- About Us
- Our Initiatives
- Our Impact
- Our Team
- Our Stories
- Get In Touch
- About Us
- Our Initiatives
- Our Impact
- Our Team
- Our Stories
- Get In Touch
About this episode
In this powerful episode, we sit down with Shawn Smith of My Brother’s Keeper Alliance and Natasha Jeffries, founder of Black Girl Magic, to explore how mentorship, advocacy, and representation are transforming the lives of boys and girls of color. From personal journeys of resilience to building movements that inspire systemic change, Shawn and Natasha share what drives their work, the impact they’ve seen, and their vision for a more inclusive and empowered future. This is a conversation about purpose, power, and the people creating real change—one life at a time.
Transcript
About our guests
Shawn Smith is a passionate advocate and mentor with My Brother’s Keeper Alliance, an initiative launched by President Obama to close opportunity gaps for boys and young men of color. Drawing from his own life experiences, Shawn empowers youth through mentorship, education, and community support. Joining him is Natasha Jeffries, the inspiring founder of Black Girl Magic, a movement dedicated to celebrating and uplifting Black women and girls. Through her advocacy and storytelling, Natasha is reshaping narratives and building a powerful community rooted in confidence, pride, and purpose. Together, they are champions for equity, representation, and the limitless potential of the next generation.
About our host
Gina Crivelli is the Director of Programs and Impact at Libra Philanthropies, where she leads strategic giving, partnership development, and impact measurement, while also overseeing daily operations. Since joining the Libra Group in 2015, she’s grown from administrative assistant to a key leader, with experience spanning program coordination, philanthropic strategy, and executive management. Prior to her work with the foundation, Gina supported member engagement and fundraising efforts at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Drexel University and an Executive Certificate in Nonprofit Fund Development from the University of Notre Dame—bringing both heart and expertise to her role as our host.
