Episode
The effort to diversify nonprofit boards of directors
- Podcast
- Connections Podcast
- Published
- Jun 29, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 3055
- Processing state
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Summary
Who gets a seat at the table when the decisions that shape our communities are made? Many of those decisions happen in a place most of us rarely think about: the boardrooms of nonprofit organizations. Across the Rochester region, hundreds of nonprofits receive millions of dollars in public funding and philanthropic support to serve the community. Yet for decades, many of the people those organizations were created to serve had little or no representation on the boards that set their policies, priorities, and long-term direction. Guest host Julio Sáenz and his panel discuss a local initiative that has become a national model for diversifying one of the community's most influential centers of power: nonprofit boards of directors. In studio: LaCerius Cross, leadership development program coordinator for the United Way Nydia Padilla, co-founder of the Latino Leadership Development Program Septimus Scott, class of 2023 graduate and leadership development steering committee member of African American Leadership Development Program Rodney Young, one of the first graduates and past coordinator of the African American Leadership Development Program --- Connections is supported by listeners like you. Head to our donation page to become a WXXI member today, support the show, and help us close the gap created by the rescission of federal funding. --- Connections airs every weekday from noon-2 p.m. Join the conversation with questions or comments by phone at 1-844-295-TALK (8255) or 585-263-9994, email , Facebook or Twitter . Connections is also livestreamed on the WXXI News YouTube channel each day. You can watch live or access previous episodes here . --- Do you have a story that needs to be shared? Pitch your story to Connections .