Chief Operating Officer; Director
DCI Boston and Community Catalyst
FOCUS
Sixty thousand juveniles younger than 18 are held within jails or prisons, and 30 percent of those age 16+ are not likely to be enrolled in school or participate in the workforce. It’s time these young people get a fair chance to change their story by better understanding their choices and options and learning about entrepreneurship, unhealthy and healthy relationships, and preparedness versus survival.
Alexis has the vision to root out assumptions made about the community she lives in and the people and youth in the city of Boston— the assumptions that these individuals know how to unlearn their harm and that they know where and how to receive access to support, services, wages, or mental healthcare. Alexis’s vision is to ensure that gaps are mended between youth and the community, ensuring that the voices and needs of those within the juvenile justice system are heard and received. In collaboration with the youth, we can understand the factors that led them behind the wall and uncover what is needed to prevent or reduce their return—this will allow them to become co-authors of their transition plan. Alexis hopes to build a community with like-minded leaders who want to be part of the collective change needed to strengthen platforms for future youth and community leaders. Together, we can learn how to show up differently to our community that hasn’t changed access to livable wages, food, housing, or safety, just to name a few of our community’s challenges. Alexis also hopes to strengthen connections with racial justice leaders.
STRATEGIC INITIATIVE: Project Reset: the Journey Toward Unlearning
As a long-time social justice advocate, silent justice seeker, and recipient of injustices, much like many of you, I, Alexis, have recognized the imperative need to create an accountability tool that collaborates with multi-sectoral organizations. Over the last three years, especially in the wake of the murder of George Floyd and countless others, institutions have declared their commitment to ending racism. In response, I am initiating Project Reset: the Journey Toward Unlearning.
This project aims to build a community of practice, bringing together up to 10 diverse, national Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) experts. Together, we will develop a knowledge exchange loop that informs the creation of a culpability tool. This tool is designed to ensure that the same leaders who committed to embedding anti-racism practices into their strategic plans or took a stance on infusing racial justice efforts into their workforce are held accountable and supported in their endeavors.
MORE ABOUT ALEXIS
As a teen mom, Alexis experienced an unsettling childhood: foster care, a hectic household, being in adult roles at age 12, managing her mom’s mental health disorder, and losing her father to substance abuse at age 13. However, these pathways propelled Alexis to share her journey in a way that would inspire others through her role as an advocate, justice seeker, life coach, and much more. Alexis answered her calling to be available to people—-particularly young people and young women—and be part of a strong movement on the frontline, standing with her community for a Culture of Health that we get to define ourselves. Alexis believes she is responsible for sharing the connections, tools, and resources she once needed as a young parent with others experiencing a similar path. As she dismantled stereotypes and assumptions for years, she pushed ahead, maintained resilience, leaned into discomfort, was unafraid to unpack trauma, and faced barriers and breakthroughs. Finally, Alexis is ready to share her story of rediscovering her power.
As a performance-driven program management professional, Alexis B. Major is known for her remarkable expertise in planning and administering programs, designing and implementing curricula, cultivating positive public relations, and delivering strategic program leadership within the nonprofit sector. With proven success in securing major funding, driving professional growth, and directing change management endeavors, she is well-prepared to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion across the organization to achieve long-term objectives.
With her excellent leadership and decision-making expertise, she orchestrates leadership programs and collaborates with broader staff, sponsors, donors, board of directors, adjunct faculty, and community members. She also maintains optimal work productivity to standardize learning and provide a clear path for individual progress. In addition to this, she is equipped with strong interpersonal skills, bilingual communication (English and Spanish), and a blend of creative and rational problem-solving skills to remediate all standard and nonstandard concerns.
Click here to watch Alexis’ Legacy Project video.
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