2025 EXCEL Winner – Melodie Narain-Blackwell

Tell us about your leadership style and how this contributes to your organization’s success.  

My leadership style is collaborative and rooted in real experience. I make sure the people we serve and the people on my team have a voice in every decision, even if I make the final call. I rely on our Ambassadors and staff to share ideas, and I embed equity and inclusivity into our work. That approach has helped COGI grow quickly while staying connected to the community, because the programs we create reflect real needs and lived experience, not just assumptions. 

On the practical side, I offer my team—seven mothers, many with young children, and some who manage their own or a loved one’s chronic illness— ”give.” We operate with a ‘life first, work follows’ mindset, creating space for real-world responsibilities while achieving organizational goals. It’s not always easy, especially during busy times, but this flexibility builds loyalty and trust. More importantly, it sets an example for our participants. Chronic illness is a disability, and like all disabilities, it can disrupt life. By giving myself and my team grace (and vice versa!), I’m helping shift the paradigm from “butts-in-seats 9-5” to “get the work done, but we’re human too.” And that model can still lead to unparalleled success. 

What advice would you offer for other nonprofit leaders? 

Center the people you serve and listen to their experiences; they’re the real experts. Don’t be afraid to talk about inequities or challenge systems that aren’t working. Don’t hesitate to call out, respectfully, others’ preconceived notions. I spend a lot of energy explaining that Black does not equal poor, uneducated, or uninsured. I come from an upper-class background, am highly educated, and have always had insurance, yet it still took three decades to receive a proper diagnosis and care. 

Collaborate widely, even with unexpected partners; sharing ideas and resources strengthens impact and may reveal new ways to approach your work. Be patient and persistent; meaningful change takes time, but staying rooted in your purpose always pays off. 

And, last but not least, don’t shortchange your mission – literally. Don’t be afraid to ask for money, and ask for what you need. Resources, time, and support are all essential to making the impact your community deserves. 

What does this award mean for you and your organization? 

 It would be huge validation, not just for me, but for everyone at COGI and the patients and caregivers we work with. It shows that the voices of Black people living with chronic illness are being heard and validated. The award would give our team even more tools to make change and inspire others to follow our example. 

For COGI, it will help us reach more people. One of the main reasons I started COGI is that I felt so isolated, thinking Crohn’s wasn’t a “Black” disease and I was an anomaly (not true, BTW). And I met and continue to meet so many people who feel the same. It can be life-changing to know that other people in your community share your experiences – the good, the bad, and the ugly. That sense of camaraderie is evident at all our events and in all our programming. We have fun and laugh at the ridiculousness of our symptoms, while also sharing our stories and learning from each other along the way. I think that’s pretty rare.  

 For me personally, it’s a reminder that leading with empathy and lived experience can still drive real success. It’s the heart of what we do every day.