Interview—Natosha Reid Rice
An Interview with Habitat for Humanity International’s Natosha Reid Rice
In this episode, Dr. Carmen Mohan catches up with Habitat for Humanity International’s first Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer, Natosha Reid Rice. Ms. Rice is also an associate pastor for Atlanta’s All Saints Episcopal Church and a lifelong advocate for the voiceless as well as those who have historically been disadvantaged. In her professional life, Ms. Rice has built a career balancing her skills as a law professional with her spirituality to “pastor in public places” in way that brings people closer together instead of further apart. Follow along as Dr. Mohan and Ms. Rice discuss how we can go from placing limits on love and relationships to how we can grow into intentionally facing our own “mirror moments” on our journey to create a healthier, happier community.
Ms. Rice has spent her lifetime advocating for the need to approach others with an open, accepting mindset informed by a desire to discover the ways in which we are similar and the ways in which we can contribute to a “neighboring movement.” By not limiting our compassion and relationships to those we encounter every day, we can grow out of self-segregation and into a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive society. Ms. Rice uses an analogy of “soul excavation” to describe the process by which we broaden our own understanding and learn to ask ourselves the hard questions necessary for growth. These “mirror moments” allow us to understand the ways in which we need to connect in spiritual, emotional, and physical ways and to discover the ways in which we limit not only ourselves but others as well. Need practical steps to start your own journey? Ms. Rice provides action steps to help you begin the process of becoming a strong, committed leader.
Action Steps:
Keep the main thing the main thing. In other words, determine what feeds your soul (e.g., family, friends, prayer) and keep that central in all you do.
Check in with yourself quarterly. Schedule time every three months to ensure the things you are doing line up with your purpose for that season of your life. Put your first self-check on your calendar today.
Value your relationships. Invest in the ones that matter because they are the ones that will provide you with your “mirror moments.”
Create spaces to celebrate others. Even a small space to acknowledge another’s commitment to positive change will help you learn to find the ways we all connect to each other.
About Natosha Reid Rice
Natosha Reid Rice is Habitat for Humanity International’s first Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer and is leading the development and the execution of Habitat’s global strategy for diversity, equity, and inclusion.
In her previous role as Associate General Counsel, Natosha initiated and managed financing programs and strategies to generate sources of capital to enable Habitat affiliates to build affordable housing with families throughout the U.S. In addition to her work at Habitat, Natosha served as an Associate Pastor at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia for 11 years before joining All Saints’ Episcopal Church as Minister for Public Life.
Prior to joining Habitat, she practiced law in the commercial real estate practices of Alston & Bird LLP in Atlanta, Georgia and of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP in New York City.
Natosha is passionate about providing a voice to the voiceless and opportunities to communities that have been historically disadvantaged. She serves on the boards of the global Harvard Alumni Association’s Executive Committee, Atlanta Community Food Bank, Goodwill of North Georgia, Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, and Westminster Schools. She has also been actively involved in efforts to pass legislation and policies to protect victims of human sex trafficking in Georgia, such as the passage of the Safe Harbor/Rachel’s Law in 2015.
Additionally, she is a highly regarded keynote speaker and workshop facilitator and delivered her talk “If We Are More Alike Than Unalike . . .” for TEDx CentennialParkWomen.
Natosha received her J.D. from Harvard Law School and her B.A. in government with honors from Harvard/Radcliffe College. Natosha is married to Corey Rice, and they are the proud parents of Kayla, Malachi, and Caleb.
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