It’s good news for folks busy in social impact work to know that building equity is now the centre of attention and an international priority for action (https://lnkd.in/eAzWQrfJ).
There are a FEW FACTORS that make this good news even more encouraging at this time of resource crunch in the sector (https://lnkd.in/ekxHyXhp) for social services and deepening community issues (shorturl.at/txYZ4). For example:
1. I have been reviewing UWEO’s work (https://lnkd.in/es7jv5MW) since I have known it since 2005. From seeking impact to building leadership, fostering collaboration, and strategically investing where resources are needed the most to research and share knowledge, I found hardly any key priority missing listed in the strategic plan (see below) of the 171 funders committed to “Putting Equity First.”
Over the years, every single program, activity and priority of UWEO has contributed to increasing equity for vulnerable populations.
Interestingly, it was 2017 – long before George Floyd’s murder and the recent social justice movement – when UWEO put equity front and centre in building healthy people and strong communities (https://lnkd.in/eCTeHMgn). It means we are on the right track even in the absence of a funders’ collective for equity-like https://lnkd.in/eF2ni367.
2. Like UWEO, the focus on increasing equity is getting sharper. A new movement has started. For example, many social justice community foundations, rapid response funds and intermediaries have shouldered the philanthropic responsibility of generating resources for fuelling the movement. (https://lnkd.in/eqYzgUKz)
All this may not be so good news for those who thought the social justice movement was a fade that would fizzle out in thin air with time.