Forward Through Ferguson Announces Executive Director Transition & Search
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Jia Lian Yang
314–396–2953
jia@forwardthroughferguson.org
Forward Through Ferguson Announces Executive Director Transition & Search
The anti-racist systems change organization celebrates David Dwight IV’s eight years of service and welcomes Faybra Jabulani as interim Executive Director
ST. LOUIS (January 24, 2023) — After faithfully serving Forward Through Ferguson (FTF) for eight years, beginning with a fellowship supporting the Ferguson Commission and continuing on as a founding staff member of FTF, current Executive Director + Lead Strategy Catalyst David Dwight IV will be transitioning out of the organization by the end of March 2023. The Board of Directors is undertaking an executive leadership search and has selected Faybra Jabulani, FTF’s current Lead Racial Equity Capacity Catalyst, as the interim Executive Director of the organization.
“The Board is deeply grateful for David’s service and wish him the best in his future endeavors. We have full confidence in Faybra’s proven organizational leadership, visioning, and strategic planning skills,” emphasized FTF’s Co-Chair of the Board, Josina Greene.
During David’s leadership tenure, his top two priorities were to scale the community impact of FTF and achieve sustainability for the organization. With courage and compassion, he expanded strategic partnerships, grew full-time staff from one to eight members, resourced the organization to support its growth from a small to mid-sized nonprofit, co-designed initiatives such as the Racial Healing + Justice Fund, co-launched policy advocacy coalitions, provided thought leadership, operationalized strategy, and more.
“Being a part of this movement for Racial Equity and justice — and part of the legacy of this particular organization, of the Ferguson Commission, and of the over 3,000 residents who shared their pain and hope to create its Report — has been a deep honor,” reflected David. “I am grounded in my confidence in the future of Forward Through Ferguson, and the clarity that as it enters into this next phase it does so with capable and brilliant leadership and a broader team, with a more developed rootedness in our values, with infrastructure we previously only dreamed of, and with deep connection to communities and leaders of color.”
Faybra Jabulani, FTF’s interim Executive Director, is a native St. Louisan and University City resident with a background in directing Racial Equity initiatives in the educational field as well as designing and facilitating Racial Equity curriculum, workshops and roundtables. She built FTF’s robust suite of Racial Equity Capacity Building offerings from the ground up and expanded FTF’s impact by growing the Racial Equity capacity, anti-racism skills, and action plans needed for transformational change with 400+ community advocates at anchor institutions, Biotech and STEM companies, local philanthropic foundations, and others. The board has full confidence in Jabulani’s proven organizational leadership, visioning, and strategic planning skills.
“I am honored to walk in the footsteps of David, and several other Catalysts that took up the Ferguson Commission’s charge to be Unflinching. Forward Through Ferguson is evolving to stand as an anchor institution for strategy, support, and accountability to the collective vision for racial healing and justice, and I am sincerely excited to be a part of this process of change,” remarked Faybra.
The organization’s Lead Council and Board believe that proactive succession planning is a crucial part of growing a healthy, sustainable organization. FTF will issue a Request For Proposals for executive leadership search firms in the upcoming weeks. The applicant review, interviews, and selection process for the new Executive Director will be led by an ad hoc Board Search Committee, before a finalist is selected and announced in summer 2023.
“David’s courageous leadership, passion for justice, and magnetic energy left bold and indelible marks upon the direction and culture of the organization,” commented FTF’s Co-Chair of the Board, Elise Miller Hoffman. “As a result of his visionary leadership, FTF is well-resourced and positioned to enter a new era of strategic planning that further cements its role in the region as a wayfinder and convener of people, grassroots groups, and organizations invested in transforming the St. Louis region towards Racial Equity.”
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Click here to read David’s reflections from his tenure at Forward Through Ferguson.
