This is a 2-part virtual event.

Who should attend: CDC and Nonprofit executive directors and CEOs, board chairs, board members, and staff who support board development.

Session 1: March 4, 2027 (11-12:30)

Recruit with Purpose: Strategies That Work 
90 minutes

Finding the right board members takes more than filling open seats. This session covers proven strategies for recruiting board members who reflect your community, strengthen your mission, and bring the skills and experiences your organization needs. Board members and CEOs will share their own stories about building strong, diverse boards. Participants will have space to talk through recruitment challenges with peers and come away with fresh ideas and approaches they can put to work in their organizations.

Session 2: March 11, 2027 (11-12:30)

Ready to Lead: Turning New Board Members into Engaged Leaders 

90 minutes

A strong board starts with a strong welcome. In this interactive session, we'll look at best practices for orienting and onboarding new CDC board members so they're ready to lead from day one. You'll hear directly from board members and CEOs about what worked, what they learned, and how good onboarding made their boards more engaged and effective. Participants will also have time to share their own experiences, raise challenges they've faced, and leave with practical tools they can use at their organizations.

Instructor Bio:

Shirronda Almeida 
Director, The Mel King Institute for Community Building at MACDC

Shirronda Almeida has led The Mel King Institute at MACDC since it launched in 2009. The Institute offers more than 40 training courses each year to help community development practitioners grow as resources for their communities.

Shirronda brings deep board experience to this series. She serves on the Board of Trustees of the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. She has also served on the boards of the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network and Opportunity Communities, and as a gubernatorial appointee to the Metropolitan Area Planning Council.

Her leadership has been recognized with the Two Kings Award (2026), the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts' Shirley Owens Hicks Award for Nonprofit Leadership (2024), and the Nancy Nye Memorial Award (2017).

Shirronda holds a master's degree in education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, a B.A. from Simmons University, and a certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from Boston University. She is a certified yoga instructor and teaches yoga in her spare time.