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Conversation Circle: Strategies for Social Change

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Social change, both structural and cultural, is the result of many actions. It can be slow or abrupt. What strategies advance social change? How do each of us invest in or participate in making social change? In these discussions we will apply a framework for social change in looking at issues in our community. We’ll use an equity lens to examine how strategies in play are incorporating racial justice issues in advancing change.

Event Dates: Mondays 12-1:30 pm May 10, May 17, and May 24, 2021
Discussion Guide: Click to Download
Circle Facilitators: Michelle McHugh and Deborah Edward

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Conversation Circle: Women & Power

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How can women use their power to change the world? In these discussions we’ll explore ways that women build and exercise power as individuals, in groups, and through institutions. We’ll identify sources of power, learn how it may differ between races, find new ways to make a difference in our communities, and be inspired by powerful women in our midst.

Event Dates: Tuesdays 6-7:30 pm May 11, May 18 and May 25, 2021
Discussion Guide: Click to Download
Circle Facilitators: Anina Estrem and Holly Vaughn Edmonds

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Spotlight Study: Understanding Youth Mental Health

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Today’s youth are tomorrow’s leaders. How can we support their social and emotional wellness during a time of social fragmentation, funding cuts, and uncertainty about the future? The Understanding Youth Mental Health 2020 Spotlight Report describes the issues and the limited resource available to support positive mental health of children and young adults, highlighting the incidence of depression, anxiety and behavior disorders. Learn about Oregon’s Student Success Act, and models for effective intervention and treatment, such as the bright spot of recent telemedicine efforts.

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Spotlight Study: Improving Stewardship of our Natural World

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Heat islands, pesticides and black carbon diesel pollution. These threats impact both our natural environment and our collective health. Learn from this Spotlight team about the specific actions you as an individual can take to become an effective steward of the natural world and influence sustainability policy.

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Spotlight Study: Safe Homes For All

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How can Portland solve its homelessness crisis? What actions can we take to prevent those at risk for homelessness from losing their home in the first place? The Safe Homes for All Spotlight Report explores several factors contributing to homelessness, including the local shortage of affordable housing, domestic abuse, and mental health issues. Learn about Portland’s recent policies and initiatives to provide more affordable housing and address some of the underlying causes of homelessness.

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Spotlight Study: Reducing Racial Disparities in Our Community

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In 2020, race is still a powerful indicator of outcomes in Portland. In light of nationwide calls for reforms to end systemic racism, this report shines a spotlight on racial disparities in our own community. Learn about the disproportionate COVID-19 infection rate among Oregon’s Latinx population, the challenges faced by students of color in Multnomah County, and the racial disparities within our criminal justice system that have sparked police reform efforts on both the local and state level.

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Let's Talk About: The Race Paradigm in America

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Event Date: August 5, 2020
Presentation Materials: Recording

Member Beth Tarasawa, Executive VP of Research at NWEA, shared findings from studies about the impact of school closings on student learning, sharing ideas about how individuals and communities can help through this challenging time for education.

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Let's Talk About: Educational Impacts of COVID-19

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Event Date: August 5, 2020
Presentation Materials: Recording
Member Beth Tarasawa, Executive VP of Research at NWEA, shared findings from studies about the impact of school closings on student learning, sharing ideas about how individuals and communities can help through this challenging time for education.

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Let's Talk About: Activism in Gun Violence

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Event Date: July 9, 2020
Presentation Materials: Recording

Member Heidi Yewman shared her story of becoming an activist on behalf of preventing gun violence. Learn more about her work from her articles from MS Magazine and the Daily Beast (“My month with a gun”), her book “Beyond the Bullet”, and her movie Behind the Bullet.

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Let's Talk About: Allyship

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Event Date: June 25, 2020
Presentation Materials: Recording | Slides

The premiere of our series featured member Christine Moses, Diversity, Equity & Belonging Champion, who lead a conversation about allyship. She built on the ideas she shared with girlfriends in our e-mail sent during the first week of protests about racial injustice and police brutality.

Read: How to be Anti-Racist articles

Many of us are reading, listening, taking action and discussing issues of race in response to the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent protests and actions to address systemic racism and policy brutality in our country. In addition to the resources we and others have shared with members through emails, member Tammy Wilhoite offers two additional resources:

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2020: How Can Philanthropy Influence Policy?

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Although philanthropic dollars are a drop in the bucket compared to government and public funding for our social fabric, philanthropists play a strong role in influencing government to do the right thing. As a collective giving circle we are a philanthropy - how can we leverage our funds, our connections, our collective action to support and advance the change we want in our region? What have other philanthropic leaders and local foundations done?

Read: Philanthropy and Race article

Member Elizabeth Mehren shared a great article from the May 1, 2020 New York Times: In Philanthropy, Race Is Still a Factor in Who Gets What, Study Shows by Paul Sullivan.

And another Elizabeth in our membership, Elizabeth Klein, shared statistics and resources about racial issues in our community that are relevant to our collective action. This material, from Multnomah County Chair Deborah Kafoury’s e-newsletter sheds light on the effects of COVID-19 that are disproportionately impacting communities of color.

Read: COVID-19 & Philanthropy resources

The Chronicle of Philanthropy has assembled a great set of resources to help nonprofits and philanthropies respond to the COVID-19 and continue to operate during these challenging times. Want info on how to manage, lead and communicate during a crisis, or advice on technology solutions and remote work? Read Responding to the Coronavirus Outbreak: Resources for Nonprofits by Marjie Glennon, March 12, 2020.

An article about Native American leadership in environmental/climate issues caught our eye,
Protecting the Earth, Protecting Ourselves: Stories from Native America in the Nonprofit Quarterly March 2020 magazine reminds us of the role that Native American communities have been playing in conservation, preservation and environmental justice, and our how we can join together for stewardship.

Read: The Role of Philanthropy in Systems Change article

This year, the ninety-nine girlfriends “learning question” is how can philanthropy influence policy? We’ll be hosting a Discovery Forum in the Spring about this, exploring ways that foundations, collective giving circles and individuals can leverage our resources to advance positive social change. Here’s an article that provides a thoughtful overview and examples of how we can do this. The Role of Philanthropy in Systems Change by Kris Putnam-Walkerly written in 2017.