Emani Donaldson
Placed at Open Doors for Multicultural Families
What excites you about being part of the Pathwaves Fellowship? What are you hoping to gain from the experience?
Through this fellowship, I hope to enhance my leadership skills, expand my knowledge in policy development, and gain hands-on experience in community engagement and advocacy. I aim to build a network of like-minded professionals and leaders of color dedicated to driving systemic change. This experience will allow me to bring innovative solutions and a stronger, more informed approach to the communities I serve.
Share a little about your journey and why you are excited about early childhood policy work.
My professional journey has been driven by a commitment to equity and social justice, particularly for BIPOC communities and individuals with disabilities. As a mother to a young child, I am dedicated to creating sustainable change and ensuring that every child, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to thrive. I believe in the power of community-driven solutions and the importance of elevating marginalized voices in policy discussions. Additionally, I have worked closely with families providing case management, resource navigation, and facilitating trauma-informed support groups. My work has always focused on promoting equity and inclusivity for these vulnerable populations.
What are you looking forward to doing at your placement site?
In my current role as Advocacy and Civic Engagement Manager, I coordinate trainings and organize events to enhance advocacy and civic engagement knowledge, which directly aligns with Pathwaves’ mission to build collective power of leaders of color. Open Doors for Multicultural Families delivers services from a culturally and linguistically relevant framework; prioritizing community engagement and mobilization as a key tool in understanding the unique needs and challenges faced by our diverse communities. Coalition building and meeting facilitation are essential for fostering collaboration among various stakeholders, ensuring that different perspectives are considered in policy development.
What are two things that most people don’t know about you?
- I am a published author in Fostering Families Today Jan/Feb 2024. My article Caring for Caregivers, shed light on the policy changes within DCYF while centering kinship families and sharing their stories.
- I started elementary school in Germany.
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