Possibility Labs and Common Counsel Foundation are thrilled to announce the launch of the Community Ownership for Community Ownership (COCP) Fund, a bold $22M philanthropic initiative to propel the community ownership movement in California.
As we take on the challenging work of navigating, disrupting, and transforming complex financial and information systems, leading with integrity is what can keep us grounded and accountable to what we are trying to accomplish. This means leading from our personal and shared values as much as encouraging the integration of our whole selves and holding a view of our whole communities.
CEO | he/they
Lem has spent the past 12 years as a growth executive in startups, philanthropy, and non-profits supporting executive teams to develop high-growth strategies. He brings a breadth of expertise in leading teams to solve highly complex challenges with impactful solutions. Lem’s early work in community development taught him that shifting decision-making power to communities most impacted by development policies is the most impactful way for them to thrive. He has worked across social justice philanthropy and witnessed the power that storytelling has to activate people towards progressive social change. Additionally, he has worked alongside Black and Brown organizational leaders in gaining traction and funding by getting to the heart of an organization’s mission in its strategies and storytelling.
Lem co-leads Possibility Labs’ strategy and team. His focus is on understanding the needs of our partners and translating those into effective, impactful programs and platforms. Previously, Lem was Executive Director of Strategy at Movement Strategy Center, Chief Growth Officer at Refound, and Marketing and Communications Director at North Star Fund. Lem received his Bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University. He studied Philosophy in the Master’s program at the New School and still enjoys diving into books on philosophy and his other love, theology.
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.
“Honesty, truth and decency all link together—by loving all of these, we can improve our families, communities and our society.” – Estella Eliot
“As I have said, the first thing is to be honest with yourself. You can never have an impact on society if you have not changed yourself…great peacemakers are all people of integrity, of honesty, but humility.” – Nelson Mandela
Honesty empowers communities, promotes openness, and allows us to observe the truth of our surroundings with clarity. True honesty isn’t always easy and requires bravery, but it is essential for social progress.
Operations Coordinator | she/her
Cindhy supports the Partner Services team as the Operations Coordinator by helping collect and analyze user experience data and identifying areas of improvement to better support partners. She brings a decade of successful experience in cross-organizational roles focusing on culture development, process improvement, and project management.
Cindhy is delighted to use her skills to collaborate with incredible human beings whose mission is to support BIPOC entrepreneurs and under-resourced communities. Previously, she worked as the Business Transformation Manager at a language services organization that bridged the communication gap between cultures, organizations, and non-profits.
At the grassroots level, and following the leadership and visions of BIPOC leaders, change-makers, and grassroots movements to bring us closer to the world we envision
Senior Manager, People Operations & Administration | she/her
Morgan supports Possibility Labs’ People Operations Team in building a people engagement strategy and organizational culture that is BIPOC-centered and values aligned. She brings experience in stakeholder relationship management, fostering cross-team relationships, and process management focused on creating thriving and productive environments. Previously, she worked at Movement Strategy Center as Investment Partnership Coordinator and at Restaurant Opportunities Centers United as Executive Assistant and Donor Organizer. She holds a B.A. in Peace and Conflict Studies and a minor in Public Policy from the University of California Berkeley.
“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.
Associate Chief of Staff | she/her
Anika works closely with Keiko Murase, co-CEO of Possibility Labs, 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).
Collaboration within communities and the field is based on hearing the needs of movements and efficiently solving for the new economy together.
Senior Director, Business Development & Program Design | she/her
Kelsey serves as a strategic partner to support the co-CEOs with effective decision-making, project management, research & design, and execution of key strategic initiatives across the organization. Kelsey brings five years of expertise working to increase equitable access to funding, community and funder relationship building, participatory grantmaking, and capacity building for grassroots organizations. Previously, she worked as a Senior Program Officer at The New York Women’s Foundation’s NYC Fund for Girls and Young Women a collaborative fund supporting organizations led by girls, young women, and transgender/gender non-conforming youth of color. Prior to this role, she worked in the Office of the President at the Ford Foundation supporting grantmaking in the arts, civic engagement, disability inclusion and policy advocacy. Kelsey holds an M.S. in Nonprofit Leadership and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania.
Philanthropy has the potential to restore balance by serving as a tool for achieving economic, environmental, racial, and social justice.
Chief of Staff | she/her
Melissa drives Possibility Labs’ fundraising processes, including philanthropic partnership creation and stewardship. Her focus is on overseeing the pipeline of funding opportunities, establishing moves management processes, and tracking goals for engaging individual and institutional partners. Melissa brings to the team a background in major gifts, fundraising strategy, and grant management from nine years of experience at nonprofit institutions ranging in size and scope. Previously, Melissa served as Development Director for La Leche League International and as Director of Development for the University of Florida. Melissa holds a B.S. in Public Relations and a minor in Spanish from the University of Florida.
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.
“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.
Operations Manager, 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.
“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.
VP of Operations | she/her
An innovator and entrepreneur, Jill brings over a decade of experience serving historically disenfranchised community members through systems and program development. Bringing over 10 years of experience in nonprofit program management and operations, Jill is thrilled to lead Possibility Labs’ partner service operations. Throughout her career, Jill has pioneered multiple initiatives to efficiently collect and analyze data, generate grant and donation revenue, increase volunteer pipelines, and create and streamline operational systems. Her professional and personal core values are grounded in a firm belief in equity, empowerment, and a responsibility to support all community members. Jill holds a M.B.A. from National University and a B.A. in Political Science and African American Studies from California State University, Northridge.
“As a global community of activists and change-makers, we collectively share the burden of our individual experiences. And when we ground our relationships in mutual respect and validation, we can leverage our expertise and individual gifts to lift each other up, break through challenges together, and propel the entire movement forward in solidarity.”
Senior Operations Manager, Partner Services | she/her
Chanell is passionate about providing unwavering support for partners as they do their work to advance social justice and care for marginalized communities. Working within the Partner Services Team, she serves as a primary contact for partners and uses her analytical and problem-solving skills to engage project leaders in exploring pain points that arise during the course of their work and collaborate with them to co-create unique solutions to meet their project needs.
Chanell has always gravitated towards roles which allow her to guide, champion, cheerlead, and empower others to succeed. She has had extensive of experience in customer service and operations management including supervisory roles at McMaster-Carr, a nationwide industrial supplier, and management positions at Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies in their Workers’ Compensation division. Most recently, she provided back office, project management, and operations support for Brunch & Budget, a New York-based financial advising firm that helps those in the BIPOC community build generational wealth. She earned a B.A. in Psychology and an M.P.P. from the Luskin School of Public Affairs at UCLA, which is also where she began her professional career supporting fellow students in higher education, first as an Academic Peer Counselor and later as a Student Affairs Officer and Teaching Assistant.
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.
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 Field Building | he/him
Raymond leads Possibility Labs through philanthropic partnership building and fund development, shifting funders to make decisions in relationship with communities and to resource transformative work at scale. He brings 14+ years of experience working in philanthropic innovation, fund development, social justice strategy, grant writing, project development, and research. Previously, Raymond worked as Fund Officer at Movement Strategy Center, Director of Development for Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, and as 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.
For all people to thrive, not just survive, through concurrent modalities of individual therapy, interdependent care systems, and advocacy, and movement organizing to help rebuild community care.
VP of Marketing and Communications | she/they
Jaimee leads Possibility Labs’ marketing and communications, serving as an integrated brand planner, tactical executor, and creative storyteller through the lens of culture and empathy. She brings to the team valuable skill-sets from cross-functional roles such as: community manager, copywriter, researcher, and integrated strategist. Their approach is simplifying the complex by focusing on both the big picture while executing in the micro, a combination of strengths from her 11 years in restaurant operations and consumer marketing. Previously, Jaimee was a Director of Strategy at VaynerMedia for 8 years, leading the development of brand, content, and go-to-market strategies for Fortune 500 brands and start-ups. Jaimee holds a B.A. from Cornell University in Hospitality Administration.
