Celebrating Community Champions (Part 1)
Our communities are shaped and strengthened by the people who dedicate their time, talent, and energy to the collective good. We are thrilled to launch a special spotlight series dedicated to the community leaders, professionals, volunteers, and philanthropists who drive the mission-driven sector forward. Nominated by our team, our first installment of incredible changemakers includes:
Mari Hernandez, CEO & President, NALAC
Tamira Benitez, Executive Director, Diverse City Fund
Roy Neill, Corporate and Community Affairs, Dematic
Nina Dolgin, Program Manager Art & Activation, Central Atlanta Progress
Rachel Spears, Executive Director, Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta
Marguerite Mancini, Managing Director, Atlanta Film Society
Nikishka Iyengar, Founder, The Guild
Danielle Gray, Associate Director, Zeist Foundation
Denzel Mitchell, Jr., Executive Director, Farm Alliance of Baltimore
Mari Hernandez
CEO and President, National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC)
As a graduate of both NALAC's Leadership Institute and Advocacy Leadership Institute, Mari's appointment as CEO and President represents a homecoming. She has experienced NALAC as an artist, participant, alum, administrator, and now CEO, giving her a broad perspective and deep understanding of the arts ecosystem and the communities NALAC serves.
Working alongside staff, alumni, board members, and partners, Mari has guided new approaches to community engagement through coalition building, listening sessions, regional convenings, and strategic partnerships with organizations including the Chicago Latinx Arts and Culture Network (CLACN), U.S. Latinx Art Forum (USLAF), and the Arts Administrators of Color Network (AAC). Her leadership reflects a commitment to building with the field, ensuring NALAC remains responsive to the evolving needs of artists, cultural workers, and arts organizations nationwide.
Tamira Benitez
Executive Director, Diverse City Fund
Tamira Benitez joined DC Fund as the first executive Director in May 2022. Prior to joining DC Fund, she served in various leadership positions at the DC Council, the Latino Economic Development Center, the Small Business Development Center, and the Local Initiative Support Corporation. She is a near life-long Washingtonian who immigrated from El Salvador at 13.
Tamira has worked to prevent displacement of Black, Brown, and immigrant District residents, strengthen support and resources to organizers, and grow local movements.
Tamira is purposeful because of her approach to living out the values she preaches as a leader and as an organizer in the DC community. She is invested in breaking down barriers and implementing strategies to eliminate hierarchies, redistribute power, and provide access to philanthropy and resources for everyone.
Submitted by Natalia Garzon Martinez, Purpose Possible Consultant
Roy Neill
Corporate and Community Affairs, Dematic
A product of Florida agribusiness, Roy’s work within public affairs is shaped at the intersection of government, corporate citizenship, and community partnerships. His experiences across the public sector, politics, agency, higher ed, and start-up provide a broad, practical perspective to his work.
Roy is a driven CSR professional who brings his business experience and influence to support nonprofits across our region. Through Dematic, Roy is bringing vital warehouse safety training to several local nonprofits including Purpose Possible clients, Lifecycle Building Center and Second Helpings Atlanta. Roy also serves as the Communications Co-Chair for the Board of Directors of CVC Atlanta.
Submitted by Laura Moody, Purpose Possible CMO & Founding Partner
Nina Dolgin
Program Manager Art & Activation, Central Atlanta Progress
Nina Dolgin is a creative professional and the Art & Activation Program Manager at Central Atlanta Progress, a community development organization providing leadership, programs, and services to preserve and strengthen the vitality of Downtown Atlanta.
Before joining the CAP team, Dolgin oversaw programs for arts organization WonderRoot, contemporary dance company T. Lang Dance, as well as Murmur, a nonprofit resource for DIY, independent media.
Leading up to the FIFA World Cup in Atlanta, Nina had the foresight to commission a public art project that would celebrate and share the breadth of creative talent of Atlanta's arts community with our international visitors. Nina commissioned 11 artists to create air dancers, which are now waving and wiggling in Centennial Olympic Park.
Submitted by Laura Moody, Purpose Possible CMO & Founding Partner
Rachel Spears
Executive Director, Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta
Rachel has led Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta since it was founded in 2005. When we asked her staff, colleagues, and clients what stood out, a few things kept coming up.
First, Rachel is a bridge builder. She connects clients to expertise they didn't even know they needed. The second was consistency: consistently excellent legal guidance; consistently superb attention to detail; and consistent, genuine care for her staff and clients.
Two decades is a long time to stay steady, but Rachel's remarkable leadership keeps the mission moving forward. During her tenure, PBPA has helped over 1200 nonprofits solve legal challenges, steady their organizations, and become better equipped to serve their communities. That ripple effect of positive impact is truly incredible.
Submitted by Blair Keenan, Purpose Possible Senior Consultant
Marguerite Mancini
Managing Director, Atlanta Film Society
Marguerite Mancini manages and directs the day-to-day operations of the Atlanta Film Society. She has contracted and negotiated with over 40 actors, agents, and creative personnel per production, planned and facilitated the adult and youth local auditions for all local shows, and managed more than 80 sponsorships including contracts, recaps, and on-site events. Marguerite oversees the in-house production of playbill program pages, audition press releases, and newsletters. She is a core member of the Planning Team for the company, which organizes, budgets, details, and tracks all aspects of fundraising.
Marguerite excels at managing the intricacies of fourteen thousand different moving pieces at the same time, while keeping a level head and a great sense of humor. She is strategic, efficient, collaborative, and perpetually kind. Marguerite is able to see the bird's eye view, while taking concrete steps to ensure the short term and long term growth of the organization. From a personal perspective, Marguerite inspires the best in others by always leading with her true self. She is the best kind of leader.
Submitted by Lee Nowell, Purpose Possible Senior Consultant
Nikishka Iyengar
Founder, The Guild
Nikishka Iyengar is the founder and CEO of The Guild, a worker-owned cooperative creating community-owned models of land, housing, and real estate to advance economic democracy, racial justice, and climate resilience.
Under her leadership, The Guild is pioneering a Community Stewardship Trust model in Atlanta, redeveloping a historic site at 918 Dill Ave into a resident-owned mixed-use property featuring 18 cooperative housing units, a grocery store, commercial kitchens, and community spaces to anchor wealth and prevent displacement in southwest Atlanta.
Submitted by Rachel Stanley, Purpose Possible Senior Consultant
Danielle Gray
Associate Director at Zeist Foundation
Danielle goes above and beyond to support her grantees. She commits time each month to serving on Arts Capital | Atlanta's Steering Committee and Advocacy Committee, working alongside nonprofit leaders to advance our work. She sees herself as a partner, not just a funder.
Danielle is an incredible thought partner. She meets organizations where they are, listens deeply, and brings a level-headed, thoughtful perspective to every conversation. She recognizes the inequities that many arts organizations face and approaches those challenges with empathy, curiosity, and a genuine desire to help find solutions. She asks tough questions, celebrates our wins, and isn't afraid to sit with us through the hard conversations. Her willingness to invest her time, expertise, and relationships has made her a true champion for our community.
Submitted by Laura Hennighausen, Purpose Possible Director of Strategic Philanthropy
Denzel Mitchell, Jr.
Executive Director, Farm Alliance of Baltimore
Denzel brings a fusion of leadership, varied professional experience, and a deep-rooted connection to agriculture.
He and his family founded Five Seeds Farm and operated it with a cadre of supporters and volunteers between 2008 – 2016. Over the years, he’s held various roles supporting healthy food education and access in the Baltimore area; teaching young people at several Baltimore City public schools and after-school programs.
His leadership is enabling FAB to navigate market shifts and pioneer innovative agricultural methods. Through mentorship and advocacy, he ignites passion in the next generation of Black farmers, fostering a legacy of stewardship for the land.
Submitted by Starsha Valentine, Purpose Possible Chief Culture Officer & Partner
