A conversation with CivicStory's new board president
Image provided by Pamela B. Daniels.
CivicStory's Newsroom Innovation Fellow Abby Orf spoke with new board president Pamela B. Daniels on how her career, experiences, and perspectives can advance CivicStory’s mission.
What inspired you about CivicStory’s mission?
CivicStory is solutions-based news and I am a solutions-focused person molded by the best shows and influencers in the 90’s - Captain Planet, the Do Something Club, and my parents Bradley and Linda Daniels! I believe we are stewards of God's earth, and sustainability is actively doing what is necessary to preserve the gift that we have been given.
Which of your many professional experiences relate to your new role at CivicStory?
My journey in the nonprofit sphere from community organizer to administration was invaluable. I learned so many lessons. All of it—audience engagement, creative collaboration, solutions thinking—it’s all relevant right now at CivicStory.
Which career experience are you most proud of?
Driving PR for Newark Moonlight Cinema, the state's first Black-owned drive-in movie theater, was pretty awesome. It brought the ‘classic Black-films lovers’ out in droves, because it was a safe, affordable, accessible, fun, and nostalgic experience for every age group. This happened during a time when we were all sick and tired of being cooped up. It was a solution for many families for so many reasons. And, it was just plain ol’ cool!
How will the many facets of your identity assist the mission of CivicStory?
It was clear to me, when I joined the board, that diversity was a shared value. In my opinion, diversity is allowing disagreement and learning from it. I think it is more important to focus on diversity of perspective, because if you do, and you have an open mind and desire variety, then you will naturally seek out experiences and identities that differ from your own to create some spice and solves in your workflow - to create different results. I look forward to seeing how my unique, Black Indigenous American ‘Jersey Girl from Newark’ experience drives innovation and advances the mission.
How do you balance the duties of a board president with your many responsibilities as a graduate student, a mother, and an entrepreneur?
Scheduling and boundaries. Becoming a mom is training me to embrace and navigate a hectic schedule at a new level! My son’s schedule comes first, and then everything else is layered on top of that. I was one of those people who lived and breathed the office. Now, I live and breathe Joshua Bradley, and work and volunteerism are just the means to be the best person I can be to raise him. I have the same 24 hours as everyone else, but my motivation is pretty special to me and it helps me get an insane amount done on a daily basis.
What is something you want people to understand or know about you?
Community organizing taught me ‘your opinion doesn’t matter,’ a motto I impart to every organizer I meet who asks me for advice. What does matter, are the needs and desires as expressed by the people you represent. I think this has served me well - as long as I show up authentically!