Open Horizon 2024 Leaders Retreat
We held our 2nd annual Open Horizon Leaders Retreat in late January and it was beautiful. The community of nonprofit leaders that came together in Washington, DC was an extraordinary one. We are proud to know and be in partnership with these inspiring individuals and the important, change-making work they do.
We are also grateful to our talented retreat designers and facilitators, Michele and Naima, for creating such a supportive, reflective, open, and renewing space.
Additionally, we’d like to express a warm thank you to Ìpàdé for providing such an accessible and comfortable venue for our retreat.
Participants spent two days connecting with other leaders and reflecting on their roles and vision
The Participants
Liz Arrazola
Director of Adult Leadership, Casa Chirilagua
Alexandria, VA
Shari Benites
Conversations About Race and Belonging Parents Program
Alexandria, VA
Alana C. Brown
Executive Director, The Safe Sisters Circle
Washington, D.C.
Shaquille Dunbar
Director of Course Development & Impact
National Education Equity Lab
Jenice Fountain
Executive Director, Yellowhammer Fund
Birmingham, Alabama
George (Chip) Greenidge, Jr.
Founding Executive Director, Greatest MINDS
Boston, MA
Sarah Hollender
Acting Director, Tzedek DC
Washington, D.C.
Darlene Melk
Chief Medical Officer, The Rosa Vera Fund
Douglas, AZ
Nicole Newman
Executive Director, Critical Exposure
Washington, D.C.
Vaughn Perry
Director of Equity and Sustainability for the Douglass Community Land Trust
Washington, D.C.
Wendy Phipps
Chief Operating Officer, DC Affordable Law Firm
Washington, D.C.
Eli Rainhart
Director, Kidpower Virginia
Oakton, VA
L’Oreal Ranson
Program Director, New Orleans Women & Children’s Shelter
New Orleans, LA
Tricia Ritchie
Chief Development Officer, ACT for Alexandria
Alexandria, VA
Lamar Shambley
Founder and Executive Director, Teens of Color Abroad (TOCA)
Brooklyn, NY
Lisa Silverstein, Ph.D.
Senior Program Officer, Tribal Colleges and Universities
Denver, CO
Patrice Sulton
Executive Director, DC Justice Lab
Washington, D.C.
Elizabeth G. Taylor
Executive Director, National Health Law Program
Washington, D.C.
Lynn Thomas
Executive Director, Community Lodgings
Alexandria, VA
Misty Thomas
Executive Director, Council for Court Excellence
Washington, D.C.
Venorica Tucker
Founder, Let’s Go DMV
Washington, D.C.
Mark Wallem
Executive Director, Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives
New York, NY
Stephanie Wright
Co-Founder/Executive Director, Together We Bake
Alexandria, VA
Retreat Facilitators
Michele Berry [she/her]
Partner at Imagine Us
Dayton, OH
Naima Savage [she/her]
Associate at Imagine Us
New Orleans, LA
“Leadership is the ability to call forth your own best efforts, and the best efforts of others, to achieve a shared future that people care about.”
– From the book Missing Conversations: 9 Questions All Leaders Should Ask Themselves by Bridgette Theurer and Heather O’Neill Jelks