This is the second interview in this week’s We Are the Possible series, so named after my favorite Maya Angelou poem, “A Brave and Startling Truth”. I’m profiling several young nonprofit leaders I admire not only for their professional work, but for the values they live out for themselves. 

When we come to it
We must confess that we are the possible
We are the miraculous, the true wonder of this world
That is when, and only when
We come to it.

Kathrin Ivanovic is a 28-year-old, Afro German, lesbian follower of Christ. Kathrin is the founder and principal blogger at The Diversity Project. Kathrin currently serves as Director of Development at a non-profit organization in Philadelphia, PA that provides hope, love and support to refugees and other immigrants striving to build new lives in America. Kathrin is fluent in German and speaks regularly on ethnic/cultural diversity and transnational race relations. Kathrin is also an advocate for LGBT rights and gender equality. She is passionate about strengthening relationships between Afro German and Black German communities in the United States and in Europe, as well as facilitating capacity building among other groups working to eradicate racism for all People of Color.

I started following Kathrin on Twitter last year, and then began reading her blog, The Diversity Projekt. Her writing about global racism, politics, LGBT issues, and diversity was always so raw and enlightening. I found myself wondering how she was able to keep up with all of these important issues and mobilize others to take action. I had the pleasure of meeting Kathrin in November in Philly during the Independent Sector Conference, where we liveblogged together and impressed the press. Kathrin is a passionate young woman of color, and I’m sure her story will inspire you as much as it has inspired me.

Kathrin Ivanovic, Blogger at The Diversity Projekt, Director of Development at Nationalities Service Center
Age: 28 (she will be 29 on May 11th)
Lives in: Philadelphia, PA

How did you become interested in doing the work of social change? Which causes are most important to you?

I had two of the best role models any child could ever have. My Dad is a career soldier, who instilled in us the importance of giving back. My Mom has an incredibly generous heart and always reminded us that there are people in the world who have enormous challenges to provide their families with even the basic necessities in life. Growing up abroad gave my sister and me many opportunities to travel and meet people from different backgrounds.  This influenced me greatly.  I learned early in life that the world is much larger than me and that there are people with unimaginable struggles.

Pro-Migrant and Immigration issues have always been on my short list of important social justice issues, as are LGBTQ issues, diversity and race relations and AIDS advocacy. I am a first generation immigrant and have had far more opportunities than many immigrants ever have. I am the anomaly, not the standard, and I always remember that. We were by no means rich growing up, but we had far more than most people see in a lifetime. I am extremely lucky that the causes near and dear to me are in line with my day job.

What do you do in your position as Director of Development at the Nationalities Service Center?

I am primarily responsible for all fundraising and public relations at NSC. My position is relatively new at NSC, so I am extremely excited for the opportunity to build a strong individual donor program. We have a tremendously committed staff and Board.

NSC is a non-profit that serves immigrants and refugees in the Philadelphia area. Many of our clients arrive in the United States frightened, unable to communicate in English, unable to understand their legal rights and responsibilities, and struggling to fit into a new society and culture. Some have experienced displacement in war torn countries and suffer from the aftermath of having survived torture. NSC is there to make sure immigrant families, refugees and asylees entering Philadelphia, adjust to their new home, learn English, and obtain employment to support themselves and their families. NSC does this by providing legal, social, translation and interpretation, education and senior services, ensuring that both the immigrants and the community benefit from their integration into the community.

You publicly communicate your social identity as an “Afro German, lesbian and a follower of Christ.” What makes these aspects of yourself so important to you? Why are other young people so afraid to express their identity in this way?

These three identities (and I have many more subordinate identities) are constantly at the forefront of my conversation with the world. They influence how I interact with the world around me. On a very basic level, they are aspects of who I am that are unchangeable. I felt haunted by them for many years and was constantly trying ways to escape them. I have only recently – within the last 3 to 5 years – made peace with them. I can’t wake up one morning and stop being Afro German, lesbian or Christian. They are as much a part of who I am as a physical body part. To sever one from my being is unfathomable.

My faith is paramount. It is what drives all that I do as a human being. My love for Christ, or rather, His love for me moves me to become a better person, and to think and act in more selfless ways than I would on my own accord.

I think that we are experiencing a backlash of compartmentalization. The generation before us was so focused on labeling and categorizing everything and everyone, and I think our generation is rebelling against that. Nevertheless, as our generation forms and transforms its identity, both as individuals and collectively, it is important that we develop ways to articulate who we are. It’s empowering, and if there is anything we need right now, it’s to feel empowered. With that being said, I have surrounded myself with amazing people who have taught me the strength that comes from standing up and being counted.

You’ve been writing about diversity in a global sense for a year now on your blog, The Diversity Projekt. How has blogging impacted your career?

The Diversity Projekt has allowed me to develop my voice as a mixed chick, as a woman, as a citizen of this amazing planet we live on. I wasn’t even sure what TDP was going to turn into when I migrated over from Seeking the Cranberry. I just knew that I had grown out of my old blog format. Not only have I found a way to develop my voice on TDP, but I have also been blessed with opportunities to share my message in other forms, both on the web and in face-to-face mediums. Several speaking opportunities have come my way thanks to TDP. I am speaking at BlogHer 2009 in Chicago this summer and have a few other opportunities in development.

So you’re a rockstar blogger, full-time nonprofit professional, and a volunteer for numerous causes and organizations. How do you hold it all? Are there any daily rituals or spiritual practices that help you stay centered?

Ha! Thanks for that compliment- “rockstar blogger”! I really don’t see myself that way. I do have a lot on my plate, though. I am no expert on stability and balance. In fact, I am probably rather terrible at both. I do pray – often! Conversations with God are a constant in my life. I love to take walks with my dog to clear my head. Reading is definitely my escape.  I started taking the bus to work instead of driving and have noticed that I am far less stressed getting to work every morning.

I have also been developing some rather amazing relationships lately. I am slowly becoming a part of a quite unique and fantastic community called The Well. They have shown me, in no insignificant ways, that being part of a Christ-centered community is beautiful, overwhelming, unpredictable, scary and inspiring all at the same time.

How would you like to see your generation change the world?

I know that it sounds cliché, but I hope that our generation can more forcefully demand transparency and accountability from each other and from our elected officials. Accountability starts at home, with each and every one of us. We live in a world that is pervasively global – connected, due to the power and might of technological innovation.  More importantly, we are connected through our humanity and thereby universally accountable to and for each other.

There are so many ways each and every one of us can step up and be the change we want to see in the world. It is my hope that we begin to give each other the courage and support to do so.

You can follow Kathrin @Kathrinoutloud on Twitter at http://twitter.com/kathrinoutloud