POSTED January 01, 2024
Board Spotlight: Meet Mr. Mason
There are many of our board members here at Cultivate who came to know of us through Carey Mason. As a dedicated member of multiple boards, he is often bringing others into the fold to share their expertise with Boulder’s non-profits. With a list that is much too long to go over in this blog, Carey is out contributing to causes that are close to his heart while at the same time running his business that specializes in consulting on best practices in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. It may surprise you to learn that he has only been in Boulder for nine years, but he has managed to become an integral part of many community organizations in that time.
Originally from Louisville, Kentucky, Carey grew up with five siblings who often found themselves assisting their mom in one of her many nonprofit pursuits to better the lives of the people in her community of Louisville, KY. Carey says he owes a lot to his family and how he was raised. Although race was not discussed at home, Carey and his siblings were raised not to speak with an accent so as to make it easier to find common ground with the white population. In other words, he had to be very intentional about the way he presented himself to the world, and that intentionality shows up in other aspects of his life as well.
His passion for giving back comes from a connection to the causes he supports. Whether he is speaking about Cultivate’s work with seniors or OUT Boulder County’s work to support the LGBTQ+ community, he believes in the importance of the work and the power that the board has to support those services. Carey will be the first to say that he cannot help but speak up when he notices something. He is not afraid to ask questions and be very direct in his discussions, which he says is an occupational hazard of his.
When Carey can find the time, you may also see him out golfing, hiking, or skiing. However, much of his time is taken up, and it is often hard to know where he is at any given moment. Who is he helping now? What a good question! And one that changes from hour to hour.
When asked why he is so active in his community and work, Carey replied that he wants to live in a world that will accept his 7-year-old granddaughter, Zoe, for all that she is as she grows. It is this hope that speaks to many. And, the more our community gains support from people like Carey, the closer we may be to that goal.