Sherrie James

Written By Nneka Allen, CFRE, COC, PCC

Sherrie James is a fundraising executive with more than 18 years proven success in development, marketing, project management and event management. She has worked within various sectors including health and social services. She is currently the Director, Philanthropy at Luminato Festival  Toronto. She serves on the board of Generation Chosen, an organization committed to helping the youth of our communities who are being denied equitable opportunities to succeed in life.

Sherrie is a proud mother of two amazing and beautiful kids. Her daughter and son are her teachers and her inspiration. When not fundraising or learning from her kids, Sherrie can be found listening to the sweet sounds of soca and reggae, reading, or bingeing k-dramas on Netflix. 

Nneka Allen, CFRE, COC, PCC

Nneka Allen identifies as a Black woman and Momma, descended from those who traversed the Underground Railroad. Her African ancestors endured the Transatlantic Slave Trade, building North America through free and forced labour. This legacy connects her to the Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island, specifically the Cherokee and Lumbee tribes.

As a lover of justice, Nneka has inspired philanthropy as a Fundraising Executive in the charitable sector for over 25 years. She is the founder of the Black Canadian Fundraisers' Collective, a community that nurtures the well-being of Canadian Black fundraisers and supports the fundraising capacity of B3 organizations. She is a celebrated author and co-editor of a bi-national book that showcases the personal stories of 15 Black leaders in the charitable sector, titled Collecting Courage: Joy, Pain, Freedom, Love. During the 2022/23 academic year, Nneka took on the role of one of the inaugural Scholars-in-Residence for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the University of British Columbia.

Nneka is a relationship builder, stone-catcher, freedom fighter, storyteller, and leadership coach. At the helm of The Empathy Agency Inc., she passionately guides clients towards finding hope, purpose, and justice in their relationship with themselves, others, and the Earth. Her mission centres on nurturing wholeness and honouring humanity by harnessing the power of empathy.

https://www.theempathyagency.ca/
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