Today we’d like to introduce you to Marie Alcazar.
Marie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I developed and founded Built4Agility around a few simple principles:
1- To Whom much is given, much is required.
2- Serving is never a sacrifice; it is a privilege.
3- Wisdom, education, and pivoting with a growth mindset can change the future of work, family, community, and even Social Justice in America.
As an Agile Ecosystem Coach, I am a disruptive innovator with extensive experience in People Operations and Organizational Transformation. With more than 30 years of industry experience, I have spent my career helping some of the largest and most complex corporations in the world transform from the inside out.
In the aftermath of a series of high-profile deaths of African Americans at the hands of law enforcement or while in police custody— including Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, Alton Sterling, Philando Castile, Terence Crutcher, Breonna Taylor, Atatiana Jefferson, Aura Rosser, Stephon Clark, Botham Jean, Alton Sterling, Freddie Gray, Akai Gurley, Sandra Bland, George Floyd, Daniel Prude, Rayshard Brooks, Daunte Wright, and Adam Toledo to name a few. And yes, we say their names out loud so that we never forget the price that continues to be paid in the name of justice.
Built4Agility emerged from this burning platform with a clear purpose and intent. Our goal is to amplify and mobilize our gifts and the gifts of our partners to make a difference within communities where there is a need for transformation. We are firmly committed to supporting, enabling, collaborating with, and accelerating the work of institutions and organizations aligned to the high calling of social justice.
We acknowledge and applaud the important work that many other nonprofits have embarked upon but also recognize that there is still much work to be done. This work requires us to activate our communities in ways that will thread the needle of change and tip the scales of justice in favor of humanity. As an Agile Coach and practitioner, I have experienced the impact that agile methods can deliver when applied appropriately and I believe similar results can be realized in our communities if we are able and willing to shift our mindset and our behavior.
History has proven that we repeat what we don’t change so if we want different results,
First, we must acknowledge and understand how our past informs our current state.
Second, we must embrace a growth mindset. Applaud progress but recognize that hearts, minds, and actions must change if we hope to shift the trajectory. Third, we must move with intention, ensuring all energy and resources align to and deliver on our shared goals.
This is both a challenge and opportunity that Built4Agility hopes to address in collaboration with other agencies. It is our give back and through this work, we are living both purposeful and purpose-filled.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Our two biggest challenges continue to be community involvement and funding. We’ve tried several different ways to connect with and engage the community, some things worked, and others haven’t. Like most other startup nonprofits funding is a challenge, we operate lean and most initiatives are self-funded.
More than anything, this continues to be a learning journey and an opportunity for us to “drink our own Lemonade.” We walk the talk and exercise the core principles of agile, which call for us to learn, shift and pivot when necessary, continuously and unapologetically.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
At Built4Agility, we are disruptive innovators and catalysts for change. We are a small team of thought leaders and expert practitioners in Agile Transformation, Change Adoption, Public Safety, and Diversity, Inclusion, Equity & Belonging. We leverage a vast toolkit of modern tools and frameworks designed to deliver responsive and adaptive solutions that drive culture change.
The work we do is grounded in Agile, a mindset and practical framework that when applied in a social context can be used to solve for some of the biggest problems plaguing our communities. Through The Academy for Social Justice we offer facilitator-led training, Social Justice Dojos, Culture Conversations, and 3D immersive learning events designed to help community members, leaders, advocates, and nonprofits amplify and accelerate the important work they are already doing.
What’s next?
Built4Agility offers a pragmatic approach to unpacking the issues and building solutions that are community-centric, future-fit, and enable continuous growth and development. We will continue to evolve our programming and expand our reach as we equip communities with the skills and capabilities required to move beyond the implications of systemic racism.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.built4agility.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/built4agility/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Built4Agility
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9JRmnZIRZlSv54rZXcFB8A/featured
