Ally Couch: Anchored Together
11/12/2025 12:00 PM - 01:15 PM ET
Description
Anchored Together: Allyship in Uncertain Times
Wednesday, November 12
12 - 1:15 ET via Teams
In a world shaped by cultural divides and economic volatility, the demand for authentic allyship has never been more critical. For women leaders, allyship transcends traditional leadership competencies it is a business imperative. It drives inclusive decision-making, strengthens team cohesion, and fuels innovation. In today's landscape, leading with allyship isn't just strategic — it’s transformative.
Join The Boston Club for a powerful installment of our Ally Couch series, Anchored Together: Allyship in Uncertain Times, where we'll explore how to cultivate meaningful support systems and lead with integrity in today's complex environment.
Featuring:
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Aba Taylor, Executive Director, YW Boston
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Alexandria Russell, Executive Director, Boston Women's Heritage Trail
Moderated by Joanne Derr and Christy Egun, this discussion will examine how allyship can serve as a stabilizing force, helping individuals, organizations, and communities navigate uncertainty with empathy, courage, and clarity. This is more than a conversation; it’s a call to action. Whether you're a seasoned executive, an emerging leader, or someone seeking to deepen your impact, this program offers the tools and perspectives to anchor yourself in allyship and lead with purpose.
Our Speakers
Alexandria Russell
Dr. Alexandria Russell is the Executive Director of the Boston Women’s Heritage Trail and a non-resident W.E.B. Du Bois Research Institute Fellow at Harvard University’s Hutchins Center for African & African American Research. She is the founder of Black Women Legacies, a nonprofit organization that supports digitally mapping historic and contemporary memorials of Black women across the globe on a free website. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Secondary Education from College of Charleston and her Ph.D. in History from the University of South Carolina.
Her professional experience extends to her employment on Capitol Hill with Congressman James E. Clyburn (SC-06), as a middle school educator in South Carolina, as a public history consultant with the National Park Service, and as the Interim Vice President of Education and External Engagement with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Her experience as a public school teacher informs her service and engagement when she develops curriculum guides for children, participates in community advisory boards, and coordinates innovative public programming.
Her first book, Black Women Legacies: Public History Sites Seen & Unseen (University of Illinois Press), examines the evolution of African American women’s memorialization in the United States from the late nineteenth century to the present. As a historian, memorializer, and public history practitioner, Dr. Alexandria Russell is committed to ethical research practices that recover obscure histories and create accessible pathways for bringing diverse histories to people of all backgrounds.
Aba Taylor
Born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts as the only daughter of immigrant parents, Aba Taylor experienced and witnessed the impact of social and global inequities at an early age. Curious about the world, she ventured out as a young Black woman to experience traveling, living, and working in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
For the last 25 years, Aba has engaged in social justice work as an educator, facilitator, organizer, consultant, nonprofit executive, and board member, and has held key leadership roles with mission-driven institutions working to uplift BlPOC communities, women and girls, immigrants, LGBTQ+ communities, and other historically disadvantaged groups on local, regional, national, and international scales. From working internationally at the United Nations facilitating gender mainstreaming and advocating against violence against women and girls; to conducting gender-based civil rights and diversity and inclusion training and consulting all over the United States, to leading high impact social impact and philanthropic organizations and efforts, Aba has committed herself to supporting the capacity of nonprofit, educational and philanthropic leaders, groups, and institutions dedicated to social transformation.
Aba is a well-sought-after consultant, facilitator, and keynote speaker, and has been recognized for her work through the City of Boston’s Mayor’s Office.
Aba holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbia University and a Master of Arts degree in Nonprofit Leadership and Management from the School of International Training. She is a Rockwood Leadership Institute alumnus and a certified trainer with Quabbin Mediation. Her writing has been featured in The AFRican Magazine, Q-Zine, and the Boston Globe.
Our Moderators
Christy Egun is a seasoned nonprofit executive with over two decades of experience driving mission-aligned strategy, leading organizational transformation, and championing equity-centered initiatives. Christy is an active member and co-chair of TBC’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.
Joanne Derr is an Executive Coach and former vice president of Human Resources across multiple industries where she spearheaded diversity, equity and inclusion strategies and diversity committees. Joanne is an active member and co-chair of TBC’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.