Dismantle Systemic Racism!

We The People

As advocates for economic equity, our leadership is committed to disrupting the status quo. We know that economic power and privilege continues to be unevenly distributed throughout our country. We aim to transfer this power to Black and Brown leaders and the communities they serve.

Displacing Systemic Racism with Access to Opportunity

Our founders put their money where their hearts were by raising the initial $20M. Now, we invite others to join us! Together, let's render old, racist systems obsolete and replace them with wide-open thoroughfares of opportunity.

Our Team

Dr. Makeeba McCreary

President, New Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund (NCF)

[email protected]

Dr. Makeeba McCreary has been president of the New Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund since September 2021.
Prior to NCF, she was the Patti and Jonathan Kraft Chief of Learning and Community Engagement at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Her work expanded the MFA’s annual community celebrations and established the Black Arts and Artists Curators Circle. Makeeba also helped MFA curators integrate community voices into exhibitions, including the critically acclaimed Writing the Future: Basquiat and the Hip-Hop Generation.
During the pandemic, Makeeba’s team created digital programming of the museum’s live exhibitions, receiving a Best of Boston award. Makeeba also implemented paid internship opportunities and student-curated exhibitions.
Prior to the MFA, Makeeba was Managing Director and Senior Advisor of External Affairs for Boston Public Schools. She was also founder and CEO of AbekaM Consulting and Educational Policy Consultant for Compass Consulting. Additionally, she sits on the Boards of Directors for a wide range of local organizations,
A native Bostonian, McCreary has a Ph.D. in education from the Teachers College at Columbia University, a Master’s from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and a Bachelor’s in psychology from the University of Massachusetts, Boston.

Nadia Harden

Chief of Program & External Relations

[email protected]

As Chief of Program & External Relations Nadia designs and implements comprehensive strategy for partner engagement. Her work focuses on leveraging collective capacity-building and team management to deepen current partnerships, manage resources, and strengthen collaboration and leadership.
Nadia joined NCF from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston where she was Sr. Manager of Audience Development & Engagement. In this role, she designed opportunities to engage new and existing audiences at the MFA by developing, supporting, and maintaining relationships with community and neighborhood organizations.
Prior to the MFA, Nadia served as the Campaign & Annual Fund Manager, and the Corporate & Community Engagement Manager for Boston Public Schools (BPS), Office of External Affairs. Her work focused on designing and executing engagement opportunities to increase individual, corporate, and institutional commitment to BPS. Nadia also managed the BPS Street Team, the district’s marketing and community engagement teen fellowship.
Nadio has also worked with Research for Action (RFA), performing policy research and as a Graduate Student Fellow with the Youth Sentencing and Reentry Project in Philadelphia, PA.
Nadia has a B.A. in International Studies from Spelman College and her M.S. in Social Policy from the University of Pennsylvania, School of Social Policy and Practice.

Olivia Chin

Manager, Portfolio Impact and Capacity Building

[email protected]

As Manager of Portfolio Impact for the New Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund, Olivia works on general fund operations and program development/implementation. At University of Maryland, Olivia served as President of College Mentors for Kids, a national nonprofit mentoring program, which helped to solidify her desire to positively impact her community upon graduation.

Olivia graduated in May 2020 from the University of Maryland, College Park with a Bachelor’s degree in Government and Politics, with a concentration in International Relations.

Lauren Bardsley

Development Consultant

[email protected]

Lauren comes to NCF with years of experience in development operations, fundraising, and event management. Most recently, as the Development Director for the International Spy Museum in Washington DC, Lauren oversaw fundraising events, development communications, and corporate fundraising with focus on community and accessibility initiatives. Throughout her career, Lauren has worked with organizations including the Dimock Center, The Nonviolence Institute, Providence Student Union, and the National MS Society. She has a MS in Political Science and Public Policy from Northeastern University and a BA in Anthropology and Political Science from the University of Rhode Island.

Lilliam Doriscat

Executive Assistant

[email protected]

Lilliam joined NCF after serving as the Special Events Coordinator and Assistant to the Head of School at Boston Arts Academy. In this role, she coordinated and led in-person and virtual events during the school year while working with arts department chairs and school leadership on school-wide projects.

Prior to joining Boston Arts Academy, she served in several operations-based roles at Excel Charter High School and KIPP Massachusetts, where she handled work that took place outside the classroom, so teachers could focus on their work inside the classroom. She also supported the leadership team at KIPP and helped coordinate enrollment for 200-plus new students and all enrichment programming and events for more than 500 total students, in partnership with teachers across multiple schools.

At Boston City Hall, she worked at the Mayor’s 24-Hour Hotline, now known as the Constituent Service Center or BOS:311. Lilliam continues to be involved as an alumna at Bottom Line and Summer Search, which supported her through high school and beyond. Lilliam has her B.A. in International Affairs and Human Services from Northeastern University.

Daniela Mira

Manager of Portfolio Impact and Skills Based Volunteering

[email protected]

Daniela started at The New Commonwealth Fund in August 2022 as Manager of Portfolio Impact and Skills Based Volunteering. She is responsible for designing and implementing a comprehensive strategy for engagement with corporate partners through a skills-based volunteering program.

Daniela joined NCF from GreenLight Fund Boston, where she worked on a small team to identify critical needs in Boston and employed innovative, entrepreneurial programs that made significant and measurable impacts. She also worked to galvanize local support to help these programs achieve and sustain their impact.

As a graduate student, Daniela interned at various nonprofits in Boston, including the Baker Center for Children and Families, The Children's Trust, and the Boston College Center for Work and Families. Daniela received both her Masters in Social Work and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Boston College.

Our Board

Damian W. Wilmot

SVP, Chief Risk & Compliance Officer, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated

Director, Chair

Founder

Damian Wilmot is responsible for leading Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ Global Compliance, Global Litigation, Enterprise Risk Management, and Business Continuity organizations. Before taking on his current role in 2017, he was the company’s Chief Litigation Counsel and served as Interim Head of Compliance and Interim Head of Human Resources. His previous professional experience includes serving as the Chief Litigation Counsel for another global pharmaceutical company and as a litigation partner with Goodwin Procter LLP. Damian was previously an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Massachusetts and worked as a judicial law clerk on the State of Connecticut Supreme Court. He has served on the boards and advisory committees of numerous nonprofit, civic, and for-profit organizations including the Massachusetts Judicial Nominating Commission (by gubernatorial appointment), the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, HarborOne Bank, and the Boys and Girls Club of Boston. In 2010, the Boston Business Journal recognized him as one of Boston’s outstanding business leaders under the age of 40. He was also honored as one of Boston’s most influential people of color in healthcare and life sciences.

Mr. Wilmot is a graduate of Trinity College and Suffolk University Law School in Boston.

Myechia Minter-Jordan

President and CEO, CareQuest Institute for Oral Health

Director, Vice Chair

Founder

Myechia Minter-Jordan is President and CEO for CareQuest Institute for Oral Health. She leads a diverse group of health improvement experts in original research, data analysis, grantmaking, health improvement initiatives, oral health innovation, education, and advocacy in the pursuit of achieving oral health of all. In 2019, she joined DentaQuest after 12 years at Roxbury-based Dimock Center, the second-largest health center in the Boston area. As CEO, she formed partnerships with world-class institutions, including Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and Partners HealthCare to advance person-centered care. She serves on several boards and committees, including the Blue Shield of California, Yawkey Foundation, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, The Boston Foundation, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.

She was an attending physician and instructor at Johns Hopkins Medicine and graduated from Brown University School of Medicine and the Johns Hopkins University Carey School of Business.

Dominic Blue

Head of Strategic Planning & Delivery, Mass Mutual

Director

Founder

As Head of Strategic Planning and Delivery at MassMutual, Dominic Blue directs strategic initiatives designed to achieve long-term growth and profitability. Prior to joining MassMutual, Dominic practiced corporate law for nearly a decade at some of Boston’s top firms. Dominic’s other roles include President of the Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association and board member of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s Audit and Finance committee. In 2016, he received the 2016 Founders’ Award from the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Economic Justice.

Dominic holds a B.A. from the College of the Holy Cross and a J.D. and M.B.A. from Boston College.

Juan Alexander Concepcion

Legal Counsel, Boston Scientific Corporation

Director

Founding Ally

Juan Alexander Concepción is an experienced litigator, counselor, and trainer in workplace compliance, risk assessment, and strategic workforce management. He currently serves as Legal Counsel for Boston Scientific Corporation. Concepción previously served in-house at MassDOT/MBTA, directing employment policy and compliance, employee relations, and strategic business initiatives. He also served as in-house counsel and business advisor for a publicly traded, high-tech firm based in CA, supporting HR professionals and managers. As outside counsel at Nixon Peabody and Burns & Levinson, he represented numerous public and private employers in the healthcare, energy, education, financial markets, technology, manufacturing, and transportation industries.

Juan is a long-serving director of Lawyers for Civil Rights. In 2017, he was awarded the Massachusetts Association of Hispanic Attorney's Leadership Award for outstanding leadership and excellence in the legal community.

With four Boston College degrees (B.A., M.Ed., M.B.A., J.D.), Concepción serves with distinction on the University’s Board of Trustees and holds an adjunct faculty appointment. He is also a trustee for St. Columbkille Partnership School and for his alma mater—Cardinal Hayes—in the Bronx. Hayes recently awarded Juan its Cardinal Spellman Award for outstanding community service and excellence in the legal profession.

Jerry Cox

Principal, Gerard Cox and Associates

Director

Founding Ally

Jerry Cox is an experienced, results-oriented Executive Coach and DEI and Organization Development Consultant, with over thirty years of experience. He was a senior consultant in the Department of Leadership and Organization Development at the McBer/Hay Group, where he remained for five years before establishing his own consulting practice.

Jerry studied organizational behavior at the Harvard Business School and the Sloan School of Management at MIT. He also received a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and Organizational Behavior from Harvard University.

Linda Dorcena Forry

Vice President of External Affairs at Suffolk Construction

Director

Founder

Linda Dorcena Forry is a former Massachusetts State Senator and State Representative. She held elected office for 13 years while working in the public sector for over two decades in both state and local government. At Suffolk Construction, Linda directs Suffolk’s national strategy to strengthen their diversity and inclusion platform and develop long-term strategies that support the company’s vision. As a leader and strategist, Linda helps reinforce a wide array of Suffolk’s community engagement initiatives. She also works closely with the Trade Partner Diversity program which promotes businesses owned by people of color, women, and veterans.

Linda is a graduate of Boston College Carroll School of Management, and holds a Masters in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

Pamela Everhart

SVP, Head of Regional Public Affairs & Community Relations, Fidelity Investments

Director

Founder

Pamela Everhart oversees Fidelity's state and local government relationships, public affairs, and community relations activities at its Boston headquarters and across the U.S. Previously, Pamela led the firm’s advocacy strategy and engagement with government officials in Washington, D.C. on federal regulatory policy. Pamela also led Fidelity’s Personal Investing and Workplace Solutions business units’ external retirement and benefit policy development efforts. Prior to joining the firm, Pamela was an associate at global law firm Ropes & Gray LLP.

Pamela received a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin and a Juris Doctorate from Harvard Law School. She is admitted to practice law in MA and before the Supreme Court. Recently honored by the Boston Business Journal as one of Boston’s “50 Power 2021 Movement Makers,” Pamela is a leader in the community, active across several service organizations, and a member of many nonprofit boards.

Paul Francisco

SVP, Chief Diversity Officer at State Street

Director

Founder

Paul Francisco serves as Chief Diversity Officer and Head of Workforce Development Programs at State Street Corporation. In this role, he develops and implements inclusion, equity, and diversity programs that impact 40,000 employees, their clients, and their communities. Prior to joining State Street, Paul was Managing Director and Co-founder of Foster & Francisco, LLC, an executive search and diversity consulting firm. He also held recruiting and relationship management positions at both Bank of America and Fidelity Investments.

Throughout his career, Paul has received numerous awards, including a Certificate of Achievement from Governor Deval Patrick for his work with the Hispanic community. He was a member of Boston Business Journal’s “Top 40 Under 40” and El Planeta Newspaper Powermeter’s “100 Most Influential Latinos in Massachusetts” in 2007, 2013, and 2014. Paul was also recently appointed by Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker to serve on the state’s Black Advisory Board Commission.

Paul is a graduate of Boston University and UMass Boston. He also completed The Partnership Inc. Associates, Fellows, and Next Generation Executive programs.

Damon Hart

EVP, Deputy Chief Legal Officer, Liberty Mutual Group

Director

Founder

Damon Hart serves as Liberty Mutual Group’s Executive Vice President and Deputy Chief Legal Officer. Damon is responsible for the management of litigation brought against Liberty Mutual Group member companies. Previously, Damon served as Senior VP and Deputy General Counsel for Employment, Compensation, and Benefits. In these positions, he operated as the company’s Chief Employment, Compensation, and Benefits Counsel for 45,000 employees, across 30 countries.
Prior to joining Liberty, Damon was a partner at three national law firms: Littler Mendelson, Ogletree Deakins, and Holland & Knight. While in private practice, Damon focused on litigation and employment matters. Damon has extensive experience in complex business disputes with federal, state, and local administrative agencies, in arbitration and before state and federal courts. Damon has also worked on a variety of class action matters and has provided business advice on contracts, benefits, and real estate development matters. He also serves on the Board of Directors for The Home For Little Wanderers.
Damon is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross, where he was a starting forward on the basketball team, which appeared in the 1993 NCAA tournament. He also graduated from Boston College Law School.

Manuel Lopes

Executive Vice President, public markets & government relations

Director

Since 2021, Manny Lopes has served as Executive Vice president for public markets and government relations for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, the largest private health plan in Massachusetts and one of the largest independent, not-for-profit Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in the country. The company serves nearly 3 million members and more than 20,000 employers and is consistently rated among the nation’s best health plans for overall member satisfaction.

Previously, Manny Lopes served as president and chief executive officer of East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, the largest community health center in Massachusetts and one of the largest in the United States. Under his leadership, the health center significantly increased its number of patients served, was award Top Place to Work by the Boston Globe and Forbes Magazine, and was recognized by NCQA, Joint Commission and HRSA for high quality care.

Manny has a long history of developing innovative programs that improve health care quality, access, and equity. He is the co-founder and founding chair of the Community Care Cooperative, the largest Medicaid ACO in Massachusetts which was created and governed by health centers and exclusively focused on advancing community-based care for MassHealth members. Manny also co-founded Advocates for Community Health, a national advocacy organization for innovative health centers focused on equity and impact.

Manny has served on multiple transition committees for Governor Charles Baker, Mayor Marty Walsh, Mayor Michelle Wu, and Governor-elect Maura Healey. He previously served multiple years as Chair of the Boston Public Health Commission where he helped lead Boston’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. For his efforts, Manny was recognized at Governor Baker’s final State of the Commonwealth address and was Senator Warren’s special guest for President Biden’s first joint Address to Congress.

Manny has been recognized by the following: Boston Magazine’s List of 100 Most Influential Bostonians, Boston Business Journal’s Power 50: Boston’s 50 Most Influential People, and “Get Konnected,” Boston’s 50 Most Influential People in Healthcare.

Manny currently serves on the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, Health Equity Compact, New Commonwealth Foundation, and the Institute of Contemporary Art’s board of directors. Manny was awarded an Honorary Doctoral Degree from Suffolk University and served as their 2022 commencement speaker. He received his MBA from Northeastern University’s D’Amore-McKim School of Business.

Fred Lowery

Senior Vice President and President, Customer Channels, Thermo Fisher

Director

Founder

Fred Lowery is Senior Vice President and President for Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Customer Channels business, which includes overseeing Fisher Scientific, the company’s industry-leading channel business for laboratory supplies used in academic, pharma and biotech markets.

In January of 2022, Fred also assumed responsibility for Thermo Fisher’s business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Since joining Thermo Fisher in 2005, Fred has held a number of senior leadership positions across the company, including previously serving as President, Life Sciences Solutions and Laboratory Products.

Fred serves on the Board of Trustees for Boston Medical Center and on the Board of Directors for DuPont. He is also on the Board of Directors for the New Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund, in addition to the Board of Trustees for both Tennessee Tech and its Foundation.

Fred received a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Tennessee Tech and a Master of Science degree in manufacturing management from Kettering University.

Quincy Miller

President, Eastern Bank

Director

Founder

Quincy Miller is President of Eastern Bank and its parent Eastern Bankshares, Inc. Quincy started his career in consumer banking, where he developed a passion for “leading from the front line.” He uses this approach today to guide colleagues with diverse backgrounds and different life experiences.

Quincy is committed to supporting equity for youth in his community. He serves on the boards of directors for The Boys and Girls Club of Boston, The Bottom Line, The Alliance for Business Leadership, Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA, NACD New England, and The Greater Boston YMCA Board of Overseers. He is also Board Emeritus of The Greater Boston Food Bank and The Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts. Quincy has been recognized for his achievements by Get Konnected, the Boston Business Journal, and Power 50. For his commitment to diversity & inclusion, Quincy received the 50th Anniversary Award at the 2020 Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast.

Quincy is a graduate of Lafayette College, where he earned a B.A. in Economics and Business, and of the Consumer Bankers Association’s Graduate School of Retail Bank Management.

Rodney C. Pratt

Chief Legal Officer at LVMH North America

Director

Founder

LVMH North America is proud to announce that Rodney C. Pratt has joined the company’s leadership team as Chief Legal Officer. Rodney will oversee the North American business and lead the LVMH Inc. legal team. He will partner with the LVMH Maisons, providing proactive and pragmatic legal counsel regarding worldwide regulatory, corporate, litigation and commercial matters.

With over 20 years of global legal experience, Rodney joins LVMH from Nike, where he has spent the last eleven years. Rodney has worked at the corporate level, as well as at the brand level as General Counsel for Converse for over six years. Most recently he was VP, Office of the General Counsel Operations, Innovation and Strategic Initiatives at Nike. Rodney is an Adjunct Professor at Howard University School of Law where he co-teaches a course on Sports & Social Justice. Rodney is a Co-Founder and Board member of the New Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund, which is based in Boston, MA. Rodney also serves on the Board of Directors of Massachusetts Eye & Ear, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. Rodney is Co-Chair of the Minority Corporate Counsel Association’s Advisory Board. Rodney is a graduate of the College of William & Mary and received his law degree from the George Washington University Law School While in law school, Rodney served as a White House Intern in the Office of the Chief of Staff under the Clinton Administration. Rodney proudly serves as a mentor and advisor to attorneys of all practice areas and backgrounds.

Greg Shell

Partner, Founder of Goldman Sachs Inclusive Growth Fund

Director

Founder

Greg Shell joined Bain Capital Double Impact as a managing director in 2016. Prior to joining, Greg served as a Lead Portfolio Manager of a concentrated Global Equity product at GMO. Previously, Greg was a Senior Equity Analyst at Columbia Management Group and a Consultant at Bain & Company in its Strategy and Private Equity practice areas.

Greg earned his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and received a Bachelor of Science from MIT.

BJ Trach

Partner and Executive Committee Member, Latham & Watkins

Director

Founder

BJ Trach, a Partner in Latham’s Litigation & Trial Department and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee, represents companies and individuals facing a variety of complex commercial matters, as well as white-collar defense and government investigations. BJ has successfully defended organizations in healthcare, life sciences, technology, retail, and other industries against high-stakes claims brought by shareholders, customers, and community stakeholders. He also represents companies and individuals in criminal and civil investigations, brought by various government entities, such as the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and state attorneys general.

BJ is a graduate of Harvard University, where he earned a B.A. in Economics and Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School.

Our Advisors

Hilina D. Ajakaiye

Robert Alan

Che Anderson

Michael Bobbitt

Bithiah Carter

Chris Cook

Mo Cowan

Founder

Michael Curry

Deb Enos

Stephen Hall

David Howse

Duane Jackson

Malia Lazu

Founder

Valerie Mosley

Founder

Dr. Gislaine Ngounou

Terrence O’Toole

Femi Obi

Colette Phillips

Founding Ally

Desiree Ralls-Morrison

Founder

Carla Reeves

Mary Skelton Roberts

Marta T. Rosa, M. ED.

Darryl Settles

Andrea Silbert

Lauren Smith

Rebekah Splaine Salwasser

Founder

Marie St. Fleur

Corey E. Thomas

Founder

Kenn Turner

Pratt Wiley

100%
of NCF investments
support Black and Brown communities
$8M+
given out
to support over 100 nonprofits across the Commonwealth
50%
of the non-profit
organizations NCF supports are woman led

Career Opportunities

NCF is always seeking fiercely dedicated people who want to change the world by dismantling systemic racism and racial inequality.