Biography

Allie Bird has 30 years of diversified experience as a business executive, nonprofit organization leader, partnership builder, youth mentor and teacher. She has worked extensively in the public, private and nonprofit sectors, where her expertise has been sought in areas ranging from developing national marketing strategies to developing ventures in social entrepreneurship that bring together the unique talents of youth, community, corporate and governmental leaders to address social issues. As a result of her pioneering efforts in this area, she was named a Kellogg National Fellow, one of 50 Americans selected each year by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation for its program to help the nation develop its pool of capable leaders. During her time as a Kellogg Fellow, Allie was drawn to work with inner city young people in the District of Columbia. She was founding co-director of the Children’s Trust Neighborhood Initiative (CTNI), which built strong youth advocacy within the District’s juvenile justice system, and also incubated three other nonprofit organizations that continue to serve DC youth and families. She served as president of the Washington, D.C. chapter of the No Dope Express Foundation, a youth education and anti-drug organization; and directed strategic planning and development for Young People on the Rise, an organization providing leadership experience and college scholarships for youth in low-income communities. Currently she is supporting Training Grounds in organizational development and building corporate partnerships that help urban young people develop their professional skills, career opportunities and leadership.