Since 1997, Ann has coached nonprofit leaders to fulfill their vision for their organizations.
As a consultant to domestic and international organizations, she has
- Coached executives on visionary leadership, planning, management, fundraising, and generating strategic partnerships.
- Coached staff and board leaders to resolve crises and controversies with dignity and respect.
- Designed and facilitated planning and other meetings and retreats.
- Guided boards in executive transition planning, conducted executive searches, and served as interim executive during leadership transitions.
- Trained staff on issues such as communication, fundraising, meeting structure, and effective team collaboration.
Ann co-founded, with Rev. Cedric A. Harmon, Many Voices, A Black Church Movement for Gay and Transgender Justice (2010–2015).
As co-directors of Many Voices, Ann and Rev. Cedric
- Raised the voices of Black gay and transgender Christians.
- Equipped and brought forward influential Black leaders to demonstrate that support for LGBTQ equality and justice is deeply rooted in the Black religious experience and consistent with being Christian.
- Led the organization through strategic planning that restructured the board of directors and denominational involvement.
- Built unprecedented collaboration between the secular and religious pro-choice movements.
- Transformed a historically white organization into one in which people of color provide energetic staff and volunteer leadership; established the Black Church Initiative; and set in motion the first National Black Religious Summit on Sexuality.
- Convened a national conference in Pensacola, FL, a community that had experienced three murders at a local abortion clinic, and mobilized Pensacola’s religious community to end the violence.
- Wrote and published cutting-edge materials on sexuality education, reproductive health, sexuality, and gender (see partial publication list.).
- Spoke extensively on sensitive issues related to sexual health, reproductive rights, and gender diversity; keynoted conferences; facilitated workshops; trained youth and youth workers; and moderated panels at numerous national and regional conferences.
- Served as a founding board member of the Reconciling Ministries Network, a national grassroots organizing group within the United Methodist Church.
- Honorary Doctor of Letters, Ithaca College, 2017
- Leadership Intensives, Landmark Worldwide, 1994-present
- Member, Advanced Sexuality Educators and Therapists
- Master of Arts, University of Chicago, School of Social Service Administration, 1969
- Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, University of Kansas, 1967
As CEO of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (1992–1997), she transformed the Religious Coalition from a low-visibility organization into an energized movement.
At the Religious Coalition, she
Ann has written, spoken, and served on boards of a variety of local and national organizations. (See client list.)
Beginning in 1979, she
Ann also worked for 10 years as a social worker.
As a social worker at the Juvenile Protective Association, Chicago Child Care Society, and Woodlawn Child Health Services, she specialized in intervention with families struggling with child abuse and neglect.
Her education, training, and honors include
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