Keecha Harris and Associates, Inc.

Practitioners of racial equity are no strangers to the exhaustion and burnout that comes with conducting this work day in and day out. What is one remedy that can help cure those symptoms? According to our latest guest on #TheRACEPodcast, Nina Lagpacan, Program Officer at Oceankind, celebrating the small wins ?? Catch Nina's full episode here ?? https://ow.ly/MYTW50TsLwx

?? ???????????? ???? ????????????, ???????????? ???? ?????????? ?? 'Our team retreat was transformative in ways that are still unfolding. After attending several retreats during my almost three years at KHA, this one stood out. Why? It wasn’t just about strategy—it was about healing, connection, and stepping into possibility. Did we go over project governance, establish connective tissue between business development and operations, and connect to industry trends? ???? ????????????. Did we invest in yoga, somatics, and creating space to feel held and whole? To be in relationship with each other and our CEO during this 25-year milestone, and collectively light up with hope? ??????, ???? ??????! Practicing both ‘relationship’ and ‘task’ allows us to operate as a firm of reference and pioneer in the industry. No, we didn't solve all the problems of the world and that's okay. Instead, we asked: ?? What if this works? ?? What little steps can we take forward towards this huge vision? ?? How can we continue practicing joy, eagerness, and courage as we keep building? And with that spirit, we collectively turned the page -- honoring our legacy while embracing the future of KHA as bold, bright, and audacious. Our strategic framework is no longer just a document — it is something all of us can truly see ourselves in. Clients, partners, friends - you've probably felt this sense of ???????????????????????during our calls this week. KHA is *activated* - we are showing up for each other, ourselves, and for YOU as we keep stepping boldly into the future. Let’s get it done! ??’ - Keesha L. Coleman, MPA, LSS, CPC is our interim Director of Programs, a bomb project manager, and someone who always shows up with aplomb. #Leadership #TeamBuilding #StrategicGrowth #ConsultingFirm #RacialEquity

It's not every day that we feature a Program Officer who has served as a park ranger on #TheRACEPodcast! Nina Lagpacan, Program Officer at Oceankind, joins us on this episode and shares her journey leveraging her unique skill set in environmental conservation and organizational management to lead on foundation operations and manage grants and investments to advance ocean justice and equity. Listen to the full episode here ?? https://ow.ly/MYTW50TsLwx

As we celebrate three decades of the Reproductive Justice (RJ) movement, we also recognize there has been an intentional and unintentional co-opting of RJ. Abortion rights, or the right “not to have a child,” has been made central to the mainstream pro-choice narrative, propagated by (white) American feminism. While RJ, reproductive health, and reproductive rights are related, they are not interchangeable. So, what is RJ? An expansive and holistic framework that addresses the intersectional nature of Black liberation ?? RJ proclaims the right to bodily autonomy and sovereignty, and offers strategies toward access to dignified and equitable care ?? RJ prioritizes a commitment to protecting and valuing Black lives and Black leadership through movement building and organizing. ?? RJ pushes for equal access to human rights and well-being while bringing an awareness to the reality of racialized factors in human care. This movement is about creating a world where all people have the resources, power, and self-determination to make decisions about their bodies, families, and futures. What might that look like? We invite you to imagine with us. Learn more about the Race, Healing and Joy initiative at: https://lnkd.in/grnW9fJJ #ReproductiveJustice #BlackLeadership #2024Election #HumanRights #PastPresentFutureofRJ

We do this work first, as an inside job. That's why we incorporated the things our clients love about working with us into our Team Retreat. What are those things, you ask? ? prioritizing relationship before task ? creating tailored solutions based on strengths and needs ? being both practical and participatory ? balancing “being” with “doing” in racial equity and justice work. After several days together thinking about our legacy -- including influencing over $340 billion in philanthropic assets -- we're ready to focus on our future! Thanks for being part of it. We're ready to dream in service of what's possible with you.?Are you ready for a conversation? Reach out! #SystemsChange #ConsultingFirm #Philanthropy #RacialEquity #ChangeManagement

As a tech-enabled startup founder—particularly one who connects companies with remote contractors and consultants—there's always talk about scalability and how to enable people to be more productive and cost-efficient and get results from wherever they are. But for me, there's still something about connecting in-person...shaking hands, giving hugs, doing the electric slide together...you know, the usual. So it was such an honor and joy to celebrate with one of Uplevel's clients, Keecha Harris & Associates, as they celebrated their 25th Anniversary last week. Before Thursday, I had spoken to Keecha for precisely 15 minutes, as I explained how one of our consultants could help her organization (one thing you can count on me to do is respect your time!). And the occasion was even more special because I also got to meet Gina Bollus, the amazing consultant we connected with KHA almost a year ago, who flew in from Massachusetts. Massachusetts - Birmingham - Atlanta...connecting to celebrate the important work and IMPACT of KHA. And here's what I've really been sitting with from that night.... One of Keecha's clients referenced Toni Morrison in describing her and her approach to the work. I'm going to share the full quote as Ms. Morrison said it: "I stood at the border, stood at the edge, and claimed it as central. And let the rest of the world move over to where I was." It was evident in that room that Keecha and her team have stood firm in her vision—but instead of sitting back and waiting on the world to catch up, they are doing the necessary work to bring others over. And it felt like an invitation to do the same. So here's to the power of connection and the inspiring work our clients are doing to change the world ?? #uplevelcommunications

Still processing ?? Our 25th anniversary celebration was the realization of a dream I had at the dinner table in '99 ... wondering if I could model something new and different for my daughter while lifting up racial equity, justice, and liberation in philanthropy. Our work is complex. Keecha Harris and Associates, Inc. team members are always in the trenches of multi-year systems change projects. We keep tending seeds. We don't always stop to enjoy the garden. But how lovely it is to do so, with an intentional community who's got our back. Thank you all for wholeheartedly believing in us, as we work to make the world a better place than we found it in.??? I am full of wonder at what the next 25 years will bring. We have so many more fun adventures ahead of us, systems level change to be a part of, and dreamy futures to contemplate. You ready to see what's next??

"Let's talk about the opportunities for us to advance health equity." As #racialequity practitioners, we must be able to begin a conversation about racial equity from a different place when a situation calls for it. Jasmine N. Hall Ratliff, Executive Director of Build Missouri Health, shares how she employs several strategies to advance racial equity transformations, sometimes without even using the words "racial equity". How does she do it? Tune in ?? https://ow.ly/MYTW50TsLwx

? Our goal? Collective action to center Black sovereignty and transform the Reproductive Justice ecosystem to promote sustainable healing and joy. To that end, our Race, Healing, and Joy (RHJ) project team gathered for a 3-day working retreat to deepen programmatic strategy and strengthen relationships to support the powerful work of this initiative. Our project team works remotely throughout the country, often wrestling with abstract or heavy concepts through Zoom. So, to laugh, to make meals, and to dream about the future possibilities of this work was healing in and of itself! Just being together gave us new meaning for the promise of Reproductive Justice and motivated us to keep building upon the seeds sown in 1994 by 12 visionary Black women. The work of Race, Healing and Joy continues.? ? Our hope?? That you join us. Ready to learn more about this initiative? Send us a message, let's talk. #ReproductiveJustice #BlackLeadership #Healing #Joy #ReproductiveFunder

Effectively advancing racial equity requires us to be skilled communicators and translators. With the topics of race and racial equity being so emotionally charged, it's even more important for us to be able to hold tense conversations with patience and openness. Deep gratitude to Jasmine N. Hall Ratliff, Executive Director of Build Missouri Health, for sharing her wisdom on this episode of #TheRACEPodcast! Listen to the full episode here ?? https://ow.ly/MYTW50TsLwx