Our friends at the Association of Black Foundation Executives (ABFE) hosted a World Café event in June through their Black Male Funders Learning and Action Network (LAN). LAN serves as a convener, connecting foundations actively working to improve Black male outcomes. This network, along with similar groups, shares knowledge, strategies and lessons learned while documenting shifts in grantmakers’ strategies and investments in Black males. Although it’s common to become siloed in our sector, we have to remember that it’s far easier to pull a boat to shore if we’re all strategically pulling in the same direction. ABFE and their co-hosts for this event, the DC Trust and the Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, realize that this type of collaboration is key. Presenters at the World Café event included Travis Wise and Guy Anthony from DENIM, Wanda Alston Foundation Executive Director Kenneth Pettigrew, Executive Director of Life Pieces to Masterpieces Selvon Waldron, Bread for the City Executive Director George Jones and Empowering Males of Color in DC Public Schools’ Dr. Robert Simmons.
By moving from one table to the next, participants were able to learn of the great efforts underway at each organization. Dr. Roberts spoke about educational institutions for Black boys in D.C., as well as ways to curb the high suspension rate of black youth. Life Pieces to Masterpieces described their focus on D.C.’s two highest poverty stricken wards using art to help the young men develop emotionally and intellectually. The representative from the Wanda Alston Foundation discussed the housing the foundation provides for LGBTQ youth up to age 24 and the ways they help their youth make plans to live a sustainable life. Travis Wise and Guy Anthony of the Us Helping Us DENIM program detailed their community center programs that serve gay, bisexual, and same gender loving men of color from 18-29. George Jones of Bread for the City discussed the various programs his organization has in place to help those facing homelessness or who have just run into a little bad luck.
In addition to representatives from nonprofits, there were many funders in the room soaking up the passion exuded by these community leaders. By the end of the event, we were all more invested in the work of these organizations and had a clearer sense of how our role, whether it be working directly with those affected or providing funding, connects to the whole.
Following the event was a discussion and call for collaboration within the city. We thank ABFE for their consistent efforts to better the lives of black men and boys, and we salute the funders present to eagerly learn more about the work being done on the ground. Henry Ford once said, “If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.”
Is your foundation actively seeking opportunities to learn from those doing the work on the ground? Are you feeding off the passions and expertise of your peers to move together toward success? If you are not already, I encourage you to reach out to other foundations and nonprofits working in similar issue areas. Working together towards success in philanthropy should be the norm and not the exception.
Janay Richmond is a field associate at the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP). Follow @NCRP and @JanayRichmond1 on Twitter.
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