Black History Month Staff Spotlight: Kiana Cornish

Feb 27, 2023 Black History Month Kiana Cornish Staff Spotlight 2023

This Black History Month, Compassion & Choices is celebrating Black leaders within our organization who bring their unique and invaluable perspectives to the end-of-life options movement. Our staff and supporters make progress possible.

Kiana Cornish has led an impressive career in non-profit fundraising and advocacy, and last October, she joined Compassion & Choices to take the helm of our Development team as Chief Development Officer. With her extensive experience in philanthropy and her deep understanding of end-of-life issues, she’s poised to help lead our organization to new heights. 

Cornish’s journey to a career in fundraising is due in part to African American art. In graduate school, she helped produce the annual art auction for the National Coalition for 100 Black Women Inc. “It was at this job that I was introduced to the nonprofit sector and fundraising development work,” said Cornish. “I was exposed to the artists I had been studying like Betye Saar and Renee Cox... It was such a phenomenal experience [and] I felt there was something really special about the nonprofit sector and being able to share a mission and spark interest  through motivating others to give.”

In her previous professional roles, Cornish placed particular emphasis on promoting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in the workplace. “DEI is not something we should [only] think about during Black History Month,” said Cornish. “It's something we experience daily. Our professional experiences are only enhanced when we work together in promoting inclusive environments for all and advocate for equity.” Cornish challenges everyone, in all workplaces, to vigilantly uphold DEI values so that workplaces can become a living testimony to the power of DEI values and principles. 

Cornish gave a nod to one Black activist in particular who inspires her advocacy philosophy: Ericka Huggins, a former political prisoner and a leader in the Black Panther Party. “[Huggins] has seen how sustaining activism can promote social change and how critical thinking and listening to others is the best way we can serve and engage one another… Political education is the key to all social change and organized movements… [Our work at Compassion & Choices] is no different,” avowed Cornish. “We must continue to critically think about how to engage our issue from a place of policy, awareness, and education of the issue at large. Listening to… our storytellers, advocates and supporters, especially those who are from communities that have historically been marginalized and underrepresented, will be key to furthering the end of life choice movement and creating a substantial change in the years to come.”

Cornish sees the end-of-life options movement through the lens of bodily autonomy and personal freedom. “Choice is justice in this movement. Options overture freedom,” said Cornish. She looks forward to using her position as Chief Development Officer to continue raising awareness of end-of-life issues and encouraging everyone to join the campaign to ensure that end-of-life options are recognized as a right for all.