by Chris Essel, President & CEO, Southern California Grantmakers, Dwayne S. Marsh, President and CEO, Northern California Grantmakers, and Megan Thomas, President and CEO, Catalyst
As the movement moment that emerged in 2020 continues to expand in its breadth and importance, the entirety of the philanthropic sector wrestles with a fundamental question: what can we do that will make meaningful change in the conditions that have led us to this precipice of racial reckoning?
California is often looked to as the state that pushes philanthropy forward and we are here to create the spaces that bring you into that vanguard. In arguably the most important moment we’ve collectively experienced around racial equity, it is a time to push ourselves further in our anti-racism journey. Philanthropy, and each of us as individuals, can be a part of that, and we have to do more. Philanthropy California is pleased to offer you Foundations of Racial Equity, a program series we believe is a great place to start.
This six-part series is not just an “equity basics” series of programming. It’s a current, holistic, and provocative look at different components of work necessary to advance racial equity in our institutions and our communities, with a focus on how anti-Black racism and white supremacy play out in philanthropy. Foundations of Racial Equity provides the opportunity to join with your peers to look unflinchingly at who we are and how we got here, and what we can do to be and do better.
We will curate a space where advocates and aspirants alike are welcome, building guidance and fellowship on the path to racial justice. Wherever you are on your journey, we invite you to consider joining this entire series -- or specific sessions within it – to support you in answering two fundamental questions: What do I need to know and learn about racial equity; and What are some actions I can take to make progress towards racial equity.
For more information or to register, take a look at the series here.