In this episode, host Rusty Stahl speaks with Aria Florant, co-founder and CEO of Liberation Ventures (LV), about navigating internal conflict within nonprofits. Aria shares her personal experiences and challenges in leading LV, particularly around issues of power dynamics and organizational culture. Liberation Ventures is a grantmaking intermediary that works toward reparations for slavery.

Rusty and Aria talk about the complexities of power within nonprofits, including the need for leaders to acknowledge and mindfully wield their power. They also discuss the importance of creating a culture of repair, where conflict is addressed openly and proactively, and where staff members at all levels feel empowered.  

This episode gives actionable insights for nonprofit leaders and funders, and advocates for greater investment in organizational wellness and practices that support healthy team dynamics. Tune in to hear how addressing internal issues is crucial not only for the well-being of staff but also for the overall effectiveness and impact of the organization.  

You can find all the episodes of this podcast plus our blog, toolkit and other resources at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fundthepeople.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. And we invite you to learn from all the amazing past guests of Fund the People - A Podcast with Rusty Stahl at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠fundthepeople.org/ftp_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Resources

Liberation Ventures: A Dream in Our Name, by Aria Florant

we will not cancel us, by adrienne maree brown

Building Resilient Organizations, by Maurice Mitchell

The Four Pivots: Reimagining Justice, Reimagining Ourselves, by Shawn A. Ginwright, PhD

My Grandmother’s Hands, by Resmaa Menakem

What it Takes to Heal, by Prentis Hemphill

Elite Capture: How the Powerful Took Over Identity Politics (And Everything Else), by Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò

Building a Reparative Organization and Nation, by Aria Florant

Liberation Ventures_Building A Reparative Organization_Framework & Tool

Karla Monterosso

Dr. Resmaa Menakem