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2026: Beginning Again Amid a Mental Pandemic
We are living through a time that defies easy explanation. People are struggling to find the words for what they are feeling. The reactivity, the sense that everything feels louder, faster, and heavier. The world as we know it is deeply divided and mentally strained. What we are living through is not new. History has shown us when fear, violence, and psychological destabilization are used to fracture communities and consolidate power. This is a modern version of a pattern t

Sonya Shields
Dec 29, 20257 min read


The Power of Being Seen: What it means for Black women to be recognized, not just represented
I recently attended the BLACKWEEK conference, an economic forum and cultural festival designed to help brands, founders, creators, and business leaders harness the cultural trends shaping the future. My dear friend Jodie Patterson had a conversation with the legendary writer and TV producer Mara Brock Akil about her hit Netflix series Forever . When Jodie asked how she was feeling because of the show’s success and the profound way she is being celebrated, Mara responded, “I

Sonya Shields
Oct 13, 20254 min read


Three Patterns Disrupting Nonprofit Culture and Sustainability
A year ago, I closed a chapter as Executive Director at Cause Effective and stepped into a liberating journey—one where I’ve doubled down...

Sonya Shields
Jul 26, 20257 min read


Beyond the Horizon: The Nonprofit Sector’s Call to Lead in an Era of Cosmic and Social Upheaval
The world is shifting—above us, within us, and all around us. As the Earth is moving through new regions of the galaxy—drawing closer to...

Sonya Shields
Feb 12, 20256 min read


Nonprofits Must Prepare for a New Era of Societal Transformation
Throughout 2019 I experienced a persistent feeling that something bad was coming that would rock America. It turned out to be COVID and...

Sonya Shields
Nov 18, 20244 min read


Transforming the Nonprofit Sector from the Inside Out
"Bringing about real change takes time. And each time we take a couple of steps forward, there's pushback from the forces in society that...

Sonya Shields
Jul 12, 20244 min read
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