Beatriz Beckford

Beatriz is an artist, educator, organizer and strategist who exemplifies experienced and intentional leadership in movements for social change. She brings 20 years of experience strategy planning, organizational development and advancement, community organizing, architecting multilayered campaigns, developing integrative arts and popular education programs, facilitation, process design, coalition and alliance building, capacity building, grassroots fundraising and development, and philanthropy expertise.

Using Black feminist wisdoms, liberation theory, transformative justice, the arts, and leveraging community wisdom and leadership are core principals and practices that Beatriz believes bring people together in right relationship to build beloved societies that can thrive across the spectrum of difference. These values fuels her passion for organizing, social movements, education, art and design that emerges from the margins and grows the grassroots power we need to create dynamic change

Beatriz holds dual masters degrees in Women & Gender Studies & Education. She has trained with Black Organizing for Leadership and Dignity (BOLD), the Rockwood Leadership, Management Center, Grassroots Fundraising Institute, the Center for Third World Organizing, Ruckus Society, Social Justice Leadership Institute, People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond, the Feminist Organizing School. She was a CoreAlign Speaking Race to Power Fellow, is the artist in residence at the Art Institute – Homan Square and views her most important training as those opportunities that come from deep community work, and a deeply relational praxis.

Her commitment to amplifying the wisdom of the grassroots and organizing with communities hardest hit by systemic oppression has been marked by her creative approaches, strong leadership, integrity driven work ethic, and her belief that We Will Win!