CNN commentator Van Jones breathes life into national conversations around racial & political divides
On July 24, the night before the opening of the Democratic National Convention here in Philadelphia, Van Jones—CNN commentator, social activist, author and president & co-founder of The Dream Corps—offered his candid thoughts on the state of our increasingly divided nation.
After the conventions, time for foundations to focus on change
When a political convention rolls through your neighborhood, it’s easy to believe that anything is possible. In Philadelphia, where I live, we’ve just witnessed an event that had the fervor and optimism of a Taylor Swift concert for four days but the precision and orchestration of a military convoy taking over an entire city. No […]
The 2015 Media Impact Forum
At this year’s Media Impact Forum, we asked two important questions: “What do we want from media innovation in the public interest?” and “How do we get it?” To explore answers, we brought together leading thinkers, funders and media innovators to share their ideas and projects for an inspired digital future. The key theme for […]
The (New) Power of Partnerships and Listening
The Center for Effective Philanthropy held its Leading Effective Foundations conference in San Francisco last month, convening more than 300 foundation executives and thought leaders in the nonprofit sector. Among featured speakers, Laurene Powell Jobs offered an eye-opening introduction into the innovative work of her Emerson Collective in defending immigrant rights and expanding educational opportunities, […]
Effective Communications and Creating Momentum for Social Change
By Vince Stehle |Originally posted on the Center for Effective Philanthropy blog Foundations are in the business of making the world a better place. Preserving the environment, reducing violence, and improving education are a few examples among the many philanthropic objectives that foundations may pursue. But are we applying ourselves as effectively as we might?
Outrage Over Garner and Brown Cases Should Keep Philanthropy Focused on Criminal Justice
Originally posted in the Chronicle of Philanthropy The streets of Ferguson, Mo., New York City, and many other cities across the nation have been overflowing with protests for the past month in reaction to grand-jury decisions not to indict police officers responsible for the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner.
Race, Justice and Media – A Special Event Report
On November 20, 2014, as the world waited for the Grand Jury decision in Ferguson, Missouri, Media Impact Funders and The Atlantic Philanthropies hosted a conversation on race, justice and media with philanthropic leaders and media makers. The event was designed to explore how media is changing public opinion and policy on multiple criminal justice […]