OUR PEOPLE
Dr. LaTonya Penny
Dr. LaTonya Penny is known for her relationship-centered approach, commitment to racial justice, and dedication to creating inclusive spaces, Dr. Penny has led the Foundation through significant growth, including the development of a new fellowship program and the strengthening of funder organizing and narrative change capacities. In recognition of her leadership in, Dr. Penny was
Ebony West
Ebony brings deep experience in strategic grantmaking, resource mobilization, and funder organizing across the South. Most recently, as a Senior Program Associate at Democracy Fund, she played a pivotal role in growing philanthropic investment in Southern power- and movement-building organizations — advising over $17.6 million in collaborative efforts and leading strategy development that resulted in more
Karen Carlton
Karen has been with the Laughing Gull Foundation for over a decade. She loves working on the philanthropy side of the nonprofit arena (where she spent a majority of her career), supporting issue areas that she is passionate about. Karen’s work with First In Families of North Carolina and Community Partnerships provided a good foundation
Marion Johnson
Marion joins LGF with over a decade of experience at the intersections of philanthropy, research, and community engagement. Most recently, she served as a Regional Program Officer at the Asset Funders Network, where she managed coalitions of funders and policymakers to advance economic equity across the Carolinas. Previously, at Frontline Solutions, Marion led equity-centered strategic
Nayeli Gomez
Nayeli Gomez was raised in Wilson, NC, as the daughter of Mexican immigrants. She graduated as a first-generation college student from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) with a BA in Sociology and Human Development & Family Science, along with a minor in Information Systems. Throughout her academic journey, Nayeli was a
Shannon Ritchie
Shannon is a policy wonk and advocate who builds communications capacity and strategies for groups advancing racial, social, and economic justice. Her work applies an intersectional racial equity lens to communications and helps groups center directly impacted people’s voices as leading experts in public discourse. In 2017, she founded Nectar Strategies, a hands-on strategic communications firm
