Our Inspiration
Racial injustice, inequity, and the systems designed to perpetuate them have defined our nation’s history.
In the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education ruling, the Supreme Court stated “…it is doubtful that any child may reasonably be expected to succeed in life if he is denied the opportunity of an education. Such an opportunity…is a right which must be made available to all on equal terms.”
We believe the spirit of this decision was a promise to decouple race from access and, more broadly, to break the predictive links between identity and outcomes overall.
However, we have yet to deliver on that promise. Nearly seven decades later, institutionalized oppression, micro-aggressions, discrimination, inequity, and violence still obstruct the path to self-determination and a life trajectory full of choices for people from involuntarily marginalized communities. Race, in particular, remains the strongest single determinant of life outcomes in the US.
This can’t continue. Promise54 was formed to enable organizations to deliver on the promise of equity.
Our Vision for Equity
Our Core Values
Champion Justice
We acknowledge the impact of historical inequities and are committed to pursuing anti-racism specifically and social justice generally. We do this by examining mindsets, behaviors, and structures —one organization and one leader at a time, starting with our own. We believe all young people, especially those of color and those growing up in low-income communities, deserve to have adults acting boldly on their behalf —challenging the status quo, spotting and addressing inequities, sharing power, and, perhaps most importantly, amplifying previously-silenced voices that must be heard.
Be Well
We know that to do our best work, we must accept and support each other in all our humanity. We have fun, laugh out loud, celebrate each other’s life milestones, and show up unapologetically with as much of our full selves as we’re willing to generously share. We practice flexibility related to where and how we get our work done, respecting each other’s professional preferences and life priorities. We carve out time to relax, recharge, and refuel individually and as a team.
Pursue Impact
We are committed to helping adults live out their fullest potential, so they can offer their very best to the communities they serve. This means we relentlessly pursue the best outcomes with our partners, and, in the process, we choose courage over comfort. We strive to consistently deliver excellent work and an unparalleled client experience to inspire effective action, advance equity, and help our partners realize their missions.
Embrace Possibility
We approach our work with a sense of possibility, adaptability, and optimism. We invest time in new ideas, engage in thoughtful problem solving, and explore innovative ways to do our work.
Be Humble
We don’t have all of the answers, so we listen closely to our colleagues, our partners, and our communities as they tell us what’s working and what’s not. We embrace those who push our thinking. This learning makes us and our work better.
A letter from…
Xiomara Padamsee
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Meet the Team
Our Supporters
ALISON BROCK MCGILL
Associate Partner
She/Her/Hers
Alison is: a proud native of Durham, North Carolina; a loving wife, a helpful daughter and a slightly imperious sister; a social justice champion; a marathon runner; a Black, cisgender, able-bodied, intersectional feminist who cares deeply about poverty alleviation and economic empowerment in historically oppressed communities. In her spare time, Alison enjoys international travel (especially to Francophone countries), full-bodied red wines, and supporting Black-owned businesses. Alison's 10-plus years of social impact experience include roles as the Director, Social Impact Strategy at IPG Mediabrands; Founder of The Brock Method--a boutique nonprofit and social enterprise consultancy benefiting communities of color; Corporate Social Responsibility Fellow at Turner Broadcasting, Inc.; Social Innovation Fellow at StartingBloc; and, Board President at Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls. Alison holds a BA in Journalism from Howard University and an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley Haas School of Business.
Contact Alison: alison@promise54.org
ANDREW GREENIA
Consultant
He/Him/His
Contact Andrew: andrew.greenia@promise54.org
ANNE EIDELMAN
Board Member
She/Her/Hers
APRIL CHOU
Board Member
She/Her/Hers
CORNELIUS LEE
Associate Partner
He/Him/His
Contact Cornelius: cornelius@promise54.org
COURTNEY BROUN
Operations Manager
She/Her/Hers
Contact Courtney: courtney@promise54.org
DAWN ALBERT
Consultant
She/Her/Hers
Contact Dawn: dawn@promise54.org
HEATHER HARDING
Board Member
She/Her/Hers
JAIME GRIMSLEY
Consultant
She/Her/Hers
Contact Jaime: jaime@promise54.org
KIERA VINSON
Consultant
She/Her/Hers
Contact Kiera: kiera@promise54.org
KIMBERLY OSAGIE
Partner
She/Her/Hers
Contact Kimberly: kimberly@promise54.org
KRISTE DRAGON
Board Member
She/Her/Hers
Kriste Dragon is the chief executive officer of the Pahara Institute. In her prior role as Co-founder and CEO of Citizens of the World, a national network of tuition-free schools committed to serving diverse communities across the country, Kriste and her team’s work has been recognized as a model for building understanding and connection.
In addition to her experience as a middle school teacher, instructor at UCLA, and board chair for several charter schools, Kriste’s professional path has also included experience at the systems level. As Vice President of Regional Operations for Teach For America, Board Chair of EdNavigator, Board Member of the National Charter Collaborative, Board Member of Promise54, Advisory Board Member of the National Association for Charter School Authorizers, and Broad Academy Fellow, Kriste has grounded her life and work in the fundamental belief that all children deserve the opportunity to realize their full potential.
Kriste has served as a moderator for numerous fellowships and programs including Pahara-Aspen, Pahara-NextGen, Aspen Action Forum, and Aspen Young Leaders. As a result of these experiences, Kriste is more committed than ever to strengthening and sustaining diverse, high-integrity leadership in order to reimagine public education for all students in America and beyond.
Kriste holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Georgia and a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Alabama. She is based in the Los Angeles Area, where she lives with her three children.
LESLIE NAIR
Partner
She/Her/Hers
Contact Leslie: leslie@promise54.org
LATRICIA BARKSDALE
Chief Strategy & Operations Officer
She/Her/Hers
Contact Latricia: latricia@promise54.org
LORA COVER
Partner
She/Her/Hers
Contact Lora: lora@promise54.org
LOUIS GORTON
Operations Manager
He/His/Him
Contact Louis: louis@promise54.org
LUCERITO ORTIZ
Associate Partner
She/Her/Hers
Contact Lucerito: lucerito@promise54.org
MARILIN MORALES
Operations Coordinator
She/Her/Hers
Contact Marilin: marilin@promise54.org
MICHAEL CORRAL
Associate Partner
He/His/Him
Contact Michael: michael@promise54.org
MONISHA LOZIER
Partner
She/Her/Hers
Monisha is: a proud midwesterner, the wife of a submariner-turned-data geek/amateur bluegrass musician, a flawed-but-awed mother, a lucky daughter, a passionate coach, a fired-up feminist, an obsessive connector, and a work in progress. Monisha’s 25+ years of executive search and career coaching experience include roles as: a Co-Founder & Partner of Bellwether Education Partners, Managing Consultant in the education practice of AT Kearney Executive Search, and as a Client Partner in Korn/Ferry International’s education practice. Monisha holds a BA from Connecticut College and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
Contact Monisha: monisha@promise54.org
RAQUEL GREENE
Operations Coordinator
She/Her/Hers
Contact Raquel: raquel@promise54.org
REBECCA KNICELY CAGLE
Partner
She/Her/Hers
Contact Rebecca: rebecca@promise54.org
TIFFANY WILLIAMS
Consultant
She/Her/Hers
Contact Tiffany: tiffany@promise54.org
UNSUK ZUCKER
Associate Partner
She/Her/Hers
Contact UnSuk: unsuk@promise54.org
VANESSA DOUYON
Partner
She/Her/Hers
Contact Vanessa: vanessa@promise54.org
XIOMARA PADAMSEE
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
She/Her/Hers
Contact Xiomara: xiomara@promise54.org