Storytime with Sunjit: How WeThrivers Are Shaping the Future of WeThrive
Something Powerful is Happening Here
Let me take you back to the start of summer… The sun was bright, the energy was high, and Meme and I had just completed our 10th WeThrive cohort! It was one of those moments that makes you pause and think, “Wow, something powerful is happening here.”
But with this milestone came a big question: What’s next? WeThrive wasn’t just a program anymore—it was a movement. It was a place where BIPOC nonprofit leaders were finding their voice, building authentic relationships, and stepping up to drive systemic change. As we thought about the future, we knew one thing for sure: whatever came next had to be rooted in the real experiences of the community.
Now, Meme and I could’ve just put our heads together for a 4-hour strategy session, brainstorming the next steps on our own. But that didn’t feel right. It didn’t align with our guiding principle: to make sure that WeThrive’s evolution is driven by the voices, needs, and dreams of BIPOC leaders. We needed to do this with the community, not for the community.
Mapping the Future
So, we decided to try something different. Instead of mapping out WeThrive’s future ourselves, we invited our alumni to help us shape it. And just like that, the WeThrive co-planning process was born. We brought together alumni from various cohorts to form focus groups, each with a unique mission. The first group, our Foundational Focus Group, wasn’t just there to share ideas—they co-created the very questions we’d use to evaluate WeThrive’s impact.
Next up was the Impact Evaluation Focus Group, where alumni got real about how the program had shaped their leadership styles and deepened their community connections. We listened as they shared stories of breakthroughs, personal growth, and moments that shifted their perspective on what’s possible. We heard about the power of storytelling to heal, inspire, and drive change—not just in their work, but in their lives.
And finally, the Feedback and Improvement Focus Group. This was where things got real. Alumni shared what was working, what wasn’t, and what we needed to change to truly meet their needs. It was honest, raw, and exactly what we needed.
Collective Wisdom
The result of all this collective wisdom is the Strength in Diversity: WeThrive Evaluation Report. This report goes beyond telling the story of WeThrive’s impact; it’s a roadmap for where we’re headed. It’s filled with key findings that shed light on the real, lived experiences of BIPOC nonprofit leaders in Austin, highlights the transformative strengths of the program, as well as actionable recommendations that will drive WeThrive into the future. This report is our collective reflection and our collective vision for what’s to come.
We’re excited to share the insights and lessons learned from this evaluation in the upcoming blogs. We hope this series not only inspires you but also sparks new ideas for how we can all create spaces that honor and empower BIPOC leaders.
The journey of WeThrive is just getting started. We invite you to be part of it by exploring the full report.
Ready to dive deeper into WeThrive’s story? Download the full Strength in Diversity: WeThrive Evaluation Report and see how our alumni’s voices are shaping the program’s future. Whether you’re looking for inspiration, insights, or a blueprint for creating impact in your own community, this report has it all.
Download the Report
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WeThrive cohorts consist of peer BIPOC nonprofit leaders that grow, collaborate, and change the world together through their stories. Each cohort consists of four coaching circles with up to 8 participants. They are open to BIPOC Executive Directors and CEOs and co-led by Meme Styles and Sunjit Khamba.