We are proud to mark the culmination of the Art for Justice Fund, a transformative journey intertwining art and advocacy to reshape narratives and transform the carceral system. As we reflect on our partnership and the Fund’s bold strides, inspired by Helena Huang's reflection, we’re excited to launch a series that delves into lessons from our evaluation of this unique, time-limited effort.
Stay tuned as we explore the impactful stories and strategies that have emerged, and join us in this reflection on the power of arts and advocacy in service of justice.
https://lnkd.in/euqU5xjh#ArtForJustice#SocialImpact#CreativeAdvocacy#ChangeMakers
MWC Vault: Washington DC
As we celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Modern Widows Club we’re taking a moment to reflect on key moments from our journey.
One notable event was our trip to Washington DC to participate in the inaugural International Widows Day Forum 2023 with The Global Fund for Widows. During this significant gathering, our team of dedicated widow advocates engaged with 10 legislators to push forward the agenda of improved widow care. We highlighted the challenges widows face and sought meaningful solutions.
We realized the absence of a dedicated widowhood caucus in Congress, recognizing the need to establish one to rally stakeholders who can advocate for widows’ rights effectively. Nor was there a subgroup in the Women’s Caucus advocating for those in widowhood.
Furthermore, we noted the lack of a nationally recognized day for widows in the U.S., something we are determined to change.
Additionally, the absence of an Office on Widowed Persons within the Department of Health and Human Services or the Department of Elder Affairs became apparent.
Addressing these gaps is crucial for enhancing support for the 14 million widows across the nation, making the U.S. a leader in widow advocacy.
We took with us a 11K signature petition to advance widow care and rights. It’s not enough to better serve widows in need, we must also fight for more equitable and inclusive rights.
#advocacy#nonprofit#modernwidowsclub#impact#widowsupport#internationalwidowsday#forum#government#awareness#widowadvocate#movement#widowcare
✔️ Managed a high-profile fund
✔️ Navigated tremendous social upheaval
✔️ Bolstered a social movement for the long term
✔️ Achieved tangible near-term impacts
Managing a time-limited fund is no easy feat, yet these pressures can lead to significant impacts. Dive into our final #ArtforJustice evaluation report to discover how flexible support, combined with a focus on community-building and allyship, led to significant wins and strengthened the movement to end mass incarceration.
We hope you enjoyed and learned from our #ArtForJustice series, and we invite you to explore the collective wisdom and creativity archived in our work and that of our client. This comprehensive collection is a testament to the transformative power of art and advocacy. Dive into the rich repository of our collaboration at Engage R+D and Art for Justice Fund, and continue the journey with us towards a more just world.
Our final report, “Retrospective Assessment of the Art for Justice Fund,” encapsulates the strides made, lessons learned, and the profound ideas and approaches that have defined this initiative. Join us in revisiting the milestones that have shaped not just a fund but a movement, setting the stage for ongoing transformation and dialogue.
https://lnkd.in/g6JjD5Np
Just spent the day at the North Star Fund Let us Breathe Forum and this graphic representation of the day says it all.
North Star Fund is really showing us all how it's done. This is how you honor #BlackHistoryMonth : creating intersectional spaces for people to (1) envision a transformative future rooted in Black liberation and (2) consider tangible next steps to implement from where they stand.
For me, it means leaning deeper into resourcing the ecosystem in a way that brings together direct services, advocacy, healing and collective education...through funds (https://lnkd.in/eGHz6Vrt), bridge-building and thought leadership.
I'm proud to have co-authored this op-ed in today's Chronicle of Philanthropy with PRE executive director Lori Villarosa and fellow PRE senior fellow Gihan Perera. In the past few months, we've been hearing an alarming number of stories from grassroots leaders and program officers being pressured to obfuscate or constrain racial justice grants in response to far-right attacks on everything from affirmative action to diversity.
These trends "have enormous consequences and represent an extreme overreaction by philanthropy to a Supreme Court decision that had nothing to do with them. ... Grant makers need to draw a clear line between inoculating themselves against attack and giving up at the first serious challenge. ... The most important question to ask isn’t 'How can we protect ourselves?' but 'What are our values?' Supporting people of color as they pursue freedom and self-determination should top the list."
https://lnkd.in/gEmcTmeY
My personal philanthropy has a primary focus on the human rights of children and young people. Which is understandable when you hear my own story of childhood abuse and neglect.
I strongly believe that every child deserves to be loved, safe and able to thrive, no matter where they were born. I also believe that this is the responsibility of the whole community - not just the biological parents.
That is why I chose to apply to be a Trustee for Hope and Homes for Children and it was an absolute honour to be selected for this huge responsibility. As such, I have had the privilege to see the positive results of their incredible work, but there is so much more to be done.
Sadly, at least 5.4million children are currently separated from their families, shut away inside orphanages, and staggeringly 80% are not even orphans.
Orphanages are not the safe place we have been led to believe by decades of well meaning charity work and philanthropy. It is well researched and demonstrated that orphanages expose children to abuse, trafficking, and physical and psychological trauma that can last a lifetime.
📖🔬here is just one study https://lnkd.in/ejxvhEk7
No child should end up in an orphanage. There is ALWAYS a better solution.
Today is the UN #InternationalDayofFamilies and this marks the launch of HHC’s campaign #BacktoFamily. It’s an incredible and well thought out campaign, using #AI to protect the rights of children.
What can you do to help get children out of harms way today - i’ve made an easy list below (with a little help from the team at HHC) 🧐🧐🧐🧐🧐🧐🧐
💛 Please share this poignant message from Kristin Scott Thomas
💛 Sign the petition www.backtofamily.org
💛 Donate https://lnkd.in/eJDgcu8R
💛 Attend one of HHC’s fab events
https://lnkd.in/eH8BbyPT
💛 Challenge yourself and fundraise as a bonus!
https://lnkd.in/eH8BbyPT
💛 Follow HHC and share their posts on social media - this is a social movement to protect the rights of the most vulnerable children
💛 Join their mailing list to stay up to date
https://lnkd.in/efzc4dAz
At the very least I encourage you to take a look at their website and learn more about the harmful effects of orphanages, what the alternative is and how #philanthropy has a catalytic role to play in this social movement https://lnkd.in/egzS5ua5
‼️Philanthropy should be about learning, so if you have been funding an orphanage and want to learn what you can do to help those children please get in touch with me today xx ‼️
#BackToFamily#socialmovement#artificialintelligence#AIforgoodhttps://lnkd.in/edyeVuQr
One of our core values at Philanthropy Northwest is racial justice. It is a key part of our mission to grow philanthropy's capacity for transformative work, redistributing resources and power to underinvested communities in the Northwest and beyond. 🌷
Learn more about our work to catalyze transformation and collective impact in our refreshed strategic plan: https://ow.ly/7WTk50Syml3
How does your organization empower racial justice?
Mic Drop 🎤 | TGNC communities are calling upon #philanthropy to resource more trans justice groups, provide more multi-year unrestricted and no strings attached #funding, shift from complex application processes, and #trust trans leadership and creativity. Center the voices, insights, experiences and needs of trans communities in your grantmaking and resource redistribution decision-making, especially this election year in which we are battling for our democracy and every current freedom and liberty is at stake.
Read more: https://lnkd.in/gfxqmi4h