Today we’d like to introduce you to Bianca Myrick.
Hi Bianca, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I am a mother, sister, daughter, former educator, nonprofit leader, adjunct professor, and consultant. I honestly consider myself a social entrepreneur.
I founded the nonprofit Pretty Purposed due to my experiences as a young girl growing up in an under-resourced community. I wish there was an organization like this as I was growing up. Once I became a classroom teacher I also realized that more than ever today, girls need a safe space and so much more than just the academic curriculum. So I started a nonprofit that cultivates spaces of joy for adolescent and teen girls. We do this through social-emotional learning, mentorship, youth-led advocacy, and enrichment. We operate in twelve schools and two community-based centers.
For quite some time I was juggling my career as a 5th and 6th grade teacher while running the nonprofit. Finally, I left to fully embrace my role as executive director of the nonprofit, and I started my consulting business, along with teaching a couple of classes at my Alma Mater- Virginia State University.
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?
I would say the main struggles were balancing working my full-time job as a teacher while building the capacity of the nonprofit. I really had to be a stickler about time management. Once I realized that I wanted to be a nonprofit leader full-time – I also had to develop an exit plan from my teaching career. Now I am in two part-time executive director roles, teaching at the university and consulting. It seems like a lot, but I really enjoy what I do, and I manage my roles well.
Another struggle is how Black and Brown led, community-based nonprofits face philanthropic inequities. It takes staff and capacity to run quality programs, and Black led organizations should be fully resourced like White led orgs.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My work entails such a variation of things.
Pretty Purposed specializes in youth development from a girl-centered perspective. My role at the Virginia Association for Environmental Education (VAEE) involves me strategically leading the organization to continue empowering the environmental movement through professional development, outreach and engagement, connecting communities to environmental education, and network development. As an adjunct professor at an HBCU, I supervise student teachers and I teach a course around the nonprofit, social change, and philanthropic sectors. I like to think of my students as the next wave of educators, community leaders, and social change agents. My role as a consultant is pretty dynamic. I have done training, facilitation, organizational development, curriculum writing, and a variety of other things that are a compilation of my skills and lived experiences.
Right now, as a nonprofit leader, I am really energized by coalition and network building across Pretty Purposed and VAEE to strengthen communities. I am also digging into transformational leadership. As a business owner, I am enjoying helping organizations through change.
When I think about each role, I love the strategic and community-building aspects. I enjoy models of shared leadership, and I am proud of the work that I have been able to accomplish in community with others.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Philanthropically people can donate to Pretty Purposed or Virginia Association for Environmental Education. I am always looking for guest speakers to join my class at Virginia State University virtually.
I would love for people to follow each organization on social media (Instagram/Facebook) or visit our website:
@vaee
@prettypurposed – www.prettypurposed.org
@collective365info
I would also encourage them to become a member of Collective 365, where I am a board member. Collective 365 centers Black and Brown Communities in the DC, Maryland, Virginia area through equitable grant-making and trust-based philanthropy. The website is www.collective365.org
