Nonet Sykes
About Nonet Sykes
Nonet Sykes serves as the Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer at Atlanta BeltLine, where she leads initiatives focused on equitable community engagement and housing affordability. With a background in organizational consulting and a commitment to racial equity, she has held various leadership roles in philanthropy and community development.
Current Role at Atlanta BeltLine
Nonet Sykes serves as the Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer at Atlanta BeltLine since 2018. In this role, she leads initiatives focused on displacement mitigation, housing affordability, and equitable community engagement. Sykes is the first person to hold this position, where she is responsible for promoting equitable access to opportunities and pathways for wealth creation within the community. Her work emphasizes the importance of embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into the organizational culture.
Previous Experience at Annie E. Casey Foundation
Prior to her current role, Nonet Sykes held several positions at the Annie E. Casey Foundation. She served as Program Officer from 2001 to 2010, then as Director of Racial and Ethnic Equity and Inclusion from 2015 to 2018. During her tenure, she developed investment strategies aimed at enhancing equitable opportunities for children, families, and communities of color. Sykes also produced tools and resources to improve understanding of racial and ethnic equity in philanthropy.
Educational Background
Nonet Sykes has an extensive educational background. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Services from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, followed by a Master of Public Administration in Community Economic Development from the University of Baltimore. She also obtained a Graduate Certificate in Organizational Consulting and Change Leadership from Georgetown University. Additionally, she received certification as a Professional Diversity Coach from the CoachDiversity Institute.
Community Engagement and Leadership
Nonet Sykes is a Diamond Life member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., reflecting her long-term commitment to community service and leadership. She has designed a learning curriculum to enhance staff capacity in integrating equity and inclusion into programmatic strategies. Sykes has also co-created the Race for Results index, a tool that measures the progress of children from various racial backgrounds on key developmental milestones.
Board Membership and Contributions
Nonet Sykes serves on the board of the Atlanta Wealth Building Initiative, contributing her expertise in equity and inclusion to support economic empowerment in the community. She co-authored the report 'Race for Results: Building a Path to Opportunity for All Children,' which provides data and recommendations for equitable access to opportunities for children of color. Her work continues to influence policies and practices aimed at fostering equity in various sectors.