Foundations of Racial Equity 2022 | Session 6: Awake to Woke to Work – A Framework for Racial Equity in Your Organization

About the Series

Anti-Black racism and white supremacy are embedded in philanthropy and in our institutions, often invisible to the majority of us, even as we work with intention towards equity and justice. As change agents within philanthropy, we are stretching to become our best selves, rise to the moment, and progress toward racial equity. Foundations of Racial Equity is a space for guidance and fellowship on the path to racial justice. Wherever you are on your journey, we invite you to consider whether this entire series or individual sessions within it, will support you in making progress on your anti-racism journey.

In order to undo systems of oppression, we need to understand the foundations of systemic anti-Black racism and white supremacy in our country. We cannot shift systems or our organizations without understanding how we got here, nor without looking at ourselves, at our relationships, and at our organizations themselves. The guiding purpose of Philanthropy California’s Foundations of Racial Equity (FRE) Series is to provide training for philanthropic practitioners to understand how anti-Black racism and white supremacy influence the field of philanthropy and to provide opportunities for action in your organizations based on what you learn here.

You can register for the full series at a discounted price or the individual sessions of your choice. We recommend attending Session 1 along with any other individual sessions you choose as it lays the groundwork for all session content. 

About Session 6

This sixth session of the Foundations of Racial Equity series explores Equity in the Center’s “Awake to Woke to Work: Building a Race Equity Culture” publication and framework. Equity in the Center’s research is designed to support leaders as they build and expand their organization’s capacity to advance race equity and transform their culture. In these modules, we’ll engage in a critical conversation on the cases, tactics, and tools that will drive action to combat structural racism in the philanthropic and nonprofit sector.

This framework will help you understand how to take action on racial equity within your organization. You will learn more about specific tactics, strategies, and best practices to operationalize racial equity. Presented by Equity in the Center’s Executive Director, Kerrien Suarez, this session will outline the need for building a Race Equity Culture in social sector organizations and introduce resources and provide strategies to help participants move from commitment to action.

Join us to:

• Hear an overview of Race Equity Cycle Framework.
• Learn about case examples of how organizations move through the Race Equity Cycle.
• Understand key research findings from the “Awake to Woke to Work: Building a Race Equity Culture” publication, and how to apply the Race Equity Cycle framework in their own work.
• Learn about management and operational levers that can shift organizational culture toward race equity.

Cost to Participate

• Members: $150 per session or $675 for the full series
• Nonmembers: $200 per session or $950 for the full series

Session Info

Module A: Wednesday, March 8, 2023 | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm PT 

Module B: Wednesday, March 15, 2023 | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm PT 

Target Audience

All are welcome here, advocates and aspirants alike; Foundations of Racial Equity is a space for guidance and fellowship on the path to racial justice. Wherever you are on your journey, we invite you to consider whether this entire series or individual sessions within it, will support you in making progress on your anti-racism journey.

We acknowledge and recognize that Philanthropy California members exist on a spectrum. Some are already well along in their racial equity journey, and others are just beginning. In this training series, we’ll provide participants with opportunities to explore the foundations of racial equity, and the ways systemic anti-Black racism most commonly plays out in philanthropy. You should join this series if:

• You are beginning your learning journey with your awareness of the impacts of systemic anti-Black racism and white supremacy in institutional philanthropy.
• You want to bolster your anti-racism efforts with content that gives you a foundational and holistic understanding of how racism shows up in philanthropy, and how to make progress towards racial equity in your institution.
• Your foundation does not squarely see racial equity as your target work but understands its importance.
• You want to act on racial equity and don’t know where to start.

Please note that all functional areas within organizations are welcome, including trustees.

If you require any accommodations to fully participate in this program, please contact [email protected].

Trainer

Kerrien Suarez, Director, Equity in the Center (EiC)

Kerrien is director of Equity in the Center (EiC), a new initiative launched through ProInspireand funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Ford Foundation, Kresge Foundation, and the David & Lucile Packard Foundation. Equity in the Center addresses a gap in philanthropic and nonprofit organizations’ current diversity, equity, and inclusion practice: The absence of sector-validated organizational development and change management best practices to shift mindsets, tactics, and systems that drive racial and ethnic diversity at all levels.

With over 19 years of management and consulting experience, Kerrien has supported executive and leadership teams in bold decision-making to solve strategic and operational challenges. As an independent consultant, she managed strategic and implementation planning projects for ProInspire, UNCF, National Black Child Development Institute, National Center for Children in Poverty and Martha’s Table. Kerrien’s career in management consulting began at AT Kearney and The Advisory Board. Most recently, while at Community Wealth Partners, she led engagements to refine programs and scale impact for national nonprofits, including The First Tee and AARP ExperienceCorps. She is a graduate of Harvard College and the London School of Economics.

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