In this panel discussion, Cynthia Primo Martin and Alice Sawyer share their insights on effective steps to recruit and retain persons of color on nonprofit boards. Cynthia was Founder and Executive Director of Trustees of Color (TOC) whose mission was to connect people of color to Delaware’s nonprofit boards. Alice, retired national marketing and member development consultant for YMCA-USA, is a former TOC board member and board development resource. TOC placed over 500 persons in its 16 years of service. Claudia Pena Porretti, CEO of Girls Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay, has served on many nonprofit boards and is a strong advocate for board diversity. In this session, Cynthia and Alice will share their experiences and offer guidance to boards of directors on the steps they can take to create a welcoming board climate for directors of color.
About Panel Moderator, Claudia Pena Porretti:
Claudia Peña Porretti is a seasoned nonprofit leader with more than 20 years of experience and the Chief Executive Officer of the Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay. A strong advocate for children, she advocated for the Unaccompanied Children who migrated from Mexico and Central America to Sussex County, supported Latina girls through a collaboration with Girls, Inc of Delaware, implemented various Hispanic youth programs, and promoted awareness of English Learners’ educational issues in Delaware.
Ms. Porretti served as a board member for various Delaware nonprofit organizations, including the Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement (DANA) and Primeros Pasos Early Childhood Learning Center, as well as a member of the Delaware Hispanic Commission. One of Delaware Today’s Women in Business and a recipient of Girls Inc. of Delaware’s Strong, Smart and Bold Award, Ms. Porretti currently serves as a Trustee for the University of Delaware and Woodlawn Trustees.
She earned her Juris Doctor degree from Indiana University McKinney School of Law, Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana Institute of Technology, and attained the Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) designation. Prior to moving to Delaware, she served as the Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Indiana.
About Panelists Cynthia Primo Martin and Alice Sawyer:
Cynthia Primo Martin -
Cynthia Primo Martin is a retired nonprofit executive specializing in agency management, fund development and marketing. Earlier in her career, she served as a human resources and equal employment opportunity officer for a major insurance company.
Ms. Martin has served as director/trustee of numerous nonprofit organizations, including University of Delaware (UD), International Reading Association, Delaware Community Foundation, St. Andrew’s School, Delaware Symphony Association, Homes for Life, United Way of Delaware, Christiana Care Health Systems, Brandywine Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, YWCA, Food Bank of Delaware, Delaware Racial Justice Collaborative, African American Empowerment Fund of Delaware, Delaware ERANow, Delaware Chapter of the Jefferson Awards and The Episcopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew. Ms. Martin has also served as an active and honorary committee member/chair of many capital campaigns. She currently serves on the Watterson Family Foundation Board. In addition, she was an appointee to state boards and commissions, including Delaware Superior Court’s Board on Professional Responsibility.
Organizer and chair of the Quintin E. Primo Jr. Lecture Series (PLS), established in memory of her father (Bishop Suffragan of Chicago and Interim Bishop of Episcopal Diocese of Delaware), Ms. Martin brought national and global human rights leaders-- including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Andrew Young and Mary Robinson--to Delaware to participate in public fora on issues of race and reconciliation. She was the Founder of the successful Trustees of Color (TOC) initiative whose mission was to establish, implement and maintain a sustainable process to ensure that Delaware’s nonprofit boards are inclusive of people of color. Ms. Martin has received numerous awards for her work in human rights and justice, including the National Council for Community and Justice’s State Award, the YWCA’s Woman of Distinction Award, the Delaware State Bar Association’s Multicultural Lawyers and Judges’ Community Service Award, the United Way Tocqueville Society Award, an ACLU Award for Distinguished Service, the Association of Fundraising Professional’s Fundraiser of the Year and Outstanding Philanthropist Awards, Girls, Inc.’s “Smart, Bold and Strong” Award, The Union of Black Episcopalians’ “Unsung Hero”, The Fund for Women Founder’s Award, Delaware Technical Community College’s 2018 Black History Month Honoree and the University of Delaware’s Medal of Distinction. Just recently, she and husband, Joshua, were awarded the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce’s Josiah Marvel Cup. Ms. Martin has been a trailblazer for women and people of color in her organizational, educational and life experiences.
She received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Delaware.
Alice Sawyer -
Alice Sawyer has had a distinguished 30-year career in the YMCA, retiring in 2008. She began with the YMCA of Delaware, specializing in marketing, membership, board and financial development. After fourteen years of local work, she became a consultant with the YMCA of the USA.
Coaching is Alice’s real passion. She is a champion for people, from the board of directors to the front-line employees, who bring the mission alive every day. She has been trained as a life-coach, discovering the power of listening and coaching as an exciting way to empower individuals and organizations to find their own solutions. A popular speaker and presenter at local and national conferences throughout the country, Alice was sought after for her motivational speeches, presentations and interactive trainings.
Since her retirement from the YMCA, Alice provides coaching, consulting and training services for personal and organizational development.
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