Article and photo by Urban Alliance staff.
Romanita Hairston-Overstreet is no stranger to seeing firsthand how the power of collaboration and collective action changes lives. A seasoned non-profit and community leader, she has dedicated much of her life to advocating for the well-being of children and building the capacity of faith-based and community-based organizations.
Romanita was first introduced to Urban Alliance while serving as vice president of U.S. Programs at World Vision, which ultimately opened the door for her to begin serving on UA’s board of directors in October of 2014.
“I am very focused on mission. I get involved when I find an alignment of values and depth of relationship with those who lead and do the work,” she shared.
While she was initially attracted to Urban Alliance’s mission, her excitement has continued to grow as she sees tangible outcomes and impact being made.
“I have seen the joy in a UAServe volunteer over the impact they had by sharing their faith with children and helping them improve academically. I have also seen how organizations that participate in Urban Alliance initiatives feel when they receive donated goods, and have heard the ways they believe those goods will positively impact those they serve.”
Following her twenty-year tenure at World Vision, Romanita recently entered a new chapter, serving as president and founder of MORE320, a non-profit consulting, leadership development and publishing organization, and program director for the Murdock Charitable Trust, a Top 100 foundation.
She is also a national spokesperson who tackles challenging topics including navigating differences, reconciliation, community and economic development, and poverty. On her blog, Power of One, she emphasizes the importance of demonstrating service beyond one’s paid vocation when asking others to do the same.
“We should always be willing to fulfill the call we make to others,” she explains.
Through her work, she is focused on building the capacity of individuals and organizations in the social sector so they may achieve more through their programs and services, and ultimately their impact.
Because of this passion for positive change, in addition to her more than twenty years of non-profit leadership and board experience, Romanita is a valued member of UA’s board of directors.
Romanita lives with her husband and family in Seattle, Washington. She is also pursuing her her Ph.D in theology from Trinity University (U.K).
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