestimated communities. He has delivered numerous seminars and workshops to groups ranging from elementary school students to retirees.
Keith graduated from Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School of Business with University and College Honors and obtained his MBA from UNC Kenan-Flagler’s Business School where he was a Dean’s Fellow. He also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst and Certified Financial Planner designations, the most respected credentials for investment management and financial planning, respectively.
… to help people find meaningful narratives and forge emotional connections to those with different lived experiences. Humans are born storytellers, it’s how we make sense of the world. Some of the earliest examples of human stories date back to cave networks over 30,000 years old. I think storytelling has the power to help humans see our infinite connectedness.
Public Relations Consultant | they/them
Shel Senai is the founder and principal of flypaper PR, a full-service public relations consultancy. Formed in 2014, flypaper PR offers strategic communications counsel and fresh, highly-creative PR guidance and campaign execution for clients that innovate against the status quo and aim to enact resonating change.
Shel brings more than 15 years of comms and PR experience to their work at PL. With an agency background that lends itself well to collaboration, Shel’s goal is to become an extension of the team in order to discover, develop, and deliver the most impactful stories from inside an organization. They hold a B.S. in communications with a minor in English from Boston University and an MFA in creative writing from the Program for Writers at Warren Wilson College. Their award-winning fiction writing has received financial support from the St. Botolph Club Foundation and the Mass Cultural Council.
To guide social justice leaders and take care of the back-end services that inhibit their work, so these leaders can focus on fundraising as a nonprofit.
Operations Research Analyst | he/him
Daniel supports Possibility Labs as an Operations Research Analyst, helping with business intelligence, system integration, process automation, operations research and planning, sourcing vendors for the Possibility Labs’ portal, and helping drive the platform’s back-end services. He brings 6+ years of expertise working as a data analyst within operations, engineering, finance, process automation, and research experience. Previously, Daniel worked with ABM Industries. He supported strategic and operational planning for the corporate finance teams, developed an automation ecosystem using custom Python scripts and automated new customer creation processes. Daniel also has experience in financial reporting and process engineering. He holds an M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Iowa State University and a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Purdue University.
