Nadia Bringham

Nadia C. Brigham is a program officer at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in Battle Creek, Michigan.

Nadia serves on the foundation’s Racial Equity and Community Engagement team and is responsible for developing and coordinating strategic grantmaking activities aimed at addressing racial equity, community engagement, and systemic barriers existing for historically marginalized communities and vulnerable children. The focus of the racial equity and community engagement portfolio includes building the capacity of community-based organizations to execute against racial equity and community engagement strategies; changing the narrative surrounding communities of color; strengthening and supporting collective action of racial equity anchor institutions; and decreasing the disproportionate impacts of harsh school disciplinary policies on children of color. Prior to joining the Racial Equity and Community Engagement team, Nadia was responsible for bringing the foundation’s strategic framework to bear in Grand Rapids, Michigan, resulting in an increase of early childhood learning environments for vulnerable children. Before that, Nadia co-led the New Options Project, as part of the Education & Learning team, an effort focused on prototype development toward market-based pathways to employment for disconnected young people ages 16-24.

Prior to joining the foundation, Nadia was senior community investment associate for the Heart of West Michigan United Way, where she managed investment councils, performed evaluations of partner agencies and developed strategies to address urgent and emergent social issues. She has held positions with several Grand Rapids area organizations, working to formulate strategic plans, develop marketing strategies and lead team building and equity training. Nadia has focused her volunteer efforts in the areas of systems change in early childhood, youth development, mental health services, and education reform.

Nadia obtained a bachelor’s degree in social work and master’s degrees in social work and public administration from Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan. She is currently working on her Ph.D. in sociology with a concentration on racism and power.