Long before diversity, equity and inclusion became buzzwords, Kelly Woodland was trying to recruit people of color to majority-white institutions and posing tough questions at meetings.
The work he and many others were doing was unpaid and often unappreciated, added Woodland, a Black man who has worked in Philadelphia-area nonprofits for more than three decades.
“Every job I’ve had, I’ve always done DEI,” he told Metro. “I’ve always worked to create access, create opportunities to ensure that there was broader representation.”
Now, he has an official role. Woodland was recently hired as the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey’s managing director of leadership equity, a position created after a June report showed a disconnect between Black-led nonprofits and funders.