The Momentum Summit

The MOMENTUM Summit convenes Black thought leaders from around the country for dynamic conversation to cultivate ideas and solutions for today’s pressing issues. We explore emerging trends in Social Justice, Philanthropy, Education, and Community Investment with leaders sparking off one another as they collaborate on strategies to navigate obstacles and share resources to propel change.

Join us Summer 2025! Martha’s Vineyard, MA

Check out 2024’s Inaugural Momentum Summit

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2026 Nominations & Registration Opens Soon

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Watch the 2024 Momentum Summit sponsor video.

Sadiqa Reynolds, CEO of Perception Institute

Sadiqa Reynolds (SUH DEE QUA) is the CEO of Perception Institute, where she leads a consortium of researchers and strategists to implement mind science solutions to reduce inequities affecting people of marginalized races, genders, ethnicities and other groups.
Reynolds, an attorney and former judge, has spent most of her life advocating for access for all. She is recognized for her ability to manage crises, solve problems, and build unlikely coalitions. Because of her work, she has twice addressed the NGOs of the United Nations on the subjects of global poverty and racism.

Before joining Perception Institute, Reynolds served as president and CEO of the Louisville Urban League (LUL), where her appointment made her the first woman to hold this title in the affiliate’s 102-year history. During her seven-year tenure, she built partnerships with diverse groups of stakeholders across political, racial and religious lines, increased the budget from $2.6 million to $17 million, and became recognized as a national civil rights leader. She visioned and spearheaded a capital development that turned 24 acres of contaminated land into a $53 million state-of-the-art sports and learning center. In addition to cleaning the contamination, the project spurred unprecedented economic growth in one of the most underinvested zip codes in Louisville, garnered national recognition, with SportsTravel Magazine ranking the venue #2 among worldwide venues to “keep an eye on,” and was named Project of the Year by Business First Magazine.

Reynolds’ proven experience advancing initiatives from the boardroom to the streets or vice versa equips her with a perspective that allows her to boldly lead with compassion, courage and cultural competence.

She has earned recognition as Person of the Year by Louisville Magazine, a Woman of Power by the National Urban League, Community Leader of the Year by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Most Admired CEO by Louisville Business First, Small Business Leader of the Year by Greater Louisville Inc. and an Enterprising Woman to Watch by Louisville Business First. She’s also received the Fannie Lou Hamer Award and the Joan E. Thomas, M.D. Lifetime Achievement Award for Peacemaking by The Center for Women and Families and honorary Doctorates of Public Service from Spalding University and Simmons College.
Reynolds’ expertise in building teams that bridge important gaps in communities has earned several media features in The New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, NPR, CBS News, FOX News, BBC, Al Jazeera and other international news outlets.

A tireless advocate for justice, Reynolds served as Chief for Community Building in the Office of the Louisville Mayor and, prior to that, served two years as district judge for the 30th Judicial Court. She was also the first African American woman to clerk for the Kentucky Supreme Court. Her life as a public servant also includes being the first African American to serve as Inspector General for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The Louisville Bar Association has recognized her for providing pro bono hours in which she represented domestic violence victims and other disadvantaged citizens.

Prior to entering the public sector, Reynolds owned a private legal practice that included criminal litigation, employment law, death penalty litigation, and serving as guardian ad litem representing abused, neglected and dependent children.

Chanda Smith Baker

Chanda Smith Baker lives and leads with a motto instilled by her mother: “community is not a place you move from, it’s a place you invest in”. She is grounded in and renewed by the communities she serves; and has spent her 20+ year career working for change and opportunity in her hometown of Minneapolis, MN. Chanda’s professional and civic work have placed her at the intersection of social sector, business, government and grass-roots community initiatives where her mother’s directive, and family legacy of service, have proven foundational to her success. Her award-winning podcast, “Conversations with Chanda” is a rich exploration of social justice and philanthropy that has featured in depth dialogue with notable leaders and public figures like former Attorney General Eric Holder and Essence Magazine’s long-time editor-in-chief Susan L. Taylor. In vibrant and thoughtful conversations, Chanda and her guests lift the veil surrounding the world of philanthropy by tackling the hard questions around wealth inequality, centering the experience of professionals of color in the space, and how to work through the layered traumas of racism and poverty.

In her current role as Chief Impact Officer and Senior Vice President at The Minneapolis Foundation, Chanda is investing in the community through overseeing the foundation’s grantmaking programs and providing strategic direction to community initiatives and partnerships. Since joining the organization in 2017, she has and deeply impacted Minneapolis’ communities.

Previously, Chanda served in multiple executive leadership roles during her 17-year tenure at Pillsbury United Communities, a 144 year-old organization known nationally and internationally for its innovation and transformative programs. In 2011 she was named President and CEO; and attacked the food justice problem in her city by leading the development of the innovative community focused grocery store, North Market. In addition to offering good food at affordable prices, the social enterprise addresses the wholistic aspects of living in a food desert through an array of wellness programs, events, and classes. The impact of the store has continued to grow and reflects Chanda’s dedication and creative approach to strengthening the bonds of community in ways that go beyond grants and.

Chanda’s proximity to the communities she serves has allowed her to create more seats at the table and influence the next generation of women leaders in philanthropy. She advocates for the advancement of women of color who practice community focused philanthropy and create values aligned opportunities for others through a robust recipe box of civic and volunteer engagement. Chanda is a founding member and Co-Chair of The Black Collective Foundation, Minnesota’s first Black-led community foundation. She also serves on the Board of Directors of several high impact organizations including Minnesota Women’s Economic Roundtable and. Additionally, she brings her expertise and imagination to her role as Chair of Women’s Foundation of Minnesota’s Board of Trustees and as a Board Trustee of the Minneapolis Institute of Art.

Chanda has a fulfilling family life as a mother of children who have all followed in their mother’s footsteps through their own community work and advocacy. She loves to travel and is known among her family and friends for her super stylish wardrobe. When she is not traveling or shopping for the newest fashions, Chanda likes to kick back with her family and root for her favorite hometown sport teams.

Chanda Smith Baker is an award-winning philanthropic leader and Chief Impact Officer at The Minneapolis Foundation. During her 20+ year career working in, she has made a deep impact in communities in Minneapolis, MN through her innovative grant-making programs and strategic direction. Prior to joining The Minneapolis Foundation, she served as President and CEO of Pillsbury United Communities. During her tenure she attacked the food justice problem in her city by leading the development of the innovative community focused grocery store, North Market. In addition to offering good food at affordable prices, the social enterprise addresses the wholistic aspects of living in a food desert through an array of wellness programs, events, and classes. The impact of the store has continued to grow and reflects Chanda’s dedication and creative approach to strengthening the bonds of community in ways that go beyond grants and funding. Chanda is a passionate advocate for advancing women of color in philanthropy and is a founding member of The Black Collective Foundation. She also serves on the board of directors for several high-impact organizations including Minnesota Women’s Economic Roundtable and. Her podcast “Conversations with Chanda ” explores social justice and philanthropy, featuring notable leaders and public figures. When she’s not working, Chanda enjoys travel, fashion, and spending time with her family cheering on her favorite football teams.

Chanda Smith-Baker lives and leads with a motto instilled by her mother: “community is not a place you move from, it’s a place you invest in ”. She is grounded in and renewed by the communities she serves; and has spent her 20+ year career in philanthropy working for change and opportunity in her hometown of Minneapolis, MN. In her current role as Chief Impact Officer and Senior Vice President at The Minneapolis Foundation, Chanda is investing in the community through leading the foundation’s grantmaking programs and providing strategic direction to community initiatives and partnerships. Previously, she served in multiple executive leadership roles during her 17-year tenure at Pillsbury United Communities, a 144 year-old organization known nationally and internationally for its innovation and transformative programs. In 2011 she was named President and CEO; and attacked the food justice problem in her city by leading the development of the innovative community focused grocery store, North Market. In addition to offering good food at affordable prices, the social enterprise addresses the wholistic aspects of living in a food desert through an array of wellness programs, events, and classes. The impact of the store has continued to grow and reflects Chanda’s dedication and visionary approach to strengthening the bonds of community in ways that go beyond grants and funding.

Chanda’s philanthropic leadership has placed her at the intersection of social sector, business, government and grass-roots community initiatives where her mother’s motto has been foundational to her success. Her award winning podcast “Conversations with Chanda” explores social justice and philanthropy, featuring notable leaders and public figures. Chanda is a passionate advocate for advancing women of color in philanthropy and is a founding member of The Black Collective Foundation. She is also a board member for several high-impact organizations including Minnesota Women’s Economic Roundtable and Minnesota Timberwolves FastBreak Foundation. When she’s not working, Chanda enjoys travel, fashion, and spending time with her family cheering on her favorite football teams.

Elizabeth Liz Thompson

As CEO of The Cleveland Avenue Foundation for Education Group (The CAFE Group), Liz Thompson is deeply engaged in the social innovation and philanthropic communities. The CAFE Group provides financial and programmatic support to Leaders of Color whose proximity to current and historic challenges in education allows them to influence philanthropic decisions and create meaningful and relevant solutions. By leveraging lived experiences and the genius within our communities, The CAFE Group creates a glidepath from College Intern to Established Leader designed to catalyze lasting systemic change.

Liz began working with nonprofits in 1993 as founding Executive Director of City Year Chicago, a national service organization that was the template for the AmeriCorps Program. Then in 1995, Liz served as Executive Director of Family Star Montessori School in Denver, where she led a multi-million-dollar expansion of their Early Head Start program. In 1998, she became active with nonprofit boards in the San Diego area, which further fueled her interest in philanthropy and education. Before following her passion in the nonprofit sector, Liz had a successful ten-year career with Ameritech Corporation after having received an Electrical Engineering degree from Purdue University.

In addition to her commitment to serving students, professionals, and communities, Liz and her husband, Don Thompson, are co-founders of the investment firm Cleveland Avenue, LLC. Cleveland Avenue provides financial resources, expertise, and individual support to entrepreneurs to grow and scale their businesses. Their collective work was highlighted by World Business Chicago through their Corporate Ambassador Award, by Loyola University Chicago’s Baumhart Center with their Innovator Award for Social Impact, and most recently by the Chicago History Museum with their Jane Addams Award for Distinction in Social Service.

Liz is currently a Director of the Lamar Advertising Corporation and a Director for Chicago Public Media/WBEZ. She is a National Director for Braven and Chairman of Braven’s Chicago Board. She serves on the board of the Partnership for College Completion, and as Special Advisor to OneGoal.

Liz is an alumnus of the Nonprofit Leadership Program of Denver and Leadership Greater Chicago, where she served on the Board for ten years. Liz is a past Trustee of the University of Chicago, the Museum of Science and Industry, and the Chicago School of Professional Psychology.

Liz received an Honorary Doctorate of Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology where she was the commencement speaker for the graduating class of 2023. She was recognized The Chicago Urban League as the Lester H. McKeever Jr. Individual Service Award Recipient, by Chicago Statue University with the 2023 Cougar Servant Leadership Award in Education Equity, as an IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy 2023 Black Women Give Back Honoree, an inaugural Crain’s Chicago Business’ Women of Note and is a member of the distinguished Aspen Institute’s Pahara Fellowship. She has received the Chicago Public Media’s Amplifier Award, YWCA Chicago’s Community Leadership Award, the Outstanding Community Leader Award from The Association of Fundraising Professionals, the Dream Builders Award from the Chicago Child Care Society, and the John J. Dugan Award from OneGoal. She was featured in Make It Better Magazine as one of Chicago’s Top Black Women of Impact. She has appeared as a keynote speaker for the Grantmaker’s for Education Conference, The Walton Family Foundation, the National Center on Family Philanthropy, the Forefront Annual Luncheon, the Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation, and the Chicago Venture Summit.

Liz has been married to Don for 30 years. They have two adult children and live in the southwest area of metropolitan Chicago.

Carla D. Thompson Payton

Carla Thompson Payton is chief strategist & impact officer for program strategy for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in Battle Creek, Michigan. In this role, she supports the foundation’s efforts to promote thriving children, working families and equitable communities.

Carla Thompson Payton is one of the country’s foremost philanthropic leaders creating systemic change for children and families, promoting a more just economy and advancing racial equity. As the chief strategist and impact officer for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, she leads the creative and strategic direction of the organization’s multi-billion dollar programming from design through implementation and evaluation. As a member of the executive team, she is also responsible for the overall strategic direction and leadership of the foundation.

Prior to joining the foundation in 2012, Thompson Payton served for over a decade in local, state, and federal public service, ultimately as the deputy director of the Office of Child Care at the Administration for Children and Families in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. There, she was responsible for developing national early childhood education policy, managing the $5 billion annual budget of the Child Care Development Fund and providing oversight to 10 regional offices serving states, tribes and territories.

Previously, she was the inaugural assistant superintendent for early childhood education for the District of Columbia, where she led the first publicly funded pre-kindergarten program. Her efforts led to developing dynamic new learning opportunities for children and their educators and public-private partnerships.

In other professional experience, she has held positions with the Departments of Education and Public Welfare in Pennsylvania; United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey in Philadelphia; and the U.S. Department of Education.

Thompson Payton has been honored for her leadership in early childhood education by the Administration for Children and Families; the Children’s Defense Fund; and the Temple University Institute on Disabilities. Essence magazine named her one of the “50 Women Who Made Us Proud.”

She also serves on boards and committees for nonprofit associations and professional organizations. She wrote Black Girl Magic: C-suite Leadership in Philanthropic Organizations and has been cited in numerous news media for her expertise. In addition, she is the author of three publications related to school readiness and advocacy.

She holds a significant passion for racial equity and promoting Black women’s success in executive-level leadership. Among the numerous special initiatives she has led at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, she helped to develop Racial Equity 2030, a $90 million global challenge focused on sparking innovation and eradicating racial inequities supporting communities across the globe in reimagining their future.

She holds a doctorate in educational and organizational leadership and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Pennsylvania.

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF), founded in 1930 as an independent, private foundation by breakfast cereal innovator and entrepreneur, Will Keith Kellogg, is among the largest philanthropic foundations in the United States. Guided by the belief that all children should have an equal opportunity to thrive, WKKF works with communities to create conditions for vulnerable children so they can realize their full potential in school, work and life.

The Kellogg Foundation is based in Battle Creek, Michigan, and works throughout the United States and internationally, as well as with sovereign tribes. Special attention is paid to priority places where there are high concentrations of poverty and where children face significant barriers to success. WKKF priority places in the U.S. are in Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico and New Orleans; and internationally, are in Mexico and Haiti. For more information, visit www.wkkf.org.

Alandra L. Washington, Ph.D, M.P.A.

Dr. Alandra Washington is chief transformation & organizational effectiveness officer at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in Battle Creek, Michigan. In this role, she supports the foundation’s efforts to promote thriving children, working families and equitable communities.

Dr. Washington focuses on the oversight and strengthening of the integration and agility of the operations of the foundation, and the convergence of enterprise-wide transformational efforts to improve organizational quality, analytical rigor, design and operational excellence. Additionally, she holds responsibility for the programmatic and operational alignment of the foundation’s internal and external commitments to racial equity and racial healing.

Previously, Dr. Washington served as vice president for Transformation and Organizational Effectiveness and supported the president and CEO in advancing the development, implementation and oversight of enterprise-wide transformation efforts, organizational redesign and change management and efficient operations to maximize overall organizational performance excellence.

Joining the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in 2002, Dr. Washington served as program director on the Philanthropy and Volunteerism team. She was responsible for the design and execution of national initiatives which fostered the adoption of racial equity grantmaking frameworks, practices and approaches, democratizing philanthropy and strengthening identity-based philanthropy through capacity building, networking and donor engagement across communities of color. In addition, she served as director for programs for Education and Learning, Family Economic Security and New Mexico teams in which she was responsible for leading program strategy design and implementation, management, evaluation, and policy development for early childhood and K-3 education systems, two generation economic security strategies, post-secondary education initiatives, family financial resilience and entrepreneurship.

Dr. Washington has more than 25 years of experience leading non-profit and philanthropic organizations. She has served on several boards and committees across the non-profit and philanthropic sector. She is currently board chair for the Schott Foundation for Public Education. She was honored as the inaugural recipient of the of Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy’s (APIP) 2012 Banyan Tree Award for her extensive work and support of community philanthropy initiatives across the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. In addition, has authored publications related to education, philanthropy and community engagement.

Prior to joining the Kellogg Foundation, Dr. Washington was chief executive officer of The Greater East St. Louis Community Fund. At The Fund, there she provided strategic leadership toward the organization’s mission to move residents up and out of poverty through equitable generational wealth building strategies. Earlier, she was executive director for the New Spirit Organizing Office of East St. Louis, where she provided in-depth community engagement and leadership development toward dismantling systems of social, political and economic inequities for a more just community.

Dr. Washington earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in public policy and administration, both from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. Washington holds a doctorate in educational leadership and organizational analysis from Western Michigan University

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF), founded in 1930 as an independent, private foundation by breakfast cereal innovator and entrepreneur Will Keith Kellogg, is among the largest philanthropic foundations in the United States. Guided by the belief that all children should have an equal opportunity to thrive, WKKF works with communities to create conditions for vulnerable children so they can realize their full potential in school, work and life.

The Kellogg Foundation is based in Battle Creek, Michigan, and works throughout the United States and internationally, as well as with sovereign tribes. Special attention is paid to priority places where there are high concentrations of poverty and where children face significant barriers to success. WKKF priority places in the U.S. are in Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico and New Orleans; and internationally, are in Mexico and Haiti. For more information, visit www.wkkf.org

Toya Nash Randall

Toya Nash Randall was born into a giving circle when her maternal and paternal grandmothers made a pact to surround her teenage parents and her (their new grandbaby) with a community of wisdom, love, and guidance. Their love and commitment to Toya’s wellbeing have carried her to where she is today.

Toya’s 20+ year career in philanthropy is an extension of the circle of giving created by her beloved grandmothers Lillie and Nalvina; she has used those values and life experiences to shape her work and place her among the country’s top thought leaders on philanthropy. She presently serves as Senior Director of Community Initiatives in the office of the CEO at Casey Family Programs where she is responsible for a high-profile national portfolio of racial equity and multi-sector alignment initiatives focused on key issues including community health and safety, school justice reform, child well-being, and family strengthening.

During the racial reckoning of 2020, the country as a whole, and specifically the philanthropic sector, finally began to consider the impact of race on how we interact in our communities and the unique barriers to economic progress faced by BIPOC Americans. Embracing the zeitgeist, Toya became the catalyst and curator of a revelatory digital narrative platform, Voice. Vision. Value. Black Women Leading Philanthropy (VVV). The evocative platform lifts up the stories of remarkable Black women who have transformed the sector with innovative approaches to giving and community development. VVV also creates safe spaces for dialogue and provides holistic professional and personal development programming that prioritizes self-care and strategic network building. The VVV platform is supported by a strong multi-generational network of partners and investors who are all committed to the work of making philanthropy trust-based, equitable, inclusive, and just. Together, they are prepared and positioned to share power and to open up philanthropy in a way that really does center equity and justice – not just as part of a mission or purpose statement, but in true practice every day. VVV, and Toya’s work as a whole, is grounded in the belief that holistic self-care and wellness are leadership muscles that must be developed and sustained to enable black women to continue doing good work without sacrificing their own wellbeing.

In addition to her work with VVV and the Casey Family Programs, Toya devotes her impressive energies to multiple worthwhile organizations as a board member and contributing leader. The organizations she supports include acting as co-chair of the Greater New Orleans Funders Network Board of Directors and serving on the Executive Committee of Communities for Just Schools Fund. She is also a Trustee for The Nafasi Fund, Philanthropy Northwest, and The Giving Square. Toya is also one of the founders of the Black Women in Philanthropy Leadership Retreat and an inaugural fellow for both the ABFE Connecting Leaders Fellowship and The Funders Network for Smart Growth P.L.A.C.E.S. Fellowship. In 2021, she was named one of 10 inaugural Black Women Give Back honorees by the Women’s Philanthropy Institute and Black Philanthropy Month.

Toya Nash Randall is many admirable things – a compassionate and generous philanthropist, a keenly gifted writer and speaker, an energetic and dedicated board member and leader, a staunch sponsor and supporter of women leaders, and a fierce advocate of equity and inclusion. Her work is grounded in giving voice to the historic collective impact of Black women in philanthropy and celebrating their vast accomplishments. Though she holds many titles and wears many hats, being a mom is highest on her list. Toya centers family as her foundation and is raising her son with values taught by her grandmothers and their rich legacy of giving.

In her free time, you will find her enjoying the culinary arts and curating music playlists of memorable and modern artists that she shares with her village of family and friends.

Toya Randall knew at a very young age that her purpose was to lift as she climbed. And, she has done just that — for more than 20 years – with no plans of stopping any time soon.

Join us Summer 2025! Martha’s Vineyard, MA

Check out 2024’s Inaugural Momentum Summit

In the News

Post

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Benefits of confirming your sponsorship by February 28, 2025

Private dinner option

Concierge support for housing and itinerary

VIP tickets and welcome gifts

For more information contact

REQUEST OUR PITCH DECK

REQUEST OUR PITCH DECK

Sadiqa Reynolds, CEO of Perception Institute

Simone Hardeman Jones

Chanda Smith Baker

Elizabeth Liz Thompson

La June Montgomery Tabron

Chastity Lord

James Burroughs

Ruth Richardson

Wenda Weekes Moore

Temi Bennett, Co-CEO of iF Foundation

Meredith Leigh Moore

Tiffani Daniels

Adrinda Kelly

Carla D. Thompson Payton

Alandra L. Washington, Ph.D, M.P.A.

Toya Nash Randall

Gabrielle Union