We Need Id
eas from the Right (and Left, and All Around)
A message from PNY President Ronna Brown, published originally in the New York PhilanthroPost Monthly May 2017 edition.
Regional Associations of Grantmakers are nonpartisan organizations. Our members hold a wide range of perspectives and each funder works toward their own unique vision for a better future. We strive to create the platforms where those different perspectives can be shared, debated and discussed.
We believe hearing and discussing alternative points of view from across the spectrum leads each of us to think more clearly, be better informed, and ultimately do better work. So, we have a goal, not always met, to offer a wide array of perspectives in our programs.
For Philanthropy New York’s 38th Annual Meeting “The Power of Participation,” we hope to draw out a wide range of ideas. Last year, members were very appreciative that Mark Holden of Koch Industries was one of the panelists who spoke about his organization’s work on justice reform. Mark drew considerable praise for grounding our opening conversation in the reality of the political environment.
We hope to replicate that range of perspectives with our opening panel this year. The opening panelists who will help us think about “voter engagement, access and community organizing for action” include:
- Tom Basile, Senior Advisor for Policy and Strategy, Reclaim New York
- Gara LaMarche, President, Democracy Alliance
- Rashad Robinson, Executive Director, Color Of Change
- Erin Vilardi, Founder and Director, VoteRunLead
Every one of those leaders has important experiences creating new organizations and advancing successful initiatives that bring more people into the political process.
When we come together on June 16 to discuss the barriers to greater public participation in our civic life, our discussion leaders will challenge us to be clearer in our thinking and in our goals about the depth of inclusion we are striving to ensure.
The goal of the Philanthropy New York Annual Meeting is to gather a large array of funders to think and talk about new ideas. It is a mix of learning and socializing – and most of all, coming together as a community.
We hope to see you on June 16!