Carla Vanzant, A Phenomenal Woman

The Girls Scouts of the Jersey Shore recently honored nine incredible women at their Phenomenal Women Under 40 event. They are women who exemplify courage, confidence, and character. Brookdale’s Director of Education Opportunity Fund (EOF), Carla Vanzant, was one of those exceptional women who have gone above and beyond in all they do, including their outstanding accomplishments and commitment to business growth, professional excellence, and community service.

“This year’s honorees are role models in our community and are being recognized for their leadership in the workplace, volunteerism, along with their dedication to fostering self-confidence and leadership skills in others,” said Heather Coburn, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore.

Once a Girl Scout Brownie, Vanzant was honored for being a true change agent and community builder. With a Master of Arts in Applied Sociology in Nonprofit Leadership and Management, she has passionately worked to impact her community and this world by helping nonprofit and educational organizations across the country reach their full potential. She achieves this goal by providing consultation, mentoring, and empowerment services to various nonprofit and community-based organizations.

In addition to her work in the nonprofit sector, Vanzant is also a diversity, inclusion, equity, and access champion. Her work in this sphere centers around creating equitable spaces, combating diversity resistance, providing education, and building accountability systems.

In 2016, Carla co-founded Inspire Life, a nonprofit organization that provides high-quality camp and educational experiences to students in the Asbury Park community and beyond, alongside her husband, Semaj. Inspire Life is a community-shifting organization that seeks to expose young minds to creative artistry while empowering them to lead.

Carla resides on the Jersey Shore with her husband, who achieved Eagle Scout rank,  and two sons, Semaj and Seth. Her passions include family, traveling, whales, and building flourishing communities.