The Link
January 2021
A Note from TPC President Barbara Gaskin
As we begin our ninth year at The Philanthropy Connection, thank you to all renewing members and welcome to our new members! And thank you to all who made extra donations to our grant pool! We are still processing your contributions and will report our results next month. As the year turned, we had high hopes for 2021, having survived a most tumultuous year. Hope has been quickly dashed by the raging, more virulent strain of the coronavirus and the extraordinarily horrific scenes of an insurrection led by white supremacists at our nation’s capital. As we honor Martin Luther King, Jr. this week, consider his words, “The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people.”
As philanthropists, TPC has supported organizations seeking to eliminate systemic inequities in our communities and assist those affected by it. Our support is needed more than ever. I urge you to lean in and seek to understand the impact of racism and the white supremacy culture that perpetuates inequities and division in our communities. Follow the DEI spotlight (below) in this newsletter and use the resources provided by our DEI committee, now more than 20 members strong. In December, TPC had 60+ members participate in the 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge, which we will offer again this spring. Many participants have said taking the Challenge has had a profound impact on their understanding of systemic racism – its history and its insidious presence today, manifest in social and economic injustice. I encourage you to participate if you haven’t done so already. Let us hope for peace and health in the days, weeks, and months ahead.
Help Wanted
Looking for a new way to get involved at TPC? The Education Committee is looking to expand the reach of our Dialogue events by offering a second showing: TPC Live Rewatch – a new way to reach members who are unable to attend evening events. Because we record all Dialogues, we can offer a viewing approximately one week following each event. A one-hour daytime session, likely around lunchtime, would include viewing a portion of the recorded program followed by a group discussion. We are looking for volunteers to host these sessions, which would involve conducting and managing the Zoom meeting (training, if needed will be provided). If you’re interested and would like to learn more, please contact Jenny Morrison at babmanor@gmail.com.
Upcoming Events
Save the Date! Mark your calendar for our February 11 social event, which will be hosted virtually that evening, from 7:00 to 8:00. An invitation will be delivered to your inbox soon.
Though we don’t have a date yet, our March Dialogue will feature grantee Fathers’ Uplift. Stay tuned for further details.
Grantee Impact 1: La Colaborativa
Liaisons: Susan Friedman and Adrianne Musgrave
The mission of La Colaborativa is to empower Chelsea residents to enhance the social and economic health of the community and its people and to hold institutional decision makers accountable to the community. LC is a community-based organization for Latinx immigrant youth and adults in the city of Chelsea, whose ethnicity comprise 70% of Chelsea’s population. LC prioritizes and specializes in services to the oppressed and financially exposed based on at least one of these risk factors: poverty, history of trauma, undocumented status, lack of English proficiency, low literacy, and basic skills deficiency. (Read more…)
Grantee Impact 2: GreenRoots
Liaisons: Rosemary Driscoll and Sarah Kalish
GreenRoots is a community-based organization dedicated to improving and enhancing the urban environment and public health in Chelsea and surrounding communities. It does this through deep community engagement and empowerment, youth leadership, and implementation of innovative projects and campaigns. (Read more…)
DEI Spotlight
Diversity | Equity | Inclusion
Reflections from the January 6th Insurrection
Like all of you, we are horrified by the violent events that unfolded last week at our nation’s Capital. The armed insurrection on Capitol Hill was incited by a long-term campaign of disinformation and heightened political polarization, but at its root was driven by an effort to uphold white supremacy. Undoubtedly, the events from January 6th undermine our country’s rule of law and foundation of democracy. The countless videos and images still emerging from that day are deeply unsettling. As they breached America’s halls of power, the rioters put on display Confederate flags, nooses, and numerous other white supremacist symbols.
This moment must serve as a wake-up call to every American. As philanthropists, we cannot be silent in the face of white supremacy. We have much work to do to end systemic racism and overturn the culture of white supremacy. With a shared commitment to our collective values, we can get through these difficult times and emerge stronger together. To build an inclusive, multiracial, and representative democracy at every level, we must prioritize the principles of not just diversity, equity, and inclusion but also of racial justice and anti-racism.
Resources
Ibram X. Kendi on why white America is still shocked by white supremacy
The Whole Story in a Single Photo
Storming The U.S. Capitol Was About Maintaining White Power In America
Race Double Standard Clear in Rioters’ Capitol Insurrection
DEI Update
On January 10, the DEI Committee and Grants Committee hosted a Belonging, Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity (BEID) training for all TPC Grant Team leaders. We had an incredible turnout, with more than 60 members attending. The training was facilitated by TPC’s DEI consultants, Madeline McNeely and Heang Ly. During the training, Madeline and Heang discussed in detail the importance of BEID, how to facilitate conversations regarding BEID, and factors to consider during the grant process. Additionally, the updated LOI form and rubric were presented to the Grant Team leaders.
As always, if you’d like to further engage in conversations about, or take action with us toward addressing racial equity, white supremacy, police brutality, or our personal and philanthropic roles in committing to anti-racism please contact the DEI Task Force directly at: diversity@