Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mack Graham. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Mack, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

One of the most meaningful projects I have worked on is the founding and development of a nonprofit consulting firm called Neighborhood Hope Dealerz, which ultimately led to the publication of my book, “Neighborhood Hope Dealerz: A Guide To Empower Communities From Within”.

Backstory & Context:
After years of working in fundraising and nonprofit leadership, I observed a unsettling trend: nonprofits led by BIPOC were consistently underfunded. This lack of funding and resources often led these crucial organizations to either dissolve or operate well below their potential, unable to fully serve marginalized, over-policed communities.

Why It’s Meaningful:
During the inception of my book, Neighborhood Hope Dealerz, my initial objective was to create a guide to help nonprofits attain self-sufficiency. However, as I dove deeper into research and understanding the structural challenges these organizations faced, it became evident that the issues were systemic, deeply rooted in structural racism and bias within the philanthropic sector. This not only hindered these nonprofits but also perpetuated a vicious cycle of underfunding and under-resourcing in communities that needed them the most.

The realization of these deep-seated issues was a pivotal moment that broadened the scope and depth of the Neighborhood Hope Dealerz project. It transformed from a guide for nonprofits into a comprehensive call to action, addressing systemic oppression, bias in philanthropy, and the structural barriers that marginalized communities face.

Through the book, I was able to share not only the struggles but also the successes of these communities, shedding light on the urgent need for systemic change and community investment. The stories incorporated are both raw and emotional, intended to resonate with readers and prompt reflection on the harsh realities these communities navigate daily. More importantly, the book offers a path forward, highlighting the importance of community-led initiatives, providing actionable steps, and suggesting resources.

Neighborhood Hope Dealerz isn’t just a project; it’s a manifestation of my commitment to social justice, equity, and community empowerment. It encapsulates my vision of fostering self-sufficiency in marginalized communities and breaking the chains of systemic oppression that have hindered their progress for generations. The project is a culmination of my experiences, insights, and unwavering belief that with collective effort and community-led initiatives, we can build a more just, equitable, and inclusive world.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m Mack Graham, a native New Yorker deeply committed to enacting change and advocating for underserved communities. My professional journey began in the music industry where, despite finding success, I felt an insatiable need to engage in work that was not just profitable, but also meaningful and impactful. This realization led me to transition into social services in 2010, where I became a foster care planner and advocate for children and families in New York City and Austin, Texas. Seeking to deepen my impact, I furthered my education, obtaining an M.S. in Nonprofit Leadership from Fordham University in 2017.

Throughout my career, I’ve held significant leadership roles, including serving as Executive Director of the Long Beach Martin Luther King Center, Director of Development at Newark Symphony Hall, and Director of Development at Brooklyn Children’s Museum. In these roles, I led transformative initiatives and championed fundraising efforts, driving positive change within the organizations and the communities they served. These experiences exposed me to the troubling trend of underfunding in BIPOC-led nonprofits, inspiring the inception of Neighborhood Hope Dealerz.

Neighborhood Hope Dealerz started as a strategic planning firm with a focus on empowering marginalized groups. However, as I dove deeper into the structural issues faced by these nonprofits, the project evolved into a broader movement, culminating in the publication of my book, “Neighborhood Hope Dealerz: Empowering Communities from Within”. This work, along with the “Hope Dealerz Toolkit”, provides communities with resources, insights, and actionable steps to challenge systemic oppression, thereby paving the way for initiatives that promote health, well-being, and justice.

My role as a member of Justice League NYC and as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors at Good Call NYC further honed my skills as a community organizer and advocate for reformative policies.

My approach not only addresses the symptoms but also targets the root causes, advocating for a system that is reformed and equitable, one that truly supports marginalized communities in thriving independently.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One crucial lesson I had to reconsider and eventually discard was the belief that perfection must be attained before taking action or starting a project. As an INTJ, my natural inclination towards research and perfectionism often kept me in a state of perpetual planning and refining. This understanding was particularly crucial when developing the concept for Neighborhood Hope Dealerz in 2018. At that time, I was deepening my understanding of the systemic discrimination prevalent in philanthropy, especially towards nonprofits serving communities of color. I learned this came after reading “Decolonizing Wealth” by Edgar Villanueva, a piece that shed light on the inequities embedded within philanthropic practices and wealth distribution. It was during this period that I started working on an initiative designed to counteract these systemic barriers and provide equitable support and opportunities for BIPOC-led nonprofits.

However, my ingrained perfectionism posed a barrier to translating this vision into reality. Being use to exhaustive research and meticulous planning before embarking on any project, I realized the necessity of unlearning this incessant need for perfection. Acknowledging and discarding this requirement for flawlessness before taking action proved instrumental. This shift in mindset allowed me to embrace imperfection, recognizing that the true value of an idea or project isn’t in its initial state of perfection, but in its potential for growth, improvement, and impact.

I applied and tested this unlearning process in real-time when launching both my firm and publishing my book. In both instances, I had to have the courage to present unfinished, evolving products to the world, with the understanding that refinement and perfection are ongoing processes. This journey of unlearning, while challenging, was ultimately liberating. It opened doors to possibilities and impacts that my former perfectionism would have otherwise kept closed.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

One of the most influential books that significantly impacted my management and entrepreneurial thinking is “Outwitting the Devil” by Napoleon Hill. This masterpiece by Hill goes beyond the conventional principles of personal achievement and digs deep into the psychological barriers that often hinder success. It offers insightful reflections on fear, procrastination, and other self-limiting beliefs, providing me with invaluable perspectives on how to navigate and overcome these mental traps in my professional and creative journey.

It empowered me with a unique understanding of the internal and external factors influencing success and failure, allowing me to cultivate a mindset resilient to the uncertainties and pressures of entrepreneurship and leadership.

Also, “Decolonizing Wealth” by Edgar Villanueva played a pivotal role in shaping my understanding and approach towards philanthropy and social entrepreneurship. Villanueva’s incisive analysis of the systemic inequities within philanthropy illuminated the often-overlooked barriers faced by nonprofits, especially those serving communities of color. His reflections and propositions for a more equitable and inclusive philanthropic landscape inspired the foundational principles of Neighborhood Hope Dealerz, guiding its vision, strategy, and operations.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mackgraham.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mack.instagraham
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mackgraham/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/mackgrahamnyc