Meet Cicley Gay | Board Chairwoman, Black Lives Matter Foundation and Philanthropic Strategist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cicley Gay and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cicley, how do you think about risk?
I believe the greatest risk lies in not taking any.

I bring over 20 years of nonprofit and philanthropic experience to my role as Board Chairwoman of the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation and founder of The Amplifiers, a social enterprise standing at the intersection of cause and communications. Stepping into the role as board member has been about taking risks and trusting that I have much to contribute to our community and culture–even at times, in moments of crisis, criticism and controversy.

As a two-time participant in AmeriCorps, a civil service effort of the Corporation for National and Community Service and the founding director of STAND (Students Take Action for New Directions), I educated students on the impact of federal budget priorities on Black communities.

Committed to advocating for the lives of the underserved, I spent nearly a decade at The Women’s Sports Foundation as the founding director of GoGirlGo! and later as the national director of education and alliances. There, I took risks to start lead and build the programmatic efforts to increase physical activity participation opportunities for young women in under-resourced communities throughout the nation.

As the national program director of the National CARES Mentoring Movement under the direct leadership of Susan L. Taylor, editor-in-chief emeritus of Essence magazine, I built the grant allocations process and programmatic infrastructure of a multi-million-dollar national mentoring initiative for Black children, supported by the U.S. Department of Justice.

My greatest accomplishment was winning “Mom of the Year ” as a single stage, football and lacrosse mom to three sons. Walking the path often paved with struggle while committing my life to serve others has been one of my greatest risks. I often say, “I spent decades intentionally preparing my sons for the world, I am now committed to also preparing the world for my sons.”

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
First, I am a mother who has raised 3 sons without the benefit of a partner. I rarely say I am a “single mom” because there is nothing singular about the community of support that has undergirded me and my sons.

Throughout my struggles, our community, has given much to me—and so I have a lot to give. All of my life’s work has been serving within nonprofits and foundations working in direct service in under-invested communities, identifying and elevating challenges within the prison system, leading programs, raising millions of dollars for others, and also in philanthropy as a program director and then senior program officer.

So the question for me was not what called me to serve, it is how; and I do that every day in gratitude, transparency and with love.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Atlanta is an epicenter of Black culture. So many civil rights leaders have called the city home, and it has served as a hub for social justice movements throughout time. The National Center for Civil and Human Rights is a great place to visit, due to its examination of history and call to investment in humanitarian efforts around the world.

Paschal’s restaurant for soul food is a must. It served as the previous ‘meeting place’ for some of the most notable Black entertainers, politicians, and business leaders during the civil rights movement like Martin Luther King, Jr. and Ralph David Abernathy. The food is wonderful and it remains as a historical civil rights icon, complete with a rich history from six decades.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
To my three sons. Thank you for being both my mirror and my compass.

Website: blacklivesmatter.com

Instagram: cicleygay

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cicleygay