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Since the start of the pandemic, we have observed several transitions among foundation CEOs. These transitions have come about in a number of different ways. A significant number of CEOs retired from their positions (and a few have been dragged back into the fold). Some transitions have occurred because of new (or renewed) foundation missions which necessitated changes in organizational structure. And others have come about due to the natural evolution of careers, interests, and opportunities. But whatever the case, understanding what these transitions are like for the leaders— current and former—is instructive to both the field and the larger community.
As we mark another Black History Month and celebrate Black futures, there is an urgency for us to address the existing divisions in our country and create solutions that move us closer towards our vision of a strong, inclusive, multiracial democracy with Black communities at the center. Some of the barriers we continue to see in communities across the nation include attacks on voting rights, biased immigration policies, blatant displays of white supremacy and white nationalism, and a decline inequitable economic opportunities.
As we consider our roles, it is important to remember that justice is defined not by our own definitions but by the communities directly experiencing injustice. It is also important to keep in sight how our roles align with, support and uplift the existing work of community organizers who have long advocated for restorative and healing justice as common practice, rather than forms of justice defined by the same systems and institutions that uphold structural racism.
The outcomes of the 2024 election will have a significant impact on climate adaptation & disaster resilience priorities and funding availability in Northern California. This comes at a time when communities are facing repetitive climate-driven disasters and are fighting for the resources they need to develop, plan, and implement community-led strategies for resilience.
The San Francisco Foundation (SFF) is committed to ensuring that all people in the Bay Area are economically secure, rooted in vibrant communities and civically engaged. We envision a Bay Area where everyone is able to make ends meet and plan for their future, where culture and difference are celebrated, and where they are able to lift their voices to shape community policies that meet their needs and interests.
No matter where you start, success in life starts at home for all ages and all people. When we have safe, secure places to live – whether you rent or own – parents earn more, kids learn better, health and well-being improve, and our communities are strengthened. To build this future, we need to bring the Bay Area’s capacity for innovation and problem-solving to the challenge of preserving our pre-existing affordable housing. The constant loss of affordable units to the speculative market is accelerating the
displacement of working class and poor families - shedding our region of its diversity, vibrancy, and equity of opportunity.
All children deserve to have access to a quality education. They deserve to feel safe and supported in a place that exists to prepare them for their futures. Yet, for Black youth and other youth of color, this is far from the reality. Every day, Black children and other youth of color, some as young as six are being pushed out of classrooms and schools because of deep racial profiling. Across the country, Black high school students are twice as likely to be suspended as white students. In Oakland, while Black youth made up 26 percent of the Oakland Unified School District’s enrollment, they represented 73 percent of arrests. This vicious cycle continues to fuel pathways to prison and confinement, where Black youth are consistently over-represented, which creates additional barriers for our young people to realize and achieve their full potential.