Tanya Edelin and Dilcia Molina-Sanchez (English)

Can we talk about...? Episode 4. Tanya Edelin and Dilcia Molina-Sanchez on shifting power to community in the boardroom at if Foundation

Overview 

In this episode, Tanya Edelin and Dilcia Molina-Sanchez share their experiences as board members of the if Foundation for Radical Possibility. 

Throughout their conversation, Tanya and Dilcia share what it feels like to be on a board that is willing to be radical, sit in the hard conversations and take action to shift power to community; a board that prioritizes inclusion – offering stipends to community board members and language interpretation services at every meeting – and is continuing to make adjustments as they diversify even more, so all members can fully participate. 

Together, they offer insight into what it took for the organization to get where it is today while recognizing and naming the work that still needs to be done in order to build a truly diverse and equitable foundation. 

Tanya and Dilcia’s conversation is supported by two language interpreters, Elizabeth McMeekin and Kathy Ogle. In the English recording, you will hear Kathy as the voice of Dilcia. 

 

References and Resources

  • Yanique Redwood
    Tanya references the work and legacy of Yanique Redwood, the former Executive Director of the if Foundation, who took the organization on the journey from a healthy equity foundation to a racial justice foundation.  
     
  • DMV
    The DMV is mentioned several times throughout the episode and is an acronym for the region that includes the District of Columbia (Washington DC), Maryland and Virginia 
     
  • Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey 
    Dilcia shares the importance of pausing and resting as a means of moving forward in racial equity work. She discusses how restorative and healing justice requires shifting toward a rhythm that does not center efficiency and moving fast. Dilcia also mentions the book, Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey, Founder of the Nap Ministry, which is a manifesto on how the practice of rest is a necessary antidote to dominant systems. 
     
  • Language Justice 
    The if Foundation practices Language Justice in its board meetings, providing a model for true inclusion and equitable spaces where individuals can feel empowered and understood in the language(s) they feel most comfortable speaking. You can find more information on Language Justice, including a Checklist for Building Bilingual/Multilingual Spaces at Antena Aire
     

 

Individual Reflection Questions

  1. Finish the following sentence: “In a utopian world…” What is one thing you can do today to get one step closer to that vision?
  2. Reflect on a time when you felt you couldn’t show up as your full self. What might have been getting in the way? 

 

Group Exercise

Checking In And Checking Out 
As Tanya and Dilcia model in this episode, check-in and check-out activities can help board members bring their full selves into the conversation while building connections and deepening relationships with one another.

To check in, Tanya and Dilcia answered the prompt, “How are you entering the space today?” and to check out, they each shared a quote or closing sentence. 

Below you can find tips and resources on designing check-ins and check-outs from our team as well as some of our favorite prompts. 

Tips: 

  • Try offering prompts that…
    • …invite the whole person into the space, across professional and personal 
    • …cue groups into place, seasons and holidays 
    • …support reflection on the past, present, and future
       

Resources: 

  • There are many check-in generators that you can find online. One that we love is from Daresay, which includes filters for reflective, creative or practical questions. You can also check out generators from The Digital Workspace and Range

 

Our Favorite Examples:

CHECKING IN

  • As you enter this space, what are you leaving at the door? What are you carrying with you?
  • What is putting a smile on your face? 
  • What is something you now love that you used to hate? 
  • What in your life (personal or professional) are you composting? What are you planting? 
  • What is on your “mixed plate”? 
    • “Mixed plate” is a reference to “plate lunch” - a food term borrowed from Hawaii to describe a plate with multiple entrees. This prompt is meant to encourage participants to think about what all they hold on their plates across their personal and professional lives. 

CHECKING OUT

  • What shifted for you today? 
  • What is one word to describe how you’re feeling as you leave this conversation?
  • What gave you pause today, or makes you want to reflect further? 

 

Episode Highlight

 

Credits

Can we talk about…? was produced by Aya Tsuruta (Executive Producer), Emily Daman (Producer) and Jesse McCune of Podfly (Audio Engineer).

Special thanks to our language interpreters Elizabeth McMeekin and Kathy Ogle for making this episode possible – and to Asha Hossain (Graphic Design), United Philanthropy Forum KM Collaborative (Web Support), Nancy Sanabria (Episode Host), Komiku (Music), and our Philanthropy Northwest and Giving Practice teams for their thought partnership including Jeanine Becker, Dawn Chirwa, Audrey King, Lyn Hunter, Jill Nishi, Abby Sarmac, Mark Sedway, Pat Vinh-Thomas, Mark Sedway for providing input on the check-in/checkout prompts. 

Thank you to the Ford Foundation for making this project possible. 

 


Tanya Edelin
Vice President Finance and Administration, Youth Invest Partners
She/Her

Tanya brings her nearly two decades of experience from Kaiser Permanente as well as her work at NAACP’s Legal Defense Fund and Youth Invest Partners to the conversation. 


Today, she chairs the Finance and Investment Committee, in addition to her role as Treasurer on if Foundation’s Board of Directors. Her work at Youth Invest Partners focuses on building organizational capacity through venture capital investing.

Dilcia Molina-Sanchez headshot
Dilcia Molina-Sanchez
Founder/ Co-Director of Madre Tierra
She/Ella

Dilcia brings to the conversation her deep experience in activism and organizing. Her struggle for LGBTQ rights and human trafficking prevention in Honduras led her to the United States as a political asylee, where she continues her activism for gender, racial, language, healing and economic justice through solidarity economies, especially cooperatives. 

 

She is currently Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee of the if Foundation Board of Directors and founder and co-director of Madre Tierra, an immigrant Latina women's organization in DC, MD and VA.

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