Group Interview by Anh Vo, Meg Schroeder and Thandi Cai (9 minute read)
Team members Anh Vo, Meg Schroeder and Thandi Cai share their experiences of navigating the intersectionality of their identities in the nonprofit space. They explore honest partnerships and equity-centered practices by discussing their personal experiences and envisioning what a truly inclusive work environment looks like.
Continue reading “Challenging the Narrative: Intersectionality in the Workplace”
Is there a more specific topic on your mind? These resources are categorized by a handful of topics you may find relevant to your company’s DEI work. Applying an equity lens to our work allows us to take a step back and examine our actions from another perspective, highlighting areas for improvement. That’s why it’s essential to observe the ways in which the following topics and more appear in our everyday work in the philanthropic sector.
From Alford Group: Culture of Equity Assessment
Awake to Work to Work: Building a Race Equity Culture
Communication Guidelines for a Brave Space
A Therapist On The Right Way To Apologize When You Say Something Racist
Afraid to Talk About Sensitive Topics at Work? Read this Guide First
You’ve Been Called Out for a Microaggression. What Do You Do?
What Not To Say To Someone Who Has Experienced Racial Trauma
What If I Say the Wrong Thing? 10 Tips for Culturally Effective People
Addressing Diversity and Inclusion: Going Beyond the Benchmark
DEI Strategic Planning Toolkit
Actualizing a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Strategy
From Alford Group: Culture of Equity Assessment
From Alford Group: Board Toolkit
From Alford Group: Board Members and Nonprofit Leaders: It’s Time.
AFP ICON 2021: Creating an Equity-Forward Board Culture
Beyond the Board Statement: How Can Boards Join the Movement for Racial Justice? (Part One)
The sgENGAGE Podcast Episode 201: Building Cultural Competency to Understand Your Donors
npExperts: The Great Reset – Equity chapters
From Alford Group: Demographic Donor Scan
From Alford Group: Find Your Path to a More Inclusive Workplace Culture
The Bias of ‘Professionalism’ Standards
Our Authentic Selves and Doing Diversity Right
Personnel Strategies in the Face of Impossible Choices
19 Questions for Leaders Who Are Serious About Racial Equity
What Has — and Hasn’t — Changed Since “Dear White Boss…”
Why and How to Prioritize DEI at Your Organization
How to Start an Affinity Group at Work, According to Real People Who Did It
How to Hold Your Company Accountable to its Promise of Racial Justice
Racial Equity in Philanthropy: Using White Privilege for Good
Talk the Talk: Strengthening Your Organization’s Diversity Statement
A Guide to Indigenous Land Acknowledgement
From Alford Group: Simple Commitment Slide
Section 1: What Everyone Needs to Know
By JoAnn Yoshimoto, Senior Consultant
Before we plunge into the practical “how-to” ideas, let’s consider a few often-ignored questions: Why are we even having this conversation? Why does board diversity matter? Continue reading “Five Practical Steps to Diversify your Board of Directors”
By Brenda B. Asare, President and CEO, Alford Group
On the heels of Black History Month and at the beginning of Women’s History Month, it is not lost on me that we need to celebrate diversity now more than ever. And it is important that we do not relegate our recognition of the contribution of Blacks and women to just one month.
Sankofa is an African word from the Akan tribe in Ghana. The symbol, based on the mythical bird with its feet firmly planted forward with its head turned backwards, serves as a reminder that the past serves as a guide for planning the future. It is the wisdom of looking back to look forward.
Diversity has been a core value of Alford Group for our 41-year history and we recently renewed our commitment to fostering and creating adaptive cultures that are more inclusive and equitable in our work as a firm, with our clients and in the entire social sector. We are elevating equity-centered philanthropy as intentional action toward changing the structures, roles, processes, representation and practices that perpetuate inequities in how organizations communicate, engage and build relationships to support philanthropic endeavors.
By Brenda B. Asare, President and CEO, Alford Group
Featuring:
Liz Thompson, President and Office Director, Cleveland Avenue Foundation for Education (The CAFE)
Don Thompson, CEO and Founder, Cleveland Avenue, LLC
The world is learning how to overcome the discomfort of talking about race and organizations everywhere are having some real courageous conversations on how we can move forward together to create lasting change for people of color. This change will create a ripple effect where others who have been marginalized will benefit and increase their ability to thrive as well – no one is left behind.
At Alford Group, diversity is one of our core values and we are proud to have been the diversity partner with AFP and the AFP Foundation for the past 17 years. We hosted this year’s AFP Diversity Session, “Foundations Empowering Change: Not Business As Usual,” which featured a facilitator and panelists who are committing funds, insights, counsel, social capital, time and other resources toward building diversity, equity, and inclusion in their own organizations and the organizations with which they partner. They are:
Remember that song from The Sound of Music? Just like Do-Re-Mi, we must understand and use a shared set of building blocks if we want to sing together. Linetta Gilbert provided us with a primer and reminder of the key terms and concepts we all need to use to share and advance our ongoing conversation. Continue reading “The Long Road to Equity is Paved with Data, Innovation and Optimism”