Delia Johnson

As diversity programs face increasing legal challenges, this case marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing struggle for racial and gender equity. The Fearless Fund’s efforts have been a beacon of hope, addressing the stark reality that less than 1% of venture capital funding reaches businesses owned by Black and Hispanic women. This is infuriating, but we cannot let it slow us down. #Equity #SocialJustice #FearlessFund #BlackWomenEntrepreneurs #DEI #VentureCapital #SupportBlackBusiness

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 2, 2024 Cara McClure cara@faithandworkscollective.com Faith & Works gearing up to #FreeBlackMamas in time for Mother’s Day Ahead of Mother’s Day, Faith & Works Collective has joined a coalition of racial and criminal justice organizations across the country to bail out Black folks who would otherwise spend Mother’s Day in a cell because they are unable to afford bail. Since 2017, Faith & Works has freed 20 Black Mamas and caregivers from cages, providing services ranging from assistance with groceries to gaining their cars from impound and more. In the past few months, across the nation, our elected leaders are fanning the flames of fear, baselessly claiming that bail reform poses a threat to safety. Instead of addressing the root causes, we’re seeing an attack on community bail funds and an increase in pretrial detention populations. If we removed pretrial detention and money bail, it would create a fairer and more just system that doesn’t punish people for their poverty. Black women are jailed at twice the rate of white women, and many are the sole caretakers and providers for their families. When Black Mamas cannot afford to make their bail, they sit in cages, many lose their jobs, housing and even their children only to be found innocent. The cost to the children Black women and caregivers nurture, the partners they love and the communities they hold is incalculable. In the face of this, we stand united, knowing precisely what keeps our communities safe. It is not fear-mongering but a collective commitment to solutions. Through May 12, Faith & Works will reunite as many Black Mamas and caregivers with their families as possible so they can be home safely in time for Mother’s Day. Across Alabama, there are almost 47,000 people in cages, and nearly 1,000 of those held in the Jefferson County jail have not been convicted and are presumed innocent. Most people are in cages because they are poor, Black, and in a time of crisis, whether it is a mental health crisis, an addiction crisis, an economic crisis, or an accumulation of crises. Instead of treating people with dignity and addressing the underlying cause of the crisis, our government responds to Black people in crisis by criminalizing and incarcerating them. What if jails across Jefferson County were a little less crowded this Mother’s Day? Let’s work together to make that happen. #FreeBlackMamas. Help us bailout as many Black Mamas as possible this Mother’s Day by giving at www.freeblackmamasbham.com ####

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 2, 2024 Cara McClure cara@faithandworkscollective.com Faith & Works gearing up to #FreeBlackMamas in time for Mother’s Day Ahead of Mother’s Day, Faith & Works Collective has joined a coalition of racial and criminal justice organizations across the country to bail out Black folks who would otherwise spend Mother’s Day in a cell because they are unable to afford bail. Since 2017, Faith & Works has freed 20 Black Mamas and caregivers from cages, providing services ranging from assistance with groceries to gaining their cars from impound and more. In the past few months, across the nation, our elected leaders are fanning the flames of fear, baselessly claiming that bail reform poses a threat to safety. Instead of addressing the root causes, we’re seeing an attack on community bail funds and an increase in pretrial detention populations. If we removed pretrial detention and money bail, it would create a fairer and more just system that doesn’t punish people for their poverty. Black women are jailed at twice the rate of white women, and many are the sole caretakers and providers for their families. When Black Mamas cannot afford to make their bail, they sit in cages, many lose their jobs, housing and even their children only to be found innocent. The cost to the children Black women and caregivers nurture, the partners they love, and the communities they hold is incalculable. In the face of this, we stand united, knowing precisely what keeps our communities safe. It is not fear-mongering but a collective commitment to solutions. Through May 12, Faith & Works will reunite as many Black Mamas and caregivers with their families as possible so they can be home safely in time for Mother’s Day. Across Alabama, there are almost 47,000 people in cages, and nearly 1,000 of those held in the Jefferson County jail have not been convicted and are presumed innocent. Most people are in cages because they are poor, Black, and in a time of crisis, whether it is a mental health crisis, an addiction crisis, an economic crisis, or an accumulation of crises. Instead of treating people with dignity and addressing the underlying cause of the crisis, our government responds to Black people in crisis by criminalizing and incarcerating them. What if jails across Jefferson County were a little less crowded this Mother’s Day? Let’s work together to make that happen. #FreeBlackMamas. Help us bailout as many Black Mamas as possible this Mother’s Day by giving at www.freeblackmamasbham.com ####

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At the National Civic League, we know civic engagement is vital for addressing issues like racial equity, youth leadership, and more. Discover our work here https://ow.ly/2kyQ50SjYtp

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As we approach the possible reopening of Shuman Center, it’s clear that the path forward must prioritize the holistic development of our youth beyond mere incarceration. As an expert in program development through strategic collaboration, I advocate for integrating comprehensive supportive services for both juveniles and their families. The key to breaking the cycle of recidivism lies in addressing the root causes of youth behavior, many of which are deeply intertwined with family dynamics and trauma. I propose assigning life navigators—dedicated case managers—to each youth. These navigators will provide essential services, including partner referrals, program participation tracking, mentorship, and follow-ups for at least 6 to 12 months and beyond as needed. This structured support system ensures continuous engagement and addresses both immediate and long-term needs. Despite differing visions for the facility, it’s crucial to recognize that short-term detention does not equate to neglecting the broader needs of these young individuals. While Adelphoi focuses on immediate safety and court processing, integrating supportive services through third-party providers ensures that we don’t miss the opportunity to offer rehabilitation and positive development during this critical period. County Executive Sara Innamorato’s vision of holistic services, including mental health and educational opportunities, aligns perfectly with this approach. With the integration of wraparound services and experts, we can enhance service delivery and maintain rigorous oversight of programmatic activity and outcome metrics while addressing concerns about privatization, transparency, and accountability. Imagine the impact of a solution-based approach that transforms the Highland Detention Center from a place of mere confinement into a catalyst for positive change. By addressing trauma, supporting families, and providing continuous care through life navigators, we can foster true rehabilitation and prepare our youth for successful reintegration into society. #YouthDevelopment #JuvenileJustice #HolisticSupport #CommunityEngagement #Rehabilitation #AlleghenyCounty https://lnkd.in/eCg884Si

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What does it mean to sacrifice pieces of your identity for a greater movement? Being a black resource mobilizer in this work for me—and for many folks like me—means frequently engaging with a wealth system that was built on the backs of our ancestors. It means engaging with a sector and people that still have oppressive historical resonances and broadly a continual practice of excluding folks that look like me. I wonder a lot about what pieces I’ll find of myself left behind a decade from now. The pieces of myself I’ve lost, and those I’ve intentionally left behind in the wake of building something greater. As a Black woman in resource mobilization—especially earlier in my career—I definitely participated in cultural conformity in order to navigate predominantly white spaces in philanthropy. Attempting to assimilate to gain acceptance, modifying my speech and behavior… The emotional labor I shoulder even now often involves educating others about systemic racism, advocating for DEI in philanthropic and nonprofit spaces, and sometimes just being *me* in those spaces has been radical work in itself—many times sacrificing my own emotional well-being in the process. So I ask, what’s the true cost of sacrifice when it comes to our identity for a larger cause? Perhaps…perhaps we’re not leaving or trading pieces of ourselves but shedding a chrysalis to make room for potential movements we haven’t even dreamed of yet. Perhaps by sacrificing parts of our identity, we're not diminishing ourselves but evolving into vessels capable of carrying the aspirations of tomorrow's revolutions. Trading fragments for foundations—the currency of sacrifice in the pursuit of a greater movement… It sounds nice. That’s what I’ve told myself this decade in my career as I reflect on the Sadé of the past and as I keep moving forward. I wonder what the next Sadé a decade from now will say of the pieces left behind. What will yours say?

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What does it take to ensure that community engagement isn't transactional, reduced to a buzzword or checkbox, in building partnerships between healthcare and people with lived experience? Our Power session with the team from INSPIRE is up on the website, you can learn from their research process, best practices, and action recommendations what it looks like to make community engagement more authentic and transformational.

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I saw this compelling post a few days ago and haven't stopped thinking about it! Mira mentions that the tactics below and others can support canvassers. Here are a few additional tactics from my perspective. What would you add? ⭐Have legal counsel on speed dial: Ensuring staff feel secure and supported is crucial. Notify your counsel of your canvassing programs. Share with your staff that employees who are arrested for legally performing their job responsibilities may be eligible for representation by your organization’s legal counsel. ⭐Community Resources: Prepare a list of local emergency personnel and non-law enforcement support in crisis situations. Keep a contact list of community resources such as diversion programs, mental health responders, alternatives for wellness checks, and other relevant hotlines if available in your location. ⭐Reporting: Have a reporting system for police and suspicious encounters and share high-level details of these reports with partners. As a collective, you may be able to identify and neutralize concerning trends. ⭐Infiltration: Train all staff on opposition leadership and social engineering tactics. Ensure staff know they can say they don’t know an answer and can get back to whomever is asking. ⭐Notifying the cops: It's crucial to respect and value the preferences of the communities we engage with. Ask your canvass leadership if notifying the cops ahead of the canvass launch aligns with the community's vibe. Sometimes, communities prefer not to engage with the police proactively, and we should listen to them. If your staff wants you to reach out to the police ahead of the canvass, don’t just call - send a written email acknowledging canvassing and the distribution of educational literature, which are fundamental rights protected by the U.S. Constitution. If a canvasser has to interact with the police, I agree with following up with the local precinct to reiterate this protected right. Share a senior-level leader’s contact information for any questions (as the Executive Director at Scale for Change, I’m the point of contact). ⭐Call turf ahead of time: Calling is cost-efficient and can help innoculate the community that your organization’s canvassers will be in their neighborhood. Bonus points: Your callers can eliminate doors they identify that don’t want to hear from your folks, making your knocks more efficient. ⭐Ask staff what they need: After an incident, such as when a canvasser is harassed in the community or by the police, it can ripple through the office. Make sure management makes space for the team to debrief and determine their needs. Ask how they want to approach an incident before pushing a solution. And - critically - implement what the office asks for. #CommunityOrganizing #Canvassing #Elections #Election2024 #CampaignManagement #CrisisManagement #CommunitySafety #GrassrootsCampaigns #Advocacy #PublicEngagement #StaffSupport #CommunityResources #EmergencyPreparedness

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To my network: Chances are there is someone in your family that is justice involved. You may think they are the "black sheep" of the family, or wasted potential or someone that just doesn't get it. It's more than that. Refer them to an agency where eliminating mass incarceration is at the core of what we believe, for housing or employment or supportive services, to help end the cycle of incarceration for them and their kids. Call me, there is hope when you have a change maker like Pioneer Human Services as an advocate.

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We should be clear that our movements and movement leaders are targets for right-wing disinformation, legislation, strategy, and violence. And those attacks are well-funded.

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One thing is clear...Black professionals in child welfare need allies and co-conspirators to help them install new policies that disrupt the deeply embedded structural and institutional racism engrained within helping systems. This BLACK PAPER inspires people to link arms with Ujima leaders and become the allies and co-conspirators we need to bring about change. https://lnkd.in/eqQPzXDk

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Have you seen the RFP for Youth Training and Career Development Services? The estimated Funding Amount Up to $1,033,383. In this video, I'll be diving into the Savannah RFP for youth training and career development services. I'll walk you through the key details, including the funding, program elements, and important guidelines. Plus, I'll share a quick tip on how you can propose this opportunity to your own county's workforce board. So, if you're interested in exploring this exciting RFP and potentially participating in the program, this video is for you. #montinaspeaks

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Nonprofits are uniquely positioned to understand the needs of our communities. But did you know you can also influence policy to create positive change?   Join The Healing Trust and our partners for a FREE webinar on Tuesday, May 7th to learn how your 501(c)(3) can leverage lobbying for the greater good!   In this session, you'll gain insights on: • How federal law permits lobbying for charities • What constitutes "lobbying" under the IRS code • Simple steps to maximize your lobbying allowance • Yearly limits for charitable lobbying activities • Strategies to make the most of your lobbying efforts • Applying these rules to ballot measure initiatives   Don't miss this chance to turn your advocacy into action! https://lnkd.in/e3aRG3wk #Nonprofit #Advocacy #PolicyChange #Lobbying #Webinar #TheHealingTrust

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We’ve been thinking and talking about ways to advance racial equity through innovative funding strategies at the RWJF for years. But our exploration of how we can specifically leverage endowment funding in a new way signals a shift for us. So, I want to call out key resources and share more background around this new strategy in hopes that we can all learn from each other and collectively advance social change that is both sustainable and equitable. ➡️ Elevating flexibility in grant funding — As my colleagues Marjorie Paloma, Daniela Phayme, and Kelly Simone wrote in a recent blog for the Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP), this cross-foundation approach can allow grantees the flexibility to invest and spend grant funds over the long term to achieve sustainability and meet their missions. Read their blog: https://lnkd.in/eHsWaVaV ➡️ Examining perspectives and practices — Both CEP and The Bridgespan Group recently released reports on endowment funding. CEP’s new research examines perspectives and practices of foundations when it comes to endowment funding. Bridgespan’s case study examines how RWJF is using endowment funding as a grantmaking tool, providing a deep dive that other funders can learn from. Read the CEP and Bridgespan reports here: https://lnkd.in/eFXbVSvZ and here: https://lnkd.in/gdsRjGwv. ➡️ A set of tools — Lastly, I was excited to moderate a recent conversation on funding nonprofit endowments among leaders from our partner organizations and the Schott Foundation for Public Education. We all shared that there are a diversity of tools that can support nonprofit partners as they think about their long-term fiscal and financial wellbeing. For perspectives on this topic, watch the recording: https://lnkd.in/ezFyT-hN As is clear from these resources, our field is emerging in employing this new tool in grantmaking for social justice. But we are eager to listen, learn, and share more — especially from our grantees — that may unlock the transformational potential of endowment funding. 

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Ever notice that it is those individuals who hold the most privilege within a marginalized community who are are typically the ones to dominate spaces, define who is being marginalized, describe how they are being impacted and then, determine what advocacy should look like for their communities? What if we were to pause and think about who shares membership with us? To what extent are our current efforts being responsive to all members? What would happen if we consulted those individuals who face other forms of oppression than ourselves? How might our efforts to advocate change? #advocacy #oppression

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Proud of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights' report Cause for Concern 2024: The State of Hate (Updated May 2024). Each of the last four presidential campaign cycles has shown an unmistakable pattern: Reported hate crimes increase during elections. From the mainstreaming of hate and the failure of social media platforms to adequately address disinformation, the current climate is rife with opportunities for the trend of increased hate to continue into the 2024 election — unless action is taken. This report outlines several recommendations for actions that need to be taken to address the increase in hate crimes. Perhaps the most timely: Public officials should speak out against hate and refrain from appeals to bigotry in election campaigns. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dAT9CJgW

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“I Want To Be The Help That I Never Received”: Barriers to BIPOC Representation in the Helping Professions & Recommendations to Address Them ·     Create a continuum of exposure opportunities for future BIPOC helping professionals ·     Provide training & technical assistance to nonprofit and university leadership on holistic, equitable admissions and hiring ·     Offer financial support and wraparound services to BIPOC people who are pursuing careers in the helping professions ·     Incentivize representation in degree programs and workplaces ·     Create more inclusive curricula and approaches at learning institutions ·     Offer foundational and remedial courses for underrepresented students and practitioners ·     Invest in advancement opportunities for BIPOC helping professionals ·     Create pathways for non-clinical professionals seeking employment in the helping professions ·     Provide mentorship and interpersonal support during degree programs, internships, placement, and in securing and advancing in permanent positions ·     Help students prepare for placement and licensure exams ·     Improve internship placement experiences ·     Improve working conditions ·     Promote reforms to orient the field toward justice and equity DOWNLOAD THE FULL REPORT: https://lnkd.in/dChPskCx

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