September 2021: Gloria Aponte Clarke '87

9/8/2021

When Gloria Aponte Clarke ’87 was a senior majoring in biology at St. Lawrence University and applying to medical schools, she quickly realized that her passion was in preventing illness and not treating illness. That led to a pivot to public health and a master’s in the field from the University of Michigan. Now, as a Senior Program Officer for Maine Community Foundation (MaineCF), whose mission is to increase the quality of life for all Maine People, Gloria provides funding to nonprofit organizations and partners with them to promote and broaden their work. “Public health data shows many inequities in our society and it’s in MaineCF’s mission to address these inequities,” she explains. “In 2020, we granted over $50 million dollars of grants in Maine. Our COVID-19 response was integral to our mission of ‘improving the quality of life for all Maine People’ and led to advocating for BIPOC-led organizations during the height of the pandemic.” Read on to learn how teachers at Laurel had an impact on her life—from getting her American citizenship to developing her interest in nature to teaching her how to take notes and write papers; her work as a leader in MaineCF’s racial equity work; what it’s like being an open water swimmer in Maine; and which is her favorite thing about Maine—lobsters or blueberries.

Do you have a favorite story or important lesson learned to share from your Laurel days?

A great teacher can have a profound impact on a student! Young people need all the help they can get, and I benefited greatly from Laurel’s incredibly committed teaching and support staff. I felt like I had a whole team of people looking out for me and that was fantastic. After the immigration unit in Mrs. Boatright’s Controversial Topics class I realized that it was time to go through the process of applying for USA citizenship. My parents and I had “Green Card” documentation and we all applied for and were granted citizenship. When I arrived at Laurel in the Ninth Grade, I had never written a paper or taken notes—I went to an elementary school with a lot of issues. Mrs. Thomas taught me how to take detailed notes and from then on, I took notes with a four-color pen. I still use that notetaking method! Mrs. Thomas’s love of science was contagious and helped me develop my interest in nature and biology that led to a BS in biology and a master’s in Public Health. By the time I left Laurel I could write a paper and take great notes!

What advice do you have for current students who want to make the most out of their experience at Lyman Circle?

Build relationships with your teachers! The teaching staff have a lot to offer.

After earning your bachelor’s degree from St. Lawrence University, you obtained a master’s in public health from the University of Michigan. Why public health?

I discovered the field of public health while I was applying to medical schools and quickly realized my passion was in preventing illness and not treating illness. Public health is an incredible tool and lens from which to view the world as it uses prevention as its cornerstone. I highly recommend public health as a field of study as it is an incredibly versatile, impactful and marketable degree.

Having worked at organizations such as Altarum, a nonprofit research and consulting firm that helps federal and state agencies improve health equity and outcomes, and the Portland (Maine) Health Department, what changes have you seen in the field of public health over the past decade?

Public health has always addressed inequities in health and today, more than ever, public health practitioners are leading the way where racial equity is concerned. Over time, public health providers have realized that engaging the affected population is critical—not optional. One can have a well-designed program, but if the community is not truly engaged and doesn’t identify that program as a true need, then the program will not help at all. Unfortunately, funding for public health programs has not increased as prevention is just not a priority in our country.

You joined the Maine Community Foundation (MaineCF) in 2018 and are now a Senior Program Officer, working with donors and nonprofits and managing several competitive grant programs including the Equity Fund, BIPOC Fund and Peaks Island Fund. Tell us a little more about your work and some projects you’ve been most proud to support.

I thought public health would be the focus of my entire career, so I was surprised when I began as an advisor of a competitive grant program at MaineCF and saw that philanthropy was a great fit for me. Community foundations started in Cleveland, which I saw as a sign to work with MaineCF. I provide funding to nonprofit organizations and partner with them to promote and broaden their work. I really enjoy working with nonprofits and helping them and their leadership have as much impact as possible. I also work with donors who contribute about half of the $650 million that we manage. In 2020, we granted over $50 million dollars of grants in Maine. Our COVID-19 response was integral to our mission of “improving the quality of life for all Maine People” and led to advocating for BIPOC-led organizations during the height of the pandemic. The BIPOC-led organizations were not being listened to during the bureaucratic process. It was clear that COVID-19, like other health inequities, would affect BIPOC at higher rates. It was then that several BIPOC leaders called for help in amplifying their voices and message. MaineCF did exactly that. With the influence we have we were able to assist in a more robust and targeted COVID response. MaineCF was able not only to effectively advocate for BIPOC organizations but also provide directed grants to the BIPOC-led organizations who were providing critical support to all Mainers. There is still a lot of work to do but all nonprofits in Maine benefited as the grantmaking and reporting processes have adjusted.

You’re also a leader in the Maine Community Foundation’s racial equity work, helping facilitate the Foundation's racial equity strategic goals. Why is it important to have racial equity goals? What advice do you have for others who would like to advance this type of work at the organizations where they are employed?

I love this question! I can use my organization as an example—MaineCF’s mission is to increase the quality of life for all Maine People. We are not meeting our mission if we are only meeting the needs of those who are easy for us to reach and not addressing structural racism (the cumulative impact of racialized disparities in power over time). Public health data shows many inequities in our society and it’s in MaineCF’s mission to address these inequities. When nonprofit organizations ask me how they can convince their board to address racial equity, I remind them that they are not meeting their mission if they are not meeting the needs of the whole community.

Equity focuses on outcomes, structures and systems and I have learned to ask the question “how is power operating?” in all that I do. As a society, we can be evaluated by how our most challenged community members are doing. Thus, we need to ask an organization to specifically focus on those who are most impacted by systemic inequities.

Understanding structural racism is important to understanding and addressing poverty and inequality in all its forms. When I speak with our donors, grant advisors and nonprofit organizations I talk about a few things: 1) learning about structural racism and the documented outcomes—this is a lifelong journey! There is no one and done. 2) Race and whiteness are both unscientific concepts—race is not biological; it has been constructed over time; and 3) learning about how we have structured our society to provide barriers to some and boosts to others. The good news is that we can adapt the structures we have to create equitable outcomes! We can interrupt the cycle of inequity by continually learning, watching how power is operating and speaking up to interrupt structural racism. As Maya Angelou said, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, DO BETTER.”

How has being bi-cultural and bi-lingual in Spanish and English impacted your approach to your work?

I feel very fortunate to be an immigrant to the USA and understand firsthand the systemic inequities in our country. As someone who has a great deal of privilege (for example a Laurel education!), I use what I have learned and experienced in more resourced environments to help those affected by systemic inequities. I believe that my understanding of both cultures—American and Colombian—help me have a greater impact in my work.

For other alumnae looking to work in community-driven organizations and nonprofits, what skills or personality attributes do you think are necessary to be successful in this field?

I think truly engaging the population your organization is working with in meaningful ways will help an organization’s work to be the most impactful. The community knows best how to heal itself. There is a saying in Latinx countries, “solo el pueblo salva el pueblo.” In English, “only the people save the people.” This saying is true! If you are from outside a community, you can be supportive, but only the people can save the people!

What are some of your hobbies or interests you pursue outside of work?

I live in Maine for its proximity to the ocean! I am an open water swimmer—with wet suit, of course, as the water here is COLD. There is a bay I swim in with an island as a destination and bald eagles, osprey, seals and herons as swimming partners. I also enjoy pottery and a great pandemic purchase was a pottery wheel of my own! I also love reading as well as audio books—a combination of fiction and nonfiction. I really like being read to while I throw at the wheel.

Where is the first place you would take a friend who has never been to Portland, Maine?

Most people want a lobster! So, I’d take them to Five Islands Lobster Co. after a day at my favorite beach—Reid State Park. A must!

What is your favorite thing about living in Maine AND pick one—Maine lobster, saltwater taffy or blueberries?

Blueberries!! We ordered 15 pounds this year and will munch on them for a few months. There really is something special about a Maine blueberry.

What makes you proud to be a Laurel alum?

The work of the Center for Research on Girls— it’s impressive to have the research taking place and being produced in such a way that is understandable, applicable and usable to the general public.

I am so proud of Laurel School and credit the support I received at Laurel for much of my academic success!

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