RISE. LEAD. TRANSFORM.
Horizon Collective is a six-month leadership program that supports a cohort of women and gender-expansive leaders of color in Boston who drive grassroots movements and organizations. These leaders participate in monthly facilitated sessions that curate space for exploration and tap into a wide range of tools and exercises so participants deepen their own understanding of their leadership style, opportunities for continued growth, and celebrate their talents. These hands-on sessions build confidence, self-awareness, and practical skills that participants can immediately apply to their advocacy and leadership efforts.
Horizon Collective envisions a future where women-identifying leaders of color break through boundaries and expand their influence. Just as the horizon symbolizes endless possibilities, this program empowers participants to rise above limitations, fostering a new era of leadership rooted in strength, resilience, and vision. Horizon Collective is where leaders come together to explore uncharted territory, lifting each other as they surpass expectations and lead with purpose, paving the way for lasting change in their communities and beyond.
NOT YOUR TRADITIONAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
CENTERED IN COMMUNITY.
This program centers the hearts and souls of women and gender-expansive leaders of color. It's about building bonds among women and gender expansive folks with shared experiences and challenges. We know the trauma of operating within systems of white supremacy culture and the isolation often experienced in the workplace.
Horizon Collective is about working together to restore what those systems have stripped away — the truth that we are enough. We believe that through curating spaces for us to be seen, heard, and welcomed, we are better able to build confidence, nurture our gifts, and move towards greater community impact.
A space for leaders of color whose gender identities have been persistently excluded.
Horizon Collective is grounded in the understanding that race and gender shape our personal and professional experiences. This program is intentionally designed as an affinity space for those navigating the complexities of gender and racial inequality in the workplace.
PROGRAM DETAILS.
Our Horizon Collective Aims To:
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Cultivate space for women and gender-expansive leaders of color to authentically connect, share, and build relationships
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Intentionally curate opportunities and activities for participants to explore and deepen their ability to live into their personal style of leadership
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Elevate the talents and develop strategies to address barriers to full expression of those talents
Participant Criteria
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Must identify as a woman or gender-expansive person of color* in a leadership position of any level**
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Community-based leaders who are doing community-based work
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Have decision-making power in their organizations/communities (Senior Director or above)
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Have limited access to professional development and opportunities to access an enhanced network
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Must be able to attend all sessions
A non-traditional application
process builds our cohort.
Our applicants are contacted for a group interview to discuss their leadership journey.
During the group interview, the applicant and 4-6 members of their inner circle are interviewed together by the selection committee. This is an opportunity for the selection committee to meet the people who can speak to the different experiences of the candidate and how they have impacted the lives of others. This format is our way of bringing letters of recommendation to life and creating a more personal and human-centered experience.
The members of the candidate’s inner circle could include colleagues, community members, mentors, mentees, and others who could speak to their reputation of civic engagement in the community. All applicant responses are held confidential and only reviewed by the Cohort Selection Committee. We then notify all applicants of decisions by email.
*Gender-expansive is inclusive of gender-nonconforming, genderfluid, nonbinary, genderqueer, transfeminine, agender and all trans-identified individuals. We are committed to supporting communities and individuals historically excluded from institutional philanthropy – including, but not limited to LGBTQIA people, immigrants and refugees, and people with disabilities. As such, we strongly encourage applications from individuals who identify with these groups and/or other marginalized communities.**We define “leadership position” as a role where an individual makes leadership decisions within their organization or is leading a team or department.
HISTORY.
Originally conceived by Natanja Craig Oquendo, Executive Director of BWF, alongside Andrea Madu and Stephanie Guidry of the Boston Foundation, with support from the Boston and Angell Foundations, the program was developed by a team of visionary women of color leaders, including Aba Taylor, Kelly Bates, Talissa Lahaliyed, and others who embody joy, resilience, and creativity.
Inspired by trailblazers Anna Faith Jones and Frieda Garcia — —the first women of color to serve as CEO and Board Chair of the Boston Foundation in the 1990s—this program honors their legacy of partnership, vision, and impact. In 2023, the program transitioned fully to the Boston Women's Fund, facilitated by Interaction Institute for Social Change (IISC), and continues with support from the Boston and Angell Foundations. Over the past three years, it has grown into a movement that uplifts women and gender-expansive leaders of color across multiple sectors.
In 2024, with facilitation support from Liz Najjar, Founder and Executive Director of Shadida Solutions, and Alex Auguste, Deputy Director of BWF, we engaged alumni from each cohort to help redesign the program, which included a new name to better reflect our vision and evolution. While our mission remains the same— to support, uplift and amplify women and gender expensive leaders of color—we’re embracing a fresh identity that reflects limitless possibilities and a vision towards the future: the Horizon Collective.