Candice Elder
The East Oakland Collective
Oakland, CA USA
"Do it afraid."
Career Roadmap
Candice's work combines: Non-Profit Organizations, Politics, and Helping People
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
Anytime I feel like I can't do something, I've learned to push through and do it anyway. I doubted my abilities to lead the young professionals board at the Museum of the African Diaspora. I was so scared. However, in that moment of doubting my capabilities, it dawned on me that there was more reason to do it than not. There's more reason to try because you're successful whether you succeed or fail. If you fail, it was still an experience that you gained and can grow from—that's success.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Political Science
University of California, Berkeley
Graduate Degree
Criminal Justice, Rehabilitation, Reform
University of Cincinnati
Life & Career Milestones
I've taken a lot of twists and turns
1.
I graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in political science and a minor in African American studies, thinking I was ultimately going to become a lawyer.
2.
I spent ten years as a paralegal working in antitrust law, employment discrimination, and racial justice.
3.
I tried to go to law school part time while working full time but quickly realized that the workload wasn’t going to work.
4.
After brainstorming other paths that would still allow me to have an impact in social justice, I decided to pursue a master’s degree in criminal justice and then look for criminal justice reform jobs.
5.
I had trouble finding a job in criminal justice reform, so I actually went back to law and worked as a paralegal for an antitrust law firm.
6.
I joined a young professionals board through the Museum of the African Diaspora, where I developed my leadership skills and learned what it was like to work in philanthropy.
7.
After becoming more confident in my nonprofit management skills, I wanted to try a full-time nonprofit position—I worked for the Women’s Funding Network, which promotes investment in women and girls.
8.
While working for the Women’s Funding Network, I started The East Oakland Collective as a way to give back to the community I was raised in.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Myself:
I can't lead this board. I'm too afraid to. I don't have the capabilities to do this.
How I responded:
Anytime I feel like I can't do something, I've learned to push through and do it anyway. I doubted my abilities to lead the young professionals board at the Museum of the African Diaspora. I was so scared. However, in that moment of doubting my capabilities, it dawned on me that there was more reason to do it than not. There's more reason to try because you're successful whether you succeed or fail. If you fail, it was still an experience that you gained and can grow from—that's success.