About the Show
Created by Yolanda F. Johnson in 2020, Deconstructing Development is a vodcast that will now also include some live studio audience sessions as well throughout 2022-2023. At DD, we aim to help women to flourish, to amplify voices and to give a space for difficult and important conversations to take place.
Co-hosts, Yolanda F. Johnson and Jill Slattery join special guests for colorful and insightful dialogue, inviting the audience to participate in a Q&A during each episode. It’s not a webinar; it’s a conversation. We invite you to join the conversation!
A Message from the Creator of Deconstructing Development
Picture it. Spring 2020 and the world came to a standstill. From the racial justice movement to the pandemic, we were shellshocked, trying to make sense of our new normal. I wanted to keep a sense of community for women in fundraising and philanthropy, so I pondered, what could do that? How do we even use Zoom to full capacity? It was crashing because so many people were using it, but we needed to come together to have a space for dialogue and giving voice to important issues facing our sector and world.
So, I created Deconstructing Development. I thought, “Let’s sit down and have meaningful conversations. Let’s tackle difficult topics. Let’s get through this together.” I knew I wanted it to be something “development” and I love alliteration, so I began the search for the perfect “D” word to accompany it. Dancing with Development? Of course not. Diving into Development? Um, no. Dismantling it? Yikes! Aha - Deconstructing it. Breaking it down for us to help women be successful in their lives and careers. I contacted my friend and colleague, Jill Slattery, asking her to be my co-host. And, Deconstructing Development was born.
I knew I’d created a chameleon-like space that we could use to be helpful to women in our profession, whatever they might need.
Our first episode focused upon self-care, but over time, we tackled racial justice, inclusion for people with disabilities. It really ran the gamut. I knew I’d created a chameleon-like space that we could use to be helpful to women in our profession, whatever they might need. And now, we’re expanding this incredible program beyond NY audiences, to a global audience and we cannot wait to move things forward.
Thank you for being a part of our journey as we expand Deconstructing Development, where we break things down to help women be successful in their lives and careers. Join the conversation!
Onward, Upward, Forward,
About Yolanda
With a wealth of experience in the non-profit sector, Yolanda F. Johnson, a leader in fundraising, philanthropy and Inclusion, Equity and Diversity, has developed training methods for boards and leadership groups in effective fundraising strategy and in racial and gender equity, in addition to successfully launching fundraising and marketing initiatives; creating special streams of earned income and special events, including creative strategies for partnerships and sponsorships; securing foundation, corporation and government funding, and cultivating a diverse major gifts portfolio. Her philanthropic work includes counseling philanthropists on where to direct their resources, and through her own YFJ Philanthropies, she personally gives back to causes supporting racial and gender equity, those with disabilities and the arts. A trailblazing figure on the nonprofit landscape, from 2019 - 2022, Yolanda was the first African American President in the history of Women In Development (WID), NY, one of the NY Metro Area’s premier professional fundraising organizations; she is the founder of Women of Color in Fundraising and Philanthropy (WOC)® and the founder of Allies in Action Membership Network, specializing in transformational anti-racism training and programming for the nonprofit sector. Yolanda is a sought-after keynote speaker, panelist, and moderator for various presenting organizations nationwide and internationally on topics related to DEI, Women’s Philanthropy, Fundraising and Public Speaking. She spearheaded WID’s first Diversity and Inclusion Task Force - a two-year endeavor - which culminated in a final report and accompanying article in The Chronicle of Philanthropy, where she served on a DEI Advisory Committee. She also served on a special DEI committee for the fundraising sector, established by Salesforce. Yolanda also conducts Diversity, Equity and Inclusion from the Inside Out, a special workshop on IED for nonprofit organizations. Her work has been featured in the recent publication, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Advancement: A Guide to Strengthening Engagement and Fundraising Through Inclusion, published through CASE. She serves on the Marketing Committee of Advisors in Philanthropy.
Her other leadership roles include serving on the Board of Directors of the Hudson River Museum, Lehman College Art Gallery and PowHer NY. She is also a Special Advisor to the American Composer’s Orchestra and the former United Nations NGO Rep and current International Advisory Board Member for the Foundation for Post Conflict Development.
Yolanda’s career as a successful performing artist and public speaker (www.yolandafjohnson.com) has given her a unique, creative perspective on the communications and presentation aspects of organizational development. With this in mind, she developed All the World's A Stage, a special workshop using performance practice for fundraising, philanthropy, and DEI. She presents All the World’s A Stage to professionals and leadership groups across the country. Yolanda was awarded the 2021 Changemaker Award from the Institute of Nonprofit Practice and is a founding member of the Women’s Philanthropy Alliance, a core group of industry experts and thought leaders on Women's Philanthropy. Yolanda was recently appointed to the Women’s Philanthropy Institute National Council as well as the Leadership Network for the Amplify Her Charitable Foundation.
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About Jill
With almost 30 years of experience in higher education fundraising Jill Slattery has contributed to major and principal gift programs at Columbia University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the London School of Economics and Political Science. She is a graduate of Hamilton College and the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs. In addition to her dedication to the development profession Jill enjoys time spent with family, friends, and travel.