Friday, June 29th, 11:00 AM- 12:30 PM PST/ 2:00-3:30 PM EST
Conference Call
Sponsored by funders and funder networks engaged with Occupy Philanthropy
Less than a year after Occupy Wall Street set up camp in New York City’s Zuccotti Park, spilled into main streets around the country, and took root in cities worldwide, the movement continues to inform the tone and substance of public debate and drive social mobilizations for greater equity and justice.
Philanthropy is still grappling with how it may fully understand, utilize, and support the Occupy moment. Responding to this complexity, Occupy Philanthropy was established to provide a space for analysis, dialogue, and reflection; and inspire within philanthropy an opportunity to envision what could happen if the movement is appropriately nurtured. If the bonds and energies established by Occupy can be sustained in a meaningful way, they could form the basis for the kind of lasting organizations necessary to traverse the long, hard road to economic and social equity.
Many today are asking where the movement stands. On June 29th, a 90-minute interactive conference call organized by funders and funder networks engaged with Occupy Philanthropy will respond to that question, and provide opportunities for funders to:
- Gain a sense of the scope and breadth of OWS-related work from the vantage point of hundreds of project grant submissions to the Movement Resource Group, set up by Ben & Jerry and others to support Occupy initiatives nationwide
- Hear an analysis of the motivations of young activists inspired by Occupy Wall Street, and the impacts of OWS and other key influences shaping the activism of the Millennial generation, based on focus-group research conducted by the Applied Research Center (ARC) in cities across the country. The research resulted in the recently published report Millennials, Activism and Racewhich provides detailed reactions on key current issues such as “to vote or not to vote,” “local vs national elections,” and “racial representation in Occupy.”
- Learn (and share) information about how members of the donor community are supporting and continuing to engage in Occupy and related efforts, and about worthwhile initiatives in need of support.
Format: This three-part call will feature thought leaders and activists to launch an interactive peer dialogue for funders to share what we are learning and help determine the most effective next steps in supporting this work. We will use interactive technology to maximize participation and insight.
Part 1: What are funders seeing on the ground with OWS and related efforts?
Featuring Theresa Earl from the Movement Resource Group and several other funders sharing what they see as the opportunities and challenges of supporting this movement.
Part 2: What does this moment mean for organizing?
Featuring Rinku Sen for a discussion about the implications of young activists perspectives on politics; economics; and race, class, gender and sexuality. How do we as funders respond to the unique dynamics of this moment?
Part 3: How has occupy impacted the culture and conversation in philanthropy?
An open discussion of how our philanthropy has changed as a result of Occupy – not only what we fund but how we interact. How has the changed conversation and public consciousness shifted what might be possible on issues of inequality? How have the tactics and issues raised by Occupy impacted us personally, as citizens, professionals and peers in a sector intended to serve society’s most pressing problems? And what might be next?
Featured Speakers:
Rinku Sen, President and Executive Director of Applied Research Center (ARC) and publisher of Colorlines.com.
Rinku is a leading figure in the racial justice movement who has positioned ARC as a national home for media, research and activism. Over the course of her career, she has combined journalism and activism to make social change. Rinku is the author of several books including Stir It Up, a primer on best practices in community organizing.
Theresa Earle, Proposal Review Committee member at Movement Resource Group (MRG). MRG is an independent OWS Affinity group which acts as a liaison between funders and the national Occupy Movement, and provides a single point of contact, as well as accountability for how funds are expended for individual donors, foundations, and unions.
And You!
Please register your interest in participating in our conversation, by contacting Lola Ibrahim at lola@fntg.org. Please also keep an eye out for future calls in this series.
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