Sarina Lora Davidson’s Post

We know that civic space is shrinking. But knowing it and seeing the effects of this growing threat feels vastly different. At this week’s Central America Donors Forum #CADF2023, activists wore “No Photos” buttons – a stark reminder of the risk they took by joining this space. I was truly moved by their bravery and felt honored to be in the presence of so many people and organizations actively working to protect and reclaim civic space. It’s important to acknowledge the scale of this problem and continue the conversations on this topic, which is why I hope you’ll join me at one of these upcoming events: -- October 17: Global Philanthropy Forum Happy Hour hosted by Helvetas USA at Swissnex in San Francisco, with discussions led by social activist Maja Stojanović and governance expert Jesper Lauridsen. Learn more: https://bit.ly/48uD8jI --October 31: Helvetas’ Symposium, a free hybrid event, will focus on how to counter the trend towards authoritarianism and stem the repression of civic engagement. Learn more and register: https://bit.ly/3RzXGBn Seattle International Foundation Ford Foundation Rockefeller Brothers Fund Open Society Foundations Avery Bang Clare Ignatowski, Ph.D. Lance Pierce Melchior Lengsfeld Stefan Stolle Joerg Frieden Rudolf Laager Mark Way Raghuveer Vinukollu Cynthia Hartley Erik Butler Michael Huber Sarina Prabasi

The value of interdisciplinary teams and sustained partnerships are two of the key takeaways from meeting this week with Lina Dostilio, Vice Chancellor of Engagement and Community Affairs at Pitt. This semester my research with the University of Pittsburgh Center for Sustainable Business focuses on social impact at the community level. I've found that while corporate community engagement is not new, there is an increased interest in corporate social responsibility (ESG and SI) for job hunters and employees. People want to know they're making a difference; responsible corporate community engagement, philanthropy, and volunteerism can be a part of that. Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship says, "...the benefits of corporate community involvement are two-fold, providing positive returns to local charitable organizations and neighborhoods and boosting company performance indicators, such as reputation and employee engagement. As your company builds partnerships and working relationships with local community nonprofits and service-based organizations, neighborhoods are strengthened.” There are big opportunities to help strengthen communities and interdisciplinary teams (collaborations and coalitions) along with sustained partnerships are key to long-term and intentional impact. #MBA #MSW in progress

📣 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐝: 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐔𝐬 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐆𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐠𝐨𝐰! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Please help us to find a #venue and support our current cohort in #Glasgow and the ones to come. We need a #space for around 30 people, essential equipment, and facilities. 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲, 𝐰𝐞'𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫: 🏢 𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐞: Open (or available to be opened) on Saturday ⏰ 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬: available from 10 am (with setup at 9:30 am) until 4:30 pm (with a maximum cleanup time of 5 pm). 🪑 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: Tables, chairs, high-speed WiFi (for 30 people), a screen/projector, and if possible, a microphone. ☕ 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬: Access to a microwave and facilities for making coffee and tea would be a huge help. While we'll bring our own food and drinks for the day, we would appreciate any #support or #donations too. By providing us with this venue and necessary equipment, you're helping us remove barriers and create #opportunities and directly contributing to the development of our trainees and their pursuit of a career in #tech. 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩?: Please take action TODAY to support👇🏾 💬 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰: Leave a comment expressing your support or any leads you might have. 🗣 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭: Spread the word. Sharing is caring If you, or someone you know, can help, reach out to Carolina Melendez via DM or email at caro@codeyourfuture.io. Your involvement can change lives and demonstrate the incredible power of community support. Let's unite and code a brighter future together! Thank you for making a #difference. With gratitude, CYF Team #CYF #TechForGood #Tech4Good #Community #CommunitySupport #Diversity #Equity #Inclusion #DEI #Empowerment #TechEducation #Opportunity #ChangeMakers #Support #sharingiscaring #LinkedInImpact

Day 7: Community Alignment Title: Partnering with Aligned Values Hello, inspiring women leaders! 🌟 Welcome to Day 7 of “The Power of We: 15 Days to Unlocking Collaborative Potential.” Today, we’re diving into the importance of aligning with community organizations and non-profits that share your business values and mission. Partnering with Aligned Values Think about the community organizations and non-profits that resonate with your business’s values. Partnering with these organizations not only enhances your community impact but also builds your brand’s reputation and creates meaningful connections. Picture this: Your business joins forces with a non-profit whose mission aligns perfectly with your values. Together, you work on projects that not only benefit the community but also elevate your brand and create lasting positive change. Think about this: Are there any community organizations or non-profits that align with your business values or mission? How could a partnership with these organizations enhance your community impact? Today’s Reflection: Take a moment to reflect on and identify community organizations or non-profits that share your values. How can you initiate and develop these partnerships? 🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺 Take some time to journal or reflect on these questions: 1️⃣ Are there any community organizations or non-profits that align with your business values or mission? 2️⃣ How could a partnership with these organizations enhance your community impact? 3️⃣ What steps can you take to initiate these partnerships? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments. Together, we can create a thriving community where collaboration is the norm, not the exception. Ready to embrace the power of we? Let’s go! 💪 The WO NETWORK Women Leaders Of Louisville

The Power of Focus: A Beacon That Guides us to our Desired Destination In the vibrant tapestry of civic society, young visionaries often encounter a formidable adversary: THE ABSENCE OF FOCUS. The quest for early success and a resonant legacy mandates an unwavering commitment to a singular objective. Yet, amidst the fervor of activism, we witness a paradox – the dispersion of energies across a multitude of organizations, each championing distinct causes from climate justice to governance, and from inclusivity to humanitarian endeavors. This diffusion of effort, often rooted in socio-economic constraints, leads to a landscape where trust is scarce, and leadership positions remain elusive to those entwined with multiple entities. The question looms: can one be entrusted with the stewardship of resources, esteemed positions and strategic plans while simultaneously navigating the waters of numerous organizations? Consider the exemplars of civic engagement – those who grace the halls of well-resourced events are invariably aligned with a single institution. It is a stark reminder that while one may flourish as an activist amidst a plethora of organizations, THE ATTAINMENT OF A SUSTAINABLE AND DIGNIFIED OFFICE-HOLDER STATUS DEMANDS FOCUS. To be focused is not to turn a blind eye to the myriad issues that permeate our society. Rather, it is to judiciously prioritize, to align our endeavors with our deepest convictions and passions. It is to forge alliances and synergies with like-minded entities or individuals while remaining steadfast to our foundational organizations. Such focus amplifies our impact, elevates our influence, and carves our personal brand. Consider Masimba Holdings – capable of diversifying into clothing retail, yet they choose to concentrate their efforts. Why? Because focus is the linchpin of success. Our journey does not end with focus alone. It is incumbent upon us to continually hone our expertise, to seek the wisdom of mentors, and to immerse ourselves in the perpetual currents of knowledge and innovation within our chosen domains. As we stand at the crossroads of activism and professional fulfillment, let us remember: THE CIVIL SOCIETY IS NOT MERELY A COLLECTIVE, IT IS AN INDUSTRY. And within this industry, your passion, availability, and skills have intrinsic value. Volunteerism is noble, but let it be a stepping stone to an institution that reciprocates with employment or recognition, or serves an academic purpose. There is honor in seeking just recompense for our contributions. Embrace focus, for it is the beacon that guides us to our desired destination in the realm of civic engagement. Until we meet again, may your endeavors be fruitful and your spirit undeterred. 😊🙏❤️

Points of Light's #TheCivic50 recognizes the forefront of community-minded businesses. This year's honorees have set new standards across resource allocation, cross-functional synergy, policy integration and impact measurement. Check out our most recent blog to discover four essential CSR insights from The Civic 50 to elevate your organization's impact. #CSR #socialimpact #corporatecitizenship

Community Organization: Meaning, Principles & Examples. https://lnkd.in/decpT_mk #CommunityOrganization #communitybasedorganization #ExamplesOfCommunityOrganizations #principlesofcommunity #organization #bestcollegesnotes #collegesnotes #Collegenote

Community Organization: Meaning, Principles & Examples. https://lnkd.in/eFCJWEZ4 #CommunityOrganization #communitybasedorganization #ExamplesOfCommunityOrganizations #principlesofcommunity #organization #bestcollegesnotes #collegesnotes #Collegenote

Don’t be a bystander! Speak up!   Culture change can be difficult at the best of times. Not only in business but in society. Often the culture comes down to mindset and changing perceptions about what’s appropriate or not. But, even when inherently we know what behaviour is not acceptable, we still tolerate it. We think we wouldn’t, but we do.   That’s the bystander effect. When faced with an ambiguous situation, we cue off other people. We might wait to see if somebody else will respond. Perhaps we don’t want to get involved. We may not want to stand out.   We saw an example of this recently when a quiz night in the Bay of Plenty had a team enter dressed in Ku Klux Klan outfits for a community fundraiser. https://lnkd.in/g8jrh5U7   The committee said that they did discuss the late entry of the team, and whether to say anything. They said that nobody at the quiz night raised an issue, so they let it go. They knew it wasn’t appropriate, but as they explained, they’re a rural community. Why that makes it ok I’m at a loss to understand.   This reminded me of a short video about injustice. https://lnkd.in/gDFScyHf It’s one of those ‘acted out’ scenarios of a university lecturer who evicts a student for seemingly no reason and then challenges the class about why nobody spoke out. A bit ‘canned’ but the point is well made. We have laws to bring justice. While some behaviours may not be breaking laws, they fly in the face of a socially cohesive society. One that makes it safe for all.   Businesses are the same, and we are now seeing more emphasis on helping bring awareness to behaviours that, while tolerated previously, are now being called out as inappropriate. Whether that be bullying, butt patting, lewd comments or kissing young sports people on the lips!   Changing culture takes time and effort. It means a re-education. A resetting of what’s in and what’s out. It’s not some ‘namby pamby’ which only applies to those folk in the city! It signals important shifts that need to happen so that everyone can thrive and feel safe.   During these times of transition, we may find ourselves needing to lean into a tough conversation with somebody. Perhaps somebody we know well and care about. Everyone benefits when we reduce the harm that out-dated behaviours have on people today. For those of us who ‘endured’ the behaviour in the past, and tolerated it because we felt powerless, times have changed. Thankfully.   Don’t be a bystander.

Every day, we see more companies reaching out to help their communities, and it makes sense for many reasons. If you want to be more socially conscious, here are “4 Ways Your Company Can Help Its Community.” https://lnkd.in/eKYzGB2r #sociallyconscious #communityhelp