Kris Mordecai

Can you tell us a bit about your job responsibilities?

I lead finance and administration for the New York City Anti-Violence Project (AVP.org), the largest anti-LGBTQ violence organization in the country. We work with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and HIV-affected communities and allies to end all forms of violence through organizing and education, and we support survivors through counseling and advocacy. My role at AVP is to manage the team that takes care of the organization’s financial, operations, HR, IT, and facilities. Together we work to apply AVP’s anti-oppression values to all aspects of making the organization run. For us, this means applying an antiracist lens to our HR and workplace culture policies and decisions, employing a participative and collaborative budgeting process that reflects our values, and striving to create trauma-informed workspaces in both the physical and virtual environment.

In addition to my work at AVP, I also currently operate an independent consulting practice in which I provide management support for progressive nonprofits in the areas of operations, finance, and talent management. My work helps organizations streamline systems and align their equity goals with their day-to-day financial and HR practices.

What led you to your current organization/role?

Ever since I started my nonprofit career in an administrative support role, my passion has been about providing the operational support and services that allow my colleagues to deliver programs that make the world a better place. Over the years I expanded my areas of expertise into operations and human resources management. I joined the Executive MPA program at Wagner while I was serving as the Director of Operations at GLSEN, a nonprofit that advocates for educational equity for LGBTQ+ youth in K-12 schools. At Wagner I was able to build my skills and portfolio in financial management, deeply explore theories of organizational leadership, and build my own praxis of connecting day-to-day management decisions with workplace culture. The skills and perspectives I gained at Wagner continue to inform my everyday work as a manager and a leader, as well as my consulting projects.

What advice would you give to someone considering or about to enter the EMPA Program?

Come to Wagner open to having a transformative experience! The classes and networking opportunities are wonderful, but for me, every bit as important was the experience of deciding to invest in myself by furthering my education, and then spending a year engaging deeply in my own growth and learning. That period of focused attention to my own growth and expansion was one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever given myself. I came to see myself and my own value very differently as a result of the EMPA program.