Join consultant, filmmaker and activist Mary F. Morten as she delves into what it’s like to operate within and outside of the nonprofit landscape. Along with her special guests, Mary answers questions from listeners and covers topics including racial and gender equity, and the experiences of people of color in leadership development and the nonprofit workforce.
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In the season finale of “Gathering Ground,” host Mary Morten sits down with Teresa C. Younger, outgoing president and CEO of the Ms. Foundation for Women, for a candid reflection on 13 years of leading a legacy institution through fundamental transformation. Teresa talks about what it took to center women and girls of color at a second-wave feminist foundation, the listening tour that covered…
Summary What does it mean to do research that refuses to look away and to protect that work when the political climate demands retreat? In this episode of “Gathering Ground,” host Mary Morten sits down with Dr. Amanda Lewis, current director of the Institute for Research on Race and Public Policy at the University of Illinois Chicago, and Dr. Beth Richie, the institute's former director, to mark…
In this episode of "Gathering Ground," host Mary Morten sits down with Chase Glenn, Executive Director of the GenderCool Project, and GenderCool champions Chazzie Grosshandler and Ashton Mota to explore how storytelling, joy, and visibility are reshaping the conversation around trans and non-binary youth. At a time when legislation like Kansas's retroactive ID restrictions are making headlines,…
In this episode of "Gathering Ground," host Mary sits down with Scheherazade Tillet, founder and executive director of A Long Walk Home, and Kaethe Morris Hoffer, executive director of CAASE (Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation), for a searching conversation about art, accountability, and what it means to keep doing this work when the political ground keeps shifting beneath you. Together,…
What does it mean to lead a movement when the movement itself is under pressure? In this episode of "Gathering Ground," Mary sits down with Darlene Nipper, CEO of Rockwood Leadership Institute, and Russell Roybal, Board Chair of Rockwood and Executive Vice President at the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, to mark Rockwood’s 25th anniversary and explore what it truly means to lead…
In this episode of "Gathering Ground," Mary speaks with Sharon Bush, President of Grand Victoria Foundation, and Sol Anderson, President and CEO of Evanston Community Foundation, about how philanthropy can move closer to the communities it seeks to serve. Drawing from their distinct place-based work across Illinois and in Evanston, they discuss trust-based grantmaking, community-led decision…
This episode of "Gathering Ground" brings together two sector-shifting leaders: Bina Patel , CEO of Saathi Impact Consulting, and Vu Le , writer of the blog Nonprofit AF. With honesty and clarity, they join Mary to examine how the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors perpetuate inequality, reward compliance, and resist transformation. Together, they explore how movements are being co-opted, how…
In this episode of "Gathering Ground," Mary sits down with three powerhouse advocates — Dr. Latonya Penny, Cathy Renna, and Illinois State Rep. Kelly Cassidy — for a timely conversation about what LGBTQ+ rights look like across the U.S. From legislative battles to grassroots resistance, the episode traces the highs, the heartbreaks, and the hope fueling this moment. Guests reflect on the real-life…
In this episode of "Gathering Ground," host Mary Morten sits down with four brilliant artists and activists to explore the intersection of art and social change. Amanda Williams, Tonika Lewis Johnson, Lisa Yun Lee, and Shannon Downey share how their personal histories, creative practices, and collaborations fuel powerful movements for justice, community, and joy. Together, they reflect on how art…
This special "Gathering Ground" episode looks back at the most powerful conversations from 2025. Join Producer Vince Pagán-Hill as he revisits memorable moments that reveal how people create meaning, challenge injustice, and build collective power, from journalism and philanthropy to the arts, climate justice, and healthcare.
