CHRISTI H. KETCHUM

When I think about my purpose, I am grateful for my assignment. I think of the Black Women who came before me, who nurtured and developed me as a leader. With a clear vision, I lead with courage and integrity to constantly transform myself, my family, and my community.

Professionally and as a personal responsibility, I have worked with numerous organizations and networks that aim to improve the social, economic, and political conditions of those in the most vulnerable communities.

Throughout my career, I have dedicated efforts toward advancing Black Women and Girls, Youth Leadership Development, Reproductive Justice, Dismantling Oppression, Prison Industrial Complex, and Social Justice, including curriculum and program design, creating intentional spaces that build bridges and networking through partnership development. Through my 25+ years of working in the non-profit sector, I am proud of facilitating and identifying gaps to create programs that provide political education, leadership development, opportunities, and resources to enrich leaders who can advocate for themselves and others. In 1998, I was inspired to create an opportunity for Black Women to gather monthly in Sacramento for positive dialogues and fellowship. I imagined making a safe space for Black Women and Girls to become stronger leaders, creating sisterhood through the experiences of sharing stories and building meaningful relationships. That vision began surfacing in 2009 when I founded Our Rightful Place. From there, the Sacramento Sister Circle (SSC) was established and continues to grow in member numbers and impact. In 2019, SSC reached an active online membership of 10,000+ women and continued to encompass holistic health, wealth building, expanding our horizons, knowledge acquisition, mentorship, and political engagement.

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