The Skillman Foundation Names Sarida Scott as Vice President of Program

The Skillman Foundation in Detroit has hired Sarida Scott as its vice president of program.

The Skillman Foundation is a private foundation that nurtures the genius of Detroit youth by investing in people and organizations that pursue transformational education systems change. As vice president of program, Scott will provide both strategic and operational leadership to the foundation’s program team, guiding and implementing grantmaking totaling more than $20 million annually in alignment with the organization’s mission, values, and newly launched People Powered Education strategy.

“Sarida is the exact right person to lead our programmatic work,” says Angelique Power, president and CEO of The Skillman Foundation. “Our People Powered Education strategy puts people most proximate in the policymaking seat. Sarida will hit the ground running with our board, staff, and youth council as we partner with people across the city and state to innovate and upgrade public education.”

Scott has worked for the betterment of children and communities throughout her accomplished career. She is a licensed attorney, engineer, and community development practitioner. She began as an attorney and child advocate, representing children in abuse and neglect cases. These experiences led her to pursue systems change work, seeking to alter conditions that create inequity and diminished opportunities, particularly in her hometown of Detroit.

Scott took on the role of executive director for Community Development Advocates of Detroit (CDAD) at a time when the organization had no staff and no money in the bank. By the end of her seven-year tenure, she had grown the organization to an annual budget of nearly $2 million, a staff of 12, a membership base that had more than doubled and was integral in developing a policy agenda for the city’s community development sector.

She also has worked as a senior program officer for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, supervising its Detroit team and the deployment of more than $10 million in grant funds. Most recently, she held the roles of assistant professor and director of the Community Development Department at the University of Detroit Mercy.

“I have been fortunate to have a career that has allowed me to serve in varying capacities to improve the lives of children and families in Detroit, the city that I love. Only a position of great significance and impact could entice me to explore a new opportunity,” says Scott.

“Improving public education,” Scott adds. “I wrote these words on a sticky note and stuck it on my wall as a guiding mantra. Then, this job opportunity came along. It felt meant to be.”

“It was important for us to find an accomplished leader who is strongly versed in community organizing, public policy, and systems change,” says Power. “We conducted a national search with the help of Koya Partners which resulted in a wildly impressive candidate pool. To no surprise, it was a born-and-raised Detroiter, Sarida, who had the policy and systems change experience, the dedication to youth and community, and the leadership skills we were looking for. And she has them in spades.”

Scott will begin her role at The Skillman Foundation on Sept. 3.

The role is new. Previously, the foundation had a vice president of program and strategy, led most recently by Punita Dani Thurman. This was split into two roles, with Thurman serving as vice president of strategy as of Jan. 1. The two leadership roles allow the Foundation to move faster and more sure-footed in its new strategic direction.

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