Continuing the Conversation

In the session led by the Diversity Awareness Partnership (DAP) two weeks ago we talked about unconscious bias and its' impact as well as race relations in St. Louis. Continuing that dialogue is valuable given the importance of diversity and inclusion to our work within the Foundation and the greater community. 

For conversations that are both engaging and inclusive, we should observe the following guidelines. This will keep the conversation dynamic, on topic, and, most importantly, a dialogue not a debate. 

• Respect the diversity of each other’s views. Work to understand both intent and impact.
• Seek to be a continuous learner by approaching these conversations as source of new information

The Foundation Review: Racial Equity Grantmaking

The Foundation Review and the Association of Black Foundation Executives (ABFE) co-edited the most recent issue focused on Racial Equity Grantmaking.  It contains articles written by leaders in the field of philanthropy who are taking on the necessary and important work towards achieving racial equity.

In conjunction with the issue, they sponsored a webinar, Being the Change You Want to See: Three Foundations' Paths Toward Racial Equity," in which three foundation leaders discussed the work that

D5 Coalition Webinar: Career Paths of People of Color in Philanthropy

Once in a Blue Moon Lunch & Learn Series

The D5 Coalition and Public Interest Projects co-sponsored a webinar series, "Advancing Issues at the Core of Philanthropy: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion."

In the final webinar, “Career Trajectories of People of Color in Philanthropy," researchers from Forward Change discuss their interviews with people of color to identify what got them in, what kept them in, and what influenced their careers in philanthropy.

Two key findings of the report were:

Perspective on Pruitt-Igoe

During my 9-month experience with the Leadership St. Louis program, I learned about many of the challenges St. Louis residents and leaders face. The most memorable weekend session for me was focused on Racial Justice and Equity.  We discussed St. Louis history as it pertains to discrimination and racial equity, and examined why St. Louis struggles more than other cities with similar histories.

After watching “The Pruitt-Igoe Myth” at the MFH Lunch & Learn in July, I started thinking about national and local policies that were intended to make Pruitt-Igoe a better environment than the “slums.” In the end, however, those policies actually contributed to Pruitt-Igoe’s demise and the ongoing challenges with racial segregation in St. Louis. 

Initially, the Pruitt and Igoe buildings were racially segregated.  Whites lived in the Igoe Apartments, named for William Igoe, a white Congressman; and African Americans lived in the Pruitt Homes, named for Wendell Pruitt, a celebrated Tuskegee Airman from St. Louis.  In 1954, segregation at Pruitt-Igoe ended with the Brown v. Board of Education decision, and the St. Louis Housing Authority lifted racial restrictions.

No One Said it Would be Easy

We live in a society that attaches privilege to being a part of certain social groups such as: male, able-bodied, white, heterosexual, Christian, and many others.  All of us have numerous social categories to which we belong and most of us have some social statuses that give us privilege and others that result in us being disadvantaged.  So for example statistics say that as a male I am: