The Cost of Caring

Black nonprofit leaders often carry the weight of community care, organizational responsibility, and systemic inequities—making burnout both common and deeply consequential. This webinar will explore findings from our community-based research and connect them with the frameworks presented in The Four Pivots and the idea of working in your personal flow. Participants will gain an understanding of what burnout looks like, how it impacts well-being, and why it disproportionately affects Black leaders in mission-driven work. Practical, culturally responsive strategies for recognizing, preventing, and mitigating burnout will also be shared. Attendees will walk away with tools to sustain themselves and the vital work they lead.

About Monica Miles
Dr. Monica L. Miles, PhD '17, MA '10, BA '08, is an Assistant Professor of Engineering Education at the University at Buffalo and a proud three-time UB alumna. Her scholarship centers on equity, community engagement, and the lived experiences of Black learners and leaders across STEM and nonprofit spaces. Dr. Miles is also an NYS-certified MWBE co-owner of Mother Earth Literacies, an alumni-owned and operated University at Buffalo business dedicated to advancing educational justice, organizational well-being, and community-based research. Her work bridges academic inquiry with community-rooted practice, examining the systemic factors that contribute to burnout among Black nonprofit leaders and developing culturally responsive strategies for sustainable leadership. Grounded in frameworks such as The Four Pivots, her teaching and consulting emphasize healing, flow, and purposeful alignment as essential tools for leaders and organizations committed to transformational change.