The R.A.C.E. Podcast

The True Meaning of Freedom with Ellen Friedman

• Season 2 • Episode 12

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Welcome to Episode 12 of the 2nd season of The R.A.C.E. Podcast. Today’s episode is a continuation of our Race, Healing, & Joy Series. During this series, I will engage Reproductive Justice leaders to spotlight KHA's Race, Healing & Joy initiative and share preliminary insights gathered through more than 40 conversations (including interviews, circles of accountability, and an in-person convening).


Today I am joined by Ellen Friedman of The Tara Health Foundation and The Compton Foundation.


Meet Ellen Friedman

In her own words, “I am a proven organizational leader who has worked in diverse settings. I design and manage creative and dynamic philanthropic programs and support new social sector organizations aimed at advancing transformative social and environmental change. I love leading inspired teams to produce strong and effective outcomes. I believe that organizations built on trust, collaboration, and empowerment create the most powerful results.”

Ellen Friedman served as the Executive Director of the Compton Foundation from 2010-2021. During Ellen's tenure, the Foundation redesigned traditional grantmaking relationships by reducing proposal paperwork, reporting, and turnaround time for grants. During Ellen’s tenure, the Foundation built an investment portfolio that was 100% aligned with its mission and was an original signatory to the Divest/Invest Philanthropy pledge. 

Currently, Ellen is a self-employed Consultant, designing and facilitating multi-stakeholder and team meetings, providing strategic planning support and executive coaching for foundation executives and nonprofit organizations, and other organizations working to advance social transformation.

Listen in as Ellen shares:

  • Her identifies and how they inform her work
  • The role of destruction in nature and how it can inform our racial equity and justice work
  • What she has learned about managing relationships across power-differentiated players and stakeholders.
  • The power of purpose when setting goals personally and within an organization
  • The results of her work and what work still has to be done


Learn more and connect with Ellen Friedman:

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Keecha Harris

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