Published on CompassPoint (https://www.compasspoint.org)

Home > Blog
February 26, 2026

Legacy of Love for Black Leaders: A Conversation with Spring Opara [1]

In this conversation with Kyla Hartsfield, spring reflects on her leadership journey. From testing the system in the military to helping CompassPoint become a laboratory for a decolonized, Pro-Black leadership practice. She names the courage it takes to do something that doesn’t yet exist, and invites us to honor intuition and lead in ways that seven generations from now will thank us for.
We share this conversation with deep gratitude for spring’s contributions and with a hope that it sparks reflection in you. 

Enjoyed this episode and want to hear more about our commitment to Black Leadership?

Read CompassPoint's Black Affinity Group's Discussion on Black Leadership: https://www.compasspoint.org/blog/getting-critical-mass-conversation-pro-black-leadership  [2]

 

Read More [1]
Add Comment [3]
Tags: pro-Blackness [4] Black Leaders [5] Self-Care [6] Radical Visioning [7] Leadership Development [8] Capacity Building [9] Love [10] Legacy [11]
December 12, 2025

A Farewell Message From Steve: 27 Years of Evolution [12]

CompassPoint veteran Steve Lew reflects on his 27-year journey at our organization with humility, appreciation, and grace for what has been and what is to come.

 

Read More [12]
Add Comment [13]
Tags: Leadership [14] equity [15] Fundraising and Development [16]
September 21, 2025

Choose Your (Re)Adventure: A Guide for Reconnection, Release, Renewal, & Resourcing [17]

Originally created by CompassPoint's Culture & Community team for staff, this activity and reflection guide has been adapted for our community at large as an invitation and offering for you to center your humanity and wholeness while navigating this period of deep change and transition.

 

Read More [17]
Add Comment [18]
Tags: Leadership [14] equity [15] Self-Care [6]
June 25, 2025

Newsflash: Cisgender People Don't Own Gender [19]

CompassPoint's Capacity Building & Consulting Team Member Joe Jackson reflects on how cisgender people's relationship to gender can come at the expense of trans people while ultimately costing gender liberation for everyone.

 

Read More [19]
Add Comment [20]
Tags: Leadership [14] equity [15] Race/Power/Privilege [21] Interpersonal Communication [22]
May 27, 2025

Liberatory Practice and Racial Equity: Three Perspectives on Leadership in Disruptive Times [23]

CompassPoint partnered with ProInspire [24] and Leadership Learning Community [25] to reflect on what has shifted and what has remained constant in the leadership development field and social change sector over the last five years, from the start of the pandemic to this current political moment.

 

Read More [23]
Add Comment [26]
Tags: Leadership [14] equity [15] Strategy [27] racial justice [28] Race/Power/Privilege [21]
April 29, 2025

“And Now, I Get to Be Part of the Change”: How the Personal Is Also Powerful [29]

CompassPoint Project Director Simone Thelemaque looks back on her journey into leadership and reflects on how being witnessed, listened to, and invited in by others became a catalyst for her stepping into her own power.

 

Read More [29]
Add Comment [30]
Tags: Leadership [14] equity [15] Race/Power/Privilege [21]
March 26, 2025

Claiming Our Power in an Era of Transformative Change [31]

CompassPoint Executive Director Shannon Ellis reflects on the overlapping crises of this political moment and invites everyone in progressive organizations and the social change sector to consider how we can tap into the creative side of our power.

 

Read More [31]
Add Comment [32]
Tags: Leadership [14] equity [15] Strategy [27]
January 30, 2025

Getting to Critical Mass: A Conversation on (Pro-)Black Leadership [2]

CompassPoint’s Black affinity group members convened for their first publicized dialogue about (pro-)Black leadership: what it means, why it matters, and how our organization is deepening our commitment to it.

 

Read More [2]
Add Comment [33]
Tags: Race/Power/Privilege [21] Leadership [14] equity [15] racial justice [28]
November 12, 2024

The First Week [34]

An evergreen, timely poem and offering that paints a picture of a world we can co-create, together. 

 

Read More [34]
Add Comment [35]
October 16, 2024

Black Feminist Thought Should Be Centered in Equity & Justice Work [36]

"There's been this experience of the invisibility of Black feminist thinkers, of Black women-identified intellectuals in general, especially those who are talking about power and oppression, and now I don't have to keep them hidden." CompassPoint's very own Joe Jackson reflects on incorporating Black feminist theory and unpacking power, privilege, and oppression in a new leadership development program, "Building Equitable & Just Organizations Through Individual & Relational Practices."

 

Read More [36]
Add Comment [37]
Tags: Race/Power/Privilege [21] Leadership [14] equity [15] Interpersonal Communication [22]

Pages

Have questions?

Let's talk!

info@compasspoint.org

Privacy Statement

Stay connected

Facebook TwitterInstagramLinkedIn

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Newsletter Sign-up

Source URL:https://www.compasspoint.org/blog/contra-costa-safety-net-initiative-innovation-network

Links
[1] https://www.compasspoint.org/blog/legacy-love-black-leaders-conversation-spring-opara [2] https://www.compasspoint.org/blog/getting-critical-mass-conversation-pro-black-leadership [3] https://www.compasspoint.org/blog/legacy-love-black-leaders-conversation-spring-opara#comments [4] https://www.compasspoint.org/blog/tag/pro-blackness [5] https://www.compasspoint.org/blog/tag/black-leaders [6] https://www.compasspoint.org/blog/tag/self-care [7] https://www.compasspoint.org/blog/tag/radical-visioning [8] https://www.compasspoint.org/blog/tag/leadership-development [9] https://www.compasspoint.org/blog/tag/capacity-building [10] https://www.compasspoint.org/blog/tag/love [11] https://www.compasspoint.org/blog/tag/legacy [12] https://www.compasspoint.org/blog/farewell-message-steve-27-years-evolution [13] https://www.compasspoint.org/blog/farewell-message-steve-27-years-evolution#comments [14] https://www.compasspoint.org/blog/tag/leadership [15] https://www.compasspoint.org/blog/tag/equity [16] https://www.compasspoint.org/blog/tag/fundraising-and-development [17] https://www.compasspoint.org/blog/choose-your-readventure-guide-reconnection-release-renewal-resourcing [18] https://www.compasspoint.org/blog/choose-your-readventure-guide-reconnection-release-renewal-resourcing#comments [19] https://www.compasspoint.org/blog/newsflash-cisgender-people-dont-own-gender [20] https://www.compasspoint.org/blog/newsflash-cisgender-people-dont-own-gender#comments [21] https://www.compasspoint.org/blog/tag/racepowerprivilege [22] https://www.compasspoint.org/blog/tag/interpersonal-communication [23] https://www.compasspoint.org/blog/liberatory-practice-and-racial-equity-three-perspectives-leadership-disruptive-times [24] https://www.proinspire.org/ [25] https://leadershiplearning.org/ [26] https://www.compasspoint.org/blog/liberatory-practice-and-racial-equity-three-perspectives-leadership-disruptive-times#comments [27] https://www.compasspoint.org/blog/tag/strategy [28] https://www.compasspoint.org/blog/tag/racial-justice [29] https://www.compasspoint.org/blog/%E2%80%9Cand-now-i-get-be-part-change%E2%80%9D-how-personal-also-powerful [30] https://www.compasspoint.org/blog/%E2%80%9Cand-now-i-get-be-part-change%E2%80%9D-how-personal-also-powerful#comments [31] https://www.compasspoint.org/blog/claiming-our-power-era-transformative-change [32] https://www.compasspoint.org/blog/claiming-our-power-era-transformative-change#comments [33] https://www.compasspoint.org/blog/getting-critical-mass-conversation-pro-black-leadership#comments [34] https://www.compasspoint.org/blog/first-week [35] https://www.compasspoint.org/blog/first-week#comments [36] https://www.compasspoint.org/blog/black-feminist-thought-should-be-centered-equity-justice-work [37] https://www.compasspoint.org/blog/black-feminist-thought-should-be-centered-equity-justice-work#comments [38] https://www.compasspoint.org/blog/contra-costa-safety-net-initiative-innovation-network?page=1 [39] https://www.compasspoint.org/blog/contra-costa-safety-net-initiative-innovation-network?page=2 [40] https://www.compasspoint.org/blog/contra-costa-safety-net-initiative-innovation-network?page=3 [41] https://www.compasspoint.org/blog/contra-costa-safety-net-initiative-innovation-network?page=4 [42] https://www.compasspoint.org/blog/contra-costa-safety-net-initiative-innovation-network?page=5 [43] https://www.compasspoint.org/blog/contra-costa-safety-net-initiative-innovation-network?page=6 [44] https://www.compasspoint.org/blog/contra-costa-safety-net-initiative-innovation-network?page=7 [45] https://www.compasspoint.org/blog/contra-costa-safety-net-initiative-innovation-network?page=8