About The Melanin Collective
From our beginnings to the present, the power of collectivity is what drives us forward.
The Melanin Collective was founded after a coalition of multiracial and multiethnic women of color banded together to fight back against the violence and oppression we experienced at a nonprofit organization. While, as individuals, we had different life experiences, we realized that we could be stronger if we stood up and worked together to advocate for ourselves and safer work environments.
As a collective of women of color targeted for what we looked like – the impetus for our name – we made our voices heard.
Our vision is a world where women and gender non-conforming people of color can thrive, not just survive. We accomplish this by building solutions for women and gender non-conforming people of color and develop supportive, authentic, and transformative communities.
Our mission is to revolutionize the lived experiences of women and gender non-conforming people of color through holistic community, facilitated institutional healing, and authentic partnerships.
Mission + Vision
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Mission + Vision ✶
Meet the Cofounders
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Doris is on a mission to educate, empower, mentor, and effect change in the lives of women of color. Throughout her career, Doris has focused on expanding access to healthcare and higher education and on championing social justice and sexual and reproductive health for all. Her journey started in 2009 in Oakland, California, where she spearheaded community health education and youth leadership development with La Clínica de la Raza. In 2014, she moved to the Dominican Republic to work in youth education and leadership and returned to the United States to continue this work, focusing on building partnerships and recruiting student leaders. In 2016, she joined the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals (ARHP) as a program manager and managed a portfolio of continuing education programs focusing on the intersection of sexual and reproductive health and chronic conditions.
After nine years of working in non-profit spaces, Doris decided to venture off on a new path: creating The Melanin Collective, a space for women of color to see their true self and value, to work as a collective for the common good, and to develop supportive, professional, and lasting relationships. This newest chapter in her life is focused on empowering and supporting women of color so they can thrive freely and live happy, healthy, and fulfilling lives. Doris grew up in Santa Ana, California, and went on to receive a bachelor’s in International Development with a focus on Latin America and the Middle East from UCLA in 2008.
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A first generation Filipina American, Kaitlyn co-founded The Melanin Collective and served as its former communications director, now supporting The Melanin Collective in an advisory role. During her time as the communications director, Kaitlyn mapped out The Melanin Collective’s messaging, built and managed the website, provided a content direction, and oversaw online campaigns such as The Melanin Collective’s Twitter Chats and the Racial Equity in the Workplace Survey. She has been featured in publications including Vox, Mother Jones, WAMU 88.5, Technical.ly DC, among others during her time at The Melanin Collective.
Outside of The Melanin Collective, Kaitlyn also pursued her charge to ending workplace inequities by serving on an inclusive environments committee at Georgetown University, where she surfaced opportunities for creating more inclusive workplaces and experiences for faculty, staff, and students. Currently, Kaitlyn works at a philanthropic-serving organization where she leverages communications to bridge connections between racial and economic equity and philanthropic culture and practices. Kaitlyn received a bachelor’s in communications from Christopher Newport University in 2014.
