Tennessee Nonprofit Network launched three Community Action Councils (CACs) in 2024 to serve as ambassadors for our organization and be our “ears to the ground” in their local communities to unearth community needs and challenges. You can learn more about the full roster of CAC members here.
This week, we introduce you to Tracey Zerwig Ford. Arriving to Memphis as an acting intern at Playhouse on the Square, Tracey has played many roles in Memphis on and off the stage including founding company member of the long running Freak Engine Improv Show, Artistic Director of Memphis Children’s Theatre, company member of Playhouse on the Square’s Theatre For Youth and Theatre Memphis’ ShoWagon, and Artistic Director for the Memphis Arts Council/ArtsMemphis’ Center for Arts Education. As a teaching artist with the Memphis Arts Council/ArtsMemphis, she has taught in the Lincoln Center Institute for ten years and the Wolf Trap Program, based out of Washington, D.C. She has acted and directed professionally in Arkansas, Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois, and New York. Most recently she writes, reads, acts and critiques new works in Voices of the South’s Writers’ Cabaret. She performs in staged readings for Voices of the South, originating roles in several new plays including Roofers by Ron Gephardt, Goddess of Tears by Keegan Schuett and this dry spell, the 2024 Yale Drama Prize winning play by Keegon Schuett. When she is not performing in a theatrical wig on stage embarrassing her family, she behaves herself and serves on many nonprofit and arts related boards. Her current role is as the Director of Community Engagement at Hutchison School where she founded the Center for Excellence which serves thousands of participants a year in arts, academic, leadership, and sports training.
What excites you about the work that Tennessee Nonprofit Network is doing?
I am excited that nonprofits have a visible and vocal advocate working on their behalf throughout the entire state. I look forward to TNN’s opportunities for nonprofits to share best practices across industries and regions.
What do you think the biggest challenges are for nonprofits right now?
Right now the two biggest challenges for nonprofits are developing the next generation of committed board members and building internal fundraising and governance skills. There is a real need for more pathways for nonprofit staff to develop better stewardship and financial literacy to sharpen their fundraising and business acumen.
What do you love about the nonprofits in your area?
Leading organizations and individuals to positive growth and change is my personal inspiration and professional motivation. I appreciate the openness of our West Tennessee community and how we embrace inclusion and belonging. I have seen so many shared resources and robust partnerships among our nonprofits.
Describe your role at Hutchison and what a typical day looks like.
As Community Engagement Director, hosting events and facilitating conversations and connections are my everyday duties. Since 2003, I have worked at Hutchison School where I have served both as Director of Arts and now Community Engagement. Every day I advocate for community opportunities for the girls at Hutchison and for our community to join us here on our 52 acre campus. In 2007, I founded the Center for Excellence, which serves thousands of community members from our tri-state region each year in arts, academic, leadership, and sports training. Seven years ago, I rebooted an initiative I started for arts groups at ArtsMemphis, a Community Partnership Roundtable. This started as a venue for ten Education Directors to collaborate and communicate better. I enjoy conducting conversations that can help advance community. The Community Partnership Roundtable has grown into quarterly meetings with 80+ attendees of nonprofit leaders, government agencies executives and philanthropic corporate representatives.
What do you like to do for fun?
My family and I volunteer for many organizations around the area including Dixon Gallery and Gardens, Voices of the South, MoSH, Girl Scouts Heart of the South, Theatre Memphis. I love organizing helping hands for nonprofits and enjoying our amazing city as a community volunteer.
Name a nonprofit leader that inspires you.
Exemplar nonprofit leadership to me looks like the Dixon Gallery and Gardens team led by Kevin Shaw, Director, and the work of its Director of Education, Margarita Sandino. The Dixon is such an amazing example of the role a museum can play in a neighborhood, city, and region. Their work connecting to the museum’s neighborhood, expanding the audiences, and welcoming and celebrating local and regional artists is inspiring.
If someone were to visit you, where would you take them to eat?
I am a vegetarian and many of my friends are vegan. Brunch at Sunrise followed by a trip to Sugar Ghost. For lunch or dinner, we are off to City Silo, any Indian restaurant, or R.P. Tracks for Tofu BBQ. Don’t knock it till you try it!
What’s your favorite movie and why?
Anything Studio Ghibli. Why? Arrested development.
What change do you most want to see in the nonprofit sector?
I hope that nonprofits thrive under full boards and healthy governance while connecting meaningfully to their communities as their staffs steward time and treasure to fulfill purposeful missions.
How can nonprofits in your area benefit from becoming a member of Tennessee Nonprofit Network?
I really believe in cooperation over competition. We are all better together and collaboration makes lighter work for all. The TNN website and newsletters are full of free learning opportunities and relevant information. I would encourage us all to continue developing our professional skills through the TNN and also sharing our expertise with each other. I look forward to attending the Tennessee Nonprofit Conference on October 3 at the Hilton Memphis.