Today we’d like to introduce you to Shonda Brooks.
Hi Shonda, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My initial idea career plan was that I was going to go into the fashion industry — that was my dream. At the time I finished school – I went to the Fashion Institute of Technology – there weren’t many African American buyers for the big stores like Bergdorf Goodman, so I found myself doing some modeling to get my foot in the fashion industry door, but I knew that wasn’t going to be sustainable.
After I had my daughter, I wanted to do something more sustainable and mission-based work presented itself to me and I felt strongly about it. I started working in public health at New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell hospital. And I continued to do mission-driven work with Planned Parenthood Global then with Habitat for Humanity and finally now with Global Fund for Women which is moving its headquarters to Atlanta. At Global Fund for Women, we fund organizations that work for gender and racial justice. To know that the work I’m doing will help my daughter and the generation after my children and grandchildren is incredibly important to me.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As a single Black working mother and raising a daughter, there were always struggles along the way including finding and getting childcare. I was fortunate to have the village of women in my life to trust to be a caregiver for my daughter so I could continue to work.
But all of the obstacles led me to the path that I am on right now, if it wasn’t for them, I don’t think I’d be where I am today. They made me stronger, wiser and a more focused person.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Global Fund for Women supports gender justice movements around the globe to create meaningful change beyond our lifetimes. Through our gender equality funding, we have supported grassroots organizers to end civil wars, get female presidents elected, and secure laws giving new protections to millions of people. We’ve provided over $180 million in grants to feminist organizations.
This fall we are moving our headquarters to Atlanta. Our intention for the move is to have South-to-South connection from the U.S. South to the Global South and vice-versa. We want to connect movements across those geographies and see how we can partner with local organizations.
August is Black Philanthropy Month, a time to pause and celebrate the legacy of Black giving and supporting movements that will create meaningful change. Black communities, and especially Black women, are creating solutions to problems that affect everyone—let’s fund them!
Global Fund for Women are committed to providing support—funding and more—to activists, networks, organizations, and movements working towards gender and racial justice for all. We call on other funders to join us to shift resources and power to the Black, Indigenous, and other communities who have long fought against violence, and who know their community needs best.”
What were you like growing up?
I grew up amongst a bunch of strong independent Black women. I was always at my grandmother’s round table – starting from as young as age three I remember hearing the conversations, the laughter, the jokes, the sisterhood, the community they have. I embrace that legacy, and I still continue that tradition. Every three months, everyone in my family comes to my house so that the younger generations get to hear stories and learn from the older generations. This is something I hold dear to my heart, continuing the legacy of my family.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.globalfundforwomen.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/globalfundwomen/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GlobalFundforWomen
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/globalfundwomen
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/globalfundforwomen
