Staff Spotlight: Celebrating Nadeane Cattrell’s Fellowship with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation

Mississippi Families for Kids (MFFK) is proud to celebrate our Executive Director, Nadeane Cattrell, for successfully completing her fellowship with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation! 

Through the Community Leadership Network (CLN) with the Center for Creative Leadership, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation selects 80 fellows each year from across the country to equip them with the knowledge and tools to bring people together through shared humanity and drive meaningful community action. This intensive,18-month program empowers leaders to connect, grow, and lead transformative change for a more just and equitable society. 

Exploring Communities & Learning from Leaders 

During the fellowship, participants traveled to several key locations, including: 

• Albuquerque, New Mexico 

• Detroit, Michigan 

• Washington, D.C. 

• New Orleans, Louisiana 

• Jackson, Mississippi 

At each site, fellows explored the history of the community and examined ongoing efforts to create positive change. These immersive experiences provided a deeper understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities each community faces. 

Key Fellowship Topics 

Fellows engaged in thought-provoking discussions and hands-on activities covering a range of leadership and community-building topics, including: 

• Personality and Leadership Surveys – Understanding individual strengths and leadership styles. 

• Effective Communication – Strategies for building stronger teams and partnerships. 

• Direction, Alignment, and Commitment (DAC) – How to unite teams toward common goals. 

• Situation, Behavior, Impact (SBI) – A framework for providing constructive feedback. 

• Leadership Approaches – Exploring conservative, pragmatic, and creative leadership styles and their impact on teams. 

• Burning Bright vs. Burning Out – Strategies for maintaining passion and avoiding burnout in leadership roles. 

• Networking & Community Engagement – How to effectively connect and show up for the communities we serve. 

• Bridging Gaps in Leadership – Hands-on activities highlighting the disconnect between frontline staff and leadership and strategies for fostering collaboration. 

Meet the Mississippi Fellows 

Nadeane was joined by an impressive group of Mississippi-based leaders in the fellowship, each committed to making a difference in their communities: 

• Chauncey Spears – Community Engagement Manager, The Alluvial Collective 

• Allytra Perryman – Deputy Director, MS State NAACP 

• Caitlin Brooking – Executive Director, Refill Jackson 

• Alexandra Melnick – Adjunct Professor of Community Engagement, Millsaps College & Communications Director, Operation Shoestring 

• Liz Broussard Red – Community Leadership Network Fellow, W.K. Kellogg Foundation 

These fellows represent a diverse range of expertise across nonprofit work, policy, state agencies, mental health, food security, technology, financial literacy, indigenous advocacy, education, and housing. 

Looking Ahead 

With the insights and connections gained from this fellowship, Nadeane and her fellow leaders are more equipped than ever to create lasting change for Mississippi’s children and families.  

Hear from the Mississippi fellows themselves about the challenges and opportunities in our state: Watch the video.