OUR MISSION
Honoring the insights and intuition of visionary leaders of color in philanthropy, we create brave spaces for uncovering the roadmaps to just futures and recovering our innate capacity to freedom dream.
Our work embraces the tradition of freedom dreaming uplifted by Robin D.G. Kelley and descends from a lineage of Black feminist theory and methods. We also draw on insights from academics spanning many disciplines, who represent the leading edge of thought on liberation and racial justice.
OUR STORY
With this intellectual and theoretical grounding, we embarked on a journey through inquiry with over 25 foundation CEOs and Executive Directors of color with expressed commitments to racial equity. We asked about their childhood dreams, the early experiences that shaped their aspirations, their paths into philanthropy, the values that guide their work in the sector, and their dreams for philanthropy and the world.
These conversations underscored the tremendous value of these leaders to the field. They also strengthened our belief that through solidarity with visionary leaders of color, deep listening, and collaboration we can bring about a future where everyone is included, beloved, and has what they need to thrive.
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By moving us beyond problems and into possibilities, Freedom Dreams in Philanthropy will facilitate developing collective visions, an important step in the direction of the world we all desire. We believe that together we can remake our institutions and systems in ways that encourage cooperation over conflict, sharing over control, love over fear.
MEET THE FREEDOM DREAMS TEAM
Chera Reid, Efraín Gutiérrez, and Trinel Torian come to Freedom Dreams in Philanthropy with career experiences that span the social sector, including philanthropy, nonprofit leadership, social policy & evaluation, and academia. As leaders and practitioners, we have lived the challenges and possibilities inherent in the philanthropic sector. Our previous work in philanthropy and adjacent spaces make us well-positioned to develop and engage in research and deep listening with and for our peers.
Chera Reid
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Dr. Chera Reid recently served as co-executive director of CEI, which partners with philanthropy to provide changemakers the space and resources needed to advance racial justice and create an equitable future. Chera previously served as Director of Strategic Learning, Research, and Evaluation at the Kresge Foundation, where she guided one of the nation’s largest private foundations to become an intentional learning organization rooted in values of equity and opportunity. She co-led foundation-wide efforts to raise consciousness about race and the impact of structural racism as the foundation made a comprehensive commitment to advancing equity. Before joining Kresge, Chera worked at MDRC, where she focused on ensuring that all students have access to quality public education and can pursue a college education that matches their needs regardless of their family income. She has held leadership positions at New York Needs You and the Phillips Academy Andover Institute for Recruitment of Teachers. Chera serves on the boards of Grantmakers for Effective Organizations and ProInspire. She holds a Ph.D. from New York University.
Efraín Gutiérrez
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EfraÃn Gutiérrez recently served as senior fellow with the Center for Evaluation Innovation. He is also a Visiting Fellow with the Evans Policy & Innovation Center at the University of Washington. EfraÃn has dedicated his career to advancing belonging, dignity, and justice in the social sector. He came to CEI after serving as inaugural Head of Impact and Evaluation at the Obama Foundation. During his tenure, he oversaw equity-centered evaluation practices that significantly increased access to high-quality, multicultural, valid data to inform decision-making, improve strategy, and measure impact. Prior to the foundation, EfraÃn was Associate Director for Equity Partnerships at FSG, a global consulting firm that focuses on social impact. There he advised over 25 foundations, corporations, governments, and nonprofits on the development of strategic plans, evaluation systems, and program evaluations. He also co-led efforts to embed racial equity into FSG’s culture and consulting practices. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Universidad Panamericana in Guadalajara Mexico and a master’s from the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance at the University of Washington. He is a proud queer immigrant from Capilla de Guadalupe, a small town in Jalisco Mexico and currently lives in San Francisco CA.
Trinel Torian
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Dr. Trinel Torian is a sociologist and postdoctoral fellow at University of California, Berkeley, where he completed his Ph.D. His research examines educational inequality with an emphasis on the historical, legal, cultural, and organizational factors that affect the experiences and success of racial/ethnic minorities and socioeconomically disadvantaged students. From his work assessing the efficacy of policy initiatives at the elementary and secondary level, his study of university affirmative action and educational opportunity programs, to his research on historically black colleges and universities, Trinel has displayed a keen and passionate interest in advancing racial equity and social justice. Prior to Berkeley, Trinel worked as a program development assistant at MDRC where he helped the organization foster and maintain relationships with foundations and coordinated reporting on funded programs. During his time at MDRC he also participated in research activities in the organization’s K-12 policy area, gaining insight on a range of educational issues. Trinel earned his bachelor’s degree from Colgate University where he studied sociology and political science.
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