RI Foundation chooses Woonsocket woman for minority leadership effort
WOONSOCKET – The state’s largest philanthropic organization has selected the inaugural class of a new minority leadership development initiative, and three of its members are from the Blackstone Valley.
The Rhode Island Foundation has selected David Dankwah and Monsurat Ottun, both of Pawtucket, and Nwando Egbuche Ofokansi of Woonsocket to participate in its Equity Leadership Initiative whose goal is to “build a pipeline of Asian, Black, Hispanic or Latino, indigenous or multi-racial candidates” for positions of influence throughout the state, the organization says.
Dankwah, Ottun and Ofokansi represent roughly 10 percent of all the members who were chosen for the inaugural class, according to the Rhode Island Foundation.
The leadership program is just one facet of a 3-year, $8.5 million plan by RIF to promote diversity and inclusivity – all with a focus on racial equity – above and beyond its traditional yearly allocation of grants to nonprofits and other community-based organizations, according to RIF Director Neil Steinberg.
“Eliminating disparities and inequities is among our core values, and is a major focus across all of our work in the community,” Steinberg said. “We use a racial equity lens while making decisions about allocating resources to improve health, educational success and economic security among other critical issues.”
Candidates for the ELI will participate in a 12-month leadership development program that includes monthly group work sessions, one-on-one coaching, a matchup with a mentor and networking with highly-placed connections across a variety of economic and social sectors.
“I am excited to get to work to cultivate the next generation of industry leaders – bank presidents, hospital
CEOs, leaders in academia and kindergarten through 12 education, corporate executives, policy-makers, judges and more – who are people of color,” said Angie Ankoma, ELI executive director and a vice president at RIF.
Ofokansi is a project officer with the Rhode Island Department of Health’s Health Equity Zones Initiative, where she provides support to Health Equity Zones across the state to address social determinants of health inequities.
“I am looking forward to learning from the mentors how to enhance my capacity for positive social impact. I can’t wait to get to know my
fellow cohort members who are some of Rhode Island’s most promising leaders of color and who share my commitment to racial justice,” she said.
In Woonsocket, she co-founded a community organizing group called the WATCH Coalition, which addresses violence, racism and discrimination by building inter-generational leadership and engaging in political action.
She earned a BA in sociology, philosophy, and African & African Diaspora Studies at Boston College; a graduate certificate in nonprofit leadership strategy at the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s in Social Justice and Community Organizing at Prescott College.
Dankwah is an associate pastor
at the Empowerment Temple Assembly of the International Central Gospel Church in Pawtucket. He represents the faith and minority communities on the Pawtucket Memorial Hospital Trust Advisory Committee.
“I want to grow in my capacity to have a broader impact as a pastor and as a transformational leader and advocate for equitable policies,” said Dankwah, who earned a BA in Economics at the University of Ghana and an MBA at Clark University.
Ottun is an associate city solicitor as well as the chief information security, data privacy and risk management strategist for the city of Providence, where she works on a broad range of civil and criminal litigation as well as contract matters.
She also serves as the Muslim-American liaison for the city of Providence.
“As a visionary, advocate and entrepreneur, I’m looking forward to the expansive network of thought partners I will get to engage from a lens of equity, leadership and social justice,” she said.
Prior to joining the City Solicitor’s Office, Ottun worked briefly for Rhode Island Legal Services handling matters in Family Court. She earned her JD at Roger Williams University School of Law and her BA in Human Development and MS in Cybersecurity from Boston College. In addition, she cultivates the strategic growth and development of individuals, organizations and businesses through her coaching and consulting initiative,
MOCCA.
She says she seeks to change the course of community and economic development practices by offering innovative strategies to small business development, partnerships and collaborations.”
Dankwah, Ottun, Ofokansi and the other members of the inaugural class were selected from nearly 100 applicants for spots in the program.
RIF is the largest and most comprehensive funder of nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island. Working with generous and visionary donors, the Foundation raised $68 million and awarded a record $87 million in grants in 2020. Since its centennial five years ago, the Foundation has awarded more than $284 million in grants and has raised more than $328 million.