Cindi Bright - Social Change Maker of the Year - Race
Company: Cindi Bright - Seattle, WA
Company Description: Cindi Bright was instrumental in the advancement of Black women in WA business and politics from 2019-2021. She is a published author, TedX Speaker, radio show host, diversity consultant, and former candidate for public office in WA State. Cindi has decades of experience as a corporate HR executive and serves on the boards of numerous nonprofits.
Nomination Category: Individual Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Social Change Maker of the Year - Race
Nomination Title: Cindi Bright
Since 2019, Cindi has been a catalyst for racial equity in business, politics, and community, and instrumental in helping a record number of Black women win elected seats in Washington (more than ever in state history).
Through HeartBeat Radio, Cindi progressed race conversations at the legislative and community level, using her unique ability to connect constituents in the Black community together with the power-players in both business and elected office.
Cindi ran for public office herself in 2018 (WA House of Representatives) as a bold advocate for Social and Economic Justice. Although she lost to the incumbent, she won 27% of the vote as a first-time candidate and gained the sole endorsement of the King County Democrats and others. The people in power took notice, and Cindi became a key influencer in state politics and the community.
With HeartBeat Radio streaming weekly on digital, social, video and radio channels, Cindi’s followers grew to 25,000 in less than a year, allowing her to amplify Black voices and Black issues.
During the 2020/2021 election cycle, Cindi brought political candidates onto her show to let the community hear them, and help them hear the community. Cindi moderated a powerful “Black Women Lead” digital conference, amplifying the Black women candidates running for key positions. All but one of them won, in great part due to the visibility from Cindi. Cindi also served as a board member of “OpportunityPAC,” a Political Action Committee focused on progressing Black women into elected office in Washington.
Cindi Bright is a fearless leader and outspoken change-maker for the issues and advancement of Black women in business and politics. Cindi has dedicated her career to this. She uses her platforms as radio show host, published author, and public speaker to tackle systemic racism in both politics and business. When others are afraid to speak the hard truth, Cindi is bold, dynamic and provocative.
Cindi has decades of experience as a corporate HR executive (at fortune 500 companies) and now serves as a consultant, coach and speaker on diversity/inclusion and race politics. Cindi is also on the board of multiple nonprofits focused on racial injustice, including the Urban League of Seattle, which serves African American and other underrepresented communities in Seattle.
Cindi is also the Radio Producer and Host for HeartBeat Radio, focusing on issues impacting people of color. As a former candidate for public office herself, her show has a strong focus on politics and business. Elected officials, political candidates, and business executives join Cindi weekly to discuss issues impacting brown and Black people.
Cindi is unique, not only in her effectiveness, but in her grit and courage. From 2019 to 2021, while she was running her own consulting business, spearheading social justice and political campaigns, building an influential media platform for Black issues, she gave a TedX Talk, and published a book….all while battling cancer.
Cindi’s illness did not deter her nor did she let the chemo slow her down. She moderated Black Women Lead while wearing a wig (unbeknownst to most), because she knew the critical role this could play in moving the needle on race representation in leadership. From 2019 to present, Cindi uniquely curated connections between the interwoven worlds of business and politics, using HeatBeat Radio as a spring-board to amplify Black voices and Black issues.
Cindi is courageous in her willingness to share personal stories of facing racism in corporate environments. Her 2019 TedX Talk, “Reflections on Race,” boldly addressed how Black people are seen before they are heard. And her book, “Color of Courage: Crushing Racism in Corporate America,” published in July 2021, calls out specific systems of racism in corporate America. Through her deeply personal story and her unique lens as a corporate HR executive, she exposes the organizational systems that uphold white supremacy and destroy the lives of Black people.
Most diversity consultants are focused on training. Cindi instead focuses on direct action and impact, unafraid to call things out and use her multiple platforms and access to affect change.
Reference any attachments of supporting materials
Cindi Bright website, blog, video reel and LinkedIn profile - showing the breadth of her dedication to racial justice and her media presence used to amplify Black issues:
https://www.cindibright.com/
https://www.cindibright.com/blog
https://vimeo.com/448384053
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindibright/
Black Women Lead (digital conference): https://www.facebook.com/opportunitypac/videos/black-women-lead/699544497258981/
2019 TEDx talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=et9RO7dgs4o&;t=3s
2021 published book on corporate racism: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cindi-bright-releases-the-color-of-courage-crushing-racism-in-corporate-america-301325217.html
Opportunity PAC: https://www.opportunity-pac.com/pac-officers-and-advisory-board
WA State Election Results 2018 - Cindi wins 27% of vote: