Realizing Economic Justice Community of Practice – 2024 Inaugural Cohort
AFN’s Realizing Economic Justice community of practice is an exclusive offering for AFN members concerned about the future of race-conscious grantmaking. This community of practice (CoP) is an extension of AFN’s Realizing Economic Justice (REJ) initiative–a series of resources, programming, and activities to support grantmakers in advancing funding strategies and philanthropic practices that confront and address racial bias in economic security and asset-building philanthropy.
Race-conscious grantmaking is a powerful strategy to correct the racial funding gap in philanthropy and the role of racism in creating historical and current economic injustices. Recognizing that race-conscious grantmaking in asset-building philanthropy is a catalyst for realizing racial and economic justice, AFN members have adopted various race-forward approaches across their work areas. However, race-conscious efforts to shift power and eradicate structural and systemic racism are being increasingly scrutinized and threatened. In response to ongoing attacks on race-conscious policies, practices, and activities, AFN is launching a REJ community of practice to support members interested in race-conscious grantmaking.
AFN’s REJ CoP provides AFN members committed to race-conscious grantmaking a brave space for exchanging emerging practices in advancing race- and gender-focused grantmaking, problem-solving philanthropic approaches to combat the myth of colorblindness, and helps build relationships to sustain the adaptive work of realizing economic justice. Please note that this CoP will not offer legal advice.
When:
In 2024, the community of practice will consist of four, 90-minute sessions as follows:
- Tuesday, September 10, 2024 from 1:00pm – 2:30pm EST
- Tuesday, October 8, 2024 from 1:00pm – 2:30pm EST
- Tuesday, November 12, 2024 from 1:00pm – 2:30pm EST
- Tuesday, December 3, 2024 from 1:00pm – 2:30pm EST
The 2025 offering will be designed with input from the inaugural cohort.
Where:
All 2024 sessions will be virtual. A Zoom link will be emailed to participants prior to each session. Sessions will not be recorded, nor will AI notetaking be permitted.
Why:
- Collaborative problem-solving, strategy development, and case-building to defend and advance race-conscious practices and policies
- Access resources, emerging practices, and tools to support race-conscious grantmaking internally and externally
- Build community and relationships with colleagues to sustain the adaptive work of realizing economic justice
Who:
This community of practice is for you, if:
- Your employer is an AFN member or will become an AFN member by September 10, 2024.
- You are Realizing Economic Justice values-aligned.
- You can commit to fully participating in all four virtual sessions noted above. Sessions will not be recorded, nor will AI notetaking be permitted.
- You can commit 1-2 hours of pre-reads/pre-listens before the start of the first session
We encourage AFN members willing to courageously share experiences, constructively exchange knowledge, and committed to race-forward grantmaking–be it within their institutions or the broader philanthropic community–to complete the form below. We also encourage multiple people from the same organization to participate.
2024 Curriculum:
Each session will prioritize small-group, peer-to-peer discussions to cultivate collective learning. Participants are expected to be engaged, on-camera, and to maintain confidentiality.
- Session 1: Build community and relationships with peers concerned about racial bias in philanthropy
- Session 2: Learn and share strategies, tools, and opportunities to defend and advance race-conscious practices and policies within your institution
- Session 3: Learn and share strategies, tools, and opportunities to support grantees carrying out race-conscious activities
- Session 4: 2025 REJ CoP design session
Cost:
Participation in this community of practice is included in the cost of your AFN membership. If you are interested in participating and not yet an AFN member please contact Kristin Rennels, Membership Director, kristin@assetfunders.org to become a member. Membership rates start at $1,000.
Application Process:
Thank you for your interest in participating in AFN’s Realizing Economic Justice community of practice. The inaugural cohort is closed. Please complete the registration form to be informed about future community of practice offerings.
Please contact Rebeca Rangel at rebeca@assetfunders.org with any questions.
