Dreamers & Doers: Shawn Dove: I, Too, America – Love, Leadership, and Black Male Achievement

Jun 3

Dreamers & Doers: Shawn Dove: I, Too, America – Love, Leadership, and Black Male Achievement

In Part 2 of Kristine’s conversation with Shawn Dove, founder of the Corporation for Black Male Achievement and Managing Partner at New Profit, they explore how a simple invitation to play can spark a national movement that reshapes lives, systems, and stories. Diving deep into the intersection of play, imagination, and philanthropy, Shawn emphasizes how trust—both trusting oneself and extending “unrestricted trust capital” — fuels a lifelong mission. They delve into Shawn’s work with the My Brother's Keeper initiative, how focusing on proximity rather than problems can revolutionize grant-making, and why sharing honest stories of struggle and recovery is a radical act of love that reminds us our final chapters have not yet been written.
Key Takeaways:

Trust is not only essential between people; trusting oneself unlocks the courage to dream boldly, imagine radically, and play without fear.
Movements for social change often begin with a simple invitation to come out and play, to walk toward one another across divides, and to join a shared mission.
Identity is shaped through play and imagination, and the stories people tell about themselves can either confine them or set them free.
Philanthropy that is grounded in humility, proximity, and unrestricted trust capital can shift focus from problems and punishment to asset-based investment in human potential.
Sharing honest stories of struggle, recovery, and survival can literally save lives, reminding listeners that their story is still unfolding and that help and hope are available.

"We live the lives of the stories we tell ourselves." — Shawn Dove

"Stay true to your mission, focus on the work." — Shawn Dove

"Trust in ourselves gives us permission to dare to dream." — Shawn Dove

More About Shawn Dove:

Shawn Dove’s leadership mission mantra is “there is no cavalry coming to save the day. We are the iconic leaders that we have been waiting for; curators of the change we are seeking to see.” The co-author of I Too Am America: On Loving and Leading Black Men & Boys, Dove is the founder of the Corporation for Black Male Achievement, a coaching and publishing firm that facilitates leadership development engagements that amplify stories of loving, learning, and leading by and for Black men and boys. Dove also currently serves as Managing Partner for New Profit, a venture philanthropy firm that invests in breakthrough social entrepreneurs advancing strategies that address systemic injustice across the nation. He served as CEO of the Campaign for Black Male Achievement (CBMA), which launched in 2008 at the Open Society Foundations (OSF) and spun off into an independent entity in 2015. CBMA invested close to $250 million to support and connect leaders and organizations working on behalf of the field of Black Male Achievement.

Connect with Shawn Dove:

Website: https://newprofit.org/

Book: https://dovesoars.com/book/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawn-dove/

Connect with Kristine:

The PlayFull Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-playfull-podcast-with-kristine-michie-bringing-fun/id1676838213?action=write-review

Website: https://www.impactfullinc.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactfull_inc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristine-breese-michie/

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