Black Women In Nonprofits: Finding Joy Through Resistance in a Caretaking Role

Episode 3: Building Relationships with Attiyya Yafeu

Content Warning: 25:20 to 31:16 – Parental Intimate Partner Homicide. More specifically, the death of loved ones, homicide, and grief.  Welcome to episode 3 of Black Women in Nonprofits! This episode features Attiyya Yafeu, the Volunteer Coordinator at Rainier Valley Food Bank.  Attiyya helps nearly 100 volunteers get groceries and food out to the South Seattle community in Washington State. She has also started a project called Regenernation, a support group that stemmed from her own grief with Parental Intimate Partner Homicide. Attiyya shares the importance of rest and play, nurturing relationships inside and outside RVFB, and modeling her practices for her daughter.  You can follow Attiyya’s support group on Instagram @re.gen.er.nation.  You can learn more about Rainier Valley Food Bank at rvfb.org [http://rvfb.org] About the podcast: This show explores how Black women resist white supremacist logics to transform themselves and the communities around them.  About Zari Alexandria: Zari is a digital marketer and musician from Federal Way, Washington, and is currently based in Tacoma, Washington. She enjoys bringing communities together through various art forms, inspiring those around her to embrace their identities and live authentic lives. Zari is the Digital Marketing Assistant at LANGSTON in Seattle, Washington.

Episode 2: Not Afraid to Speak Up with Yunna Flenord

Welcome to episode 2 of Black Women in Nonprofits! This episode features Yunna Flenord, a Charge Nurse and Grievance Officer at St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Tacoma, WA.  Yunna advocates for safe staffing ratios, eliminating workplace violence, and protecting new nurses who often leave the field due to negative experiences. In this interview, Yunna shares her work with the Washington State Nurses Association, including forming the Racial Task Force, standing up for herself and other nurses, and her hopes for the future of nursing in Hilltop.  You can learn more about the Washington State Nurses Association at www.wsna.org [http://www.wsna.org].  About the podcast: "Black Women in Nonprofits" explores how Black women resist white supremacist logics to transform themselves and the communities around them. The podcast serves as an opportunity to learn from and with the guests, while empowering them to share their stories.  About Zari Alexandria: Zari is a marketer and musician based in Tacoma, Washington. She is also the Digital Marketing Assistant at LANGSTON, a nonprofit organization in Seattle. Zari enjoys bringing communities together through various art forms, inspiring those around her to embrace their identities and live authentic lives.

Episode 1: Believing the Vision with Tykia Warden

Welcome to episode 1 of Black Women in Nonprofits! This episode features Tykia Warden, President and CEO of the Greater Baltimore Urban League, and Zari’s stepmom of 15 years.  For over two decades, Tykia has raised over $200 million in private and public funding for various nonprofits, educational institutions, and political campaigns. In this interview, Tykia shares her journey from grassroots organizing to team management, her leadership challenges and highlights, and her advocacy for community resources while caring for her own well-being. You can learn more about the Greater Baltimore Urban League by visiting https://gbul.org/ [https://gbul.org/] About the podcast: "Black Women in Nonprofits" explores how Black women resist white supremacist logics to transform themselves and the communities around them. The podcast serves as an opportunity to learn from and with the guests, while empowering them to share their stories.  About Zari Alexandria: Zari is a marketer and musician based in Tacoma, Washington. She is also the Digital Marketing Assistant at LANGSTON, a nonprofit organization in Seattle. Zari enjoys bringing communities together through various art forms, inspiring those around her to embrace their identities and live authentic lives.

Black Women in Nonprofits Trailer

Welcome to Black Women in Nonprofits: Finding Joy Through Resistance in a Caretaking Role. This podcast explores how Black women resist white supremacist logics to transform themselves and the communities around them.  This podcast started as Zari Alexandria’s senior capstone project at Pacific Lutheran University, with her final product being this trailer. Stay tuned for the interviews she conducted back in the spring of 2025 with guests Tykia Warden, Yunna Flenord, and Attiyya Yafeu.