The Call of Contemporary Leadership
"Ultimately, we need to be fueled by love, possibility, and determination," social change advisor Cedric Brown says, reflecting on the kind of leadership our world needs in our era of complex, interconnected crises.
A 2019 Fellow and member of our Board since 2022, Cedric shares this insight in a Q&A below, which celebrates his new role as AFRE Board Chair. Cedric assumed these new responsibilities earlier this year, following the conclusion of the outstanding tenure of President of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Damon T. Hewitt.
2019 Fellow and AFRE Board Chair Cedric Brown (3rd right) with (R-L) fellow Board Members Damon T. Hewitt, Mandisa Dyantyi, Sean Jacobs, Jee Kim, Ann Beeson and AFRE Consultant Fred Frelow.
To his work as Chair, Cedric brings far-ranging experience in the non-profit and philanthropic sectors. Over more than two decades, he has worked to create opportunities for people of colour through grant partnerships, leadership development, tech inclusion, college readiness and completion, arts and cultural representation, and civic engagement. Most recently, he managed Global Leadership Programs at the Obama Foundation.
A long-time supporter of the arts, Cedric is the founding donor of literary prizes now offered through the Museum of the African Diaspora, Lambda Literary, and the North Carolina Writers Network. Currently, he runs Blue Skies Advising, a boutique consultancy that supports non-profits and philanthropic organisations.
In the Q and A below, Cedric reflects on the values that have shaped his commitment to justice, what he appreciates about the AFRE community, and how love, among other values, is vital for leadership in our complex historical moment.
“I haven't given up on the idea that a better life can exist for every human in alignment with this bountiful ecosystem in which we live on Earth.”
What propels you as a leader?
When thinking about my own leadership efforts, I'm propelled by two primary ideas: hope for a better tomorrow and the sense that I have more to contribute. I haven't given up on the idea that a better life can exist for every human in alignment with this bountiful ecosystem in which we live on Earth. While the way that I contribute to that striving for the greater good might change depending on the situation and my stage of life, the inner feeling that I can and must participate in these pursuits never changes.
What qualities of the AFRE community inspire you?
I'm most moved by the love that I see practised in our AFRE community, both the love that we individually and collectively hold for African-descended people and the love that we each demonstrate for each other. I have deeply felt that love in my cohort of Fellows (big ups to 2019!), on the Board, among the Staff, and across cohorts at the monumental Homecoming held in 2022. We are part of something very special.
I also appreciate our community's spiritedness, intellect, determination, and courage. I'm so excited about our future and what we'll become as we welcome folks from other parts of the diaspora and world. Our challenge is to never become insular or jaded; may our community dynamic remain inclusive, caring, and purposeful.
Cedric Brown (left) with fellow member of AFRE’s 2019 cohort, Zakiya Carr Johnson
What kind of leadership does our world need at this time?
When considering what contemporary leaders need, courage is the first attribute that comes to mind, as these are particularly complex and challenging times, as we face both recycled and unprecedented threats to well-being.
Pushing beyond that, we need to be fueled by love, as we can't survive off anger. I'm trying to love myself so deeply that no one's hatred can injure me. We need folks who can see through the short-sightedness of disregard, and empathise and compromise. People don’t just come out the gate perfectly informed, so teaching and learning moments happen every single day.
I also appreciate people who are driven by intrinsic values and deeply rooted principles expressed through their actions. Lastly, we need leaders who can plan and play a long game, balanced by building momentum through short-term wins.
The sum of these is a tall but not impossible order. Indeed, in my personal and work life, I see people leaning into these values and crafting the new worlds that so many of us long for. Those people give me hope every day.