Nakia Alston

Nakia is excited to join the Embrace Race team as their Director of Philanthropic Engagement. With nearly two decades of experience in the nonprofit sector, Nakia has raised over $15 million to support youth development, academic advancement, and workforce initiatives. Her work has consistently centered on the equitable distribution of resources to marginalized and disenfranchised populations, ensuring communities have the tools they need to thrive. Nakia brings a strategic lens and a deep commitment to advancing racial and social justice, emphasizing the transformative potential of equitable philanthropy.

Nakia obtained a Bachelor's degree in Organizational Leadership at Fordham University, where her studies also explored the intersections of race, faith, and philanthropy. A proud Harlem native now rooted in Brooklyn, Nakia is the mother of two beautiful, bold, and bright children who underscore her unwavering commitment to youth development and equity. She is also a lover of reading, arts, and culture, and she thoroughly enjoys exploring the living history of New York City.

Nakia counts Audre Lorde among her favorite authors and finds daily inspiration in Lorde's words: "When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid."