Filter results by:
As a new member, this was my first time attending the annual conference. I had many takeaways and met many fantastic leaders who are undertaking work that is inspiring and transformational in their communities. It took me a few days to “digest” everything I experienced at PNW18 – keynote speakers, information from the sessions I attended and conversations I had during the conference with fellow colleagues.
We are excited to host Philanthropy Northwest in Boise because of the diversity of the region you represent and the leadership you provide in philanthropy. We have much to share, and much to learn, and we know we can’t do it alone. Welcome to Boise, and we’ll see you in October.
The philanthropic community relies on census data to guide philanthropic reach, impact and effectiveness. Philanthropic leaders use census data to understand community and demographic trends and inform fact-based decisions on long-term investments and grants. Inaccurate census data could divert federal resources from communities in need, forcing philanthropy to fill these gaps, while decreasing the effectiveness of these investments. One of the most concerning threats to a full census count is the addition of a new and untested question about citizenship status to the 2020 census form.
Earlier this year, Philanthropy Northwest committed to a journey that centers equity on the path to achieving a fairer and more just world. This journey compels both reflection and the use of our voice.
Over recent months, we have witnessed the family separation crisis at our border with sorrow and outrage. The federal government’s forcible and prolonged separation of children from their parents as these immigrant families sought refuge is an affront to the values of an equitable and just society, in which all people are treated with decency, respect and compassion.
Today, despite a court-ordered deadline having passed for the reunification of more than 2,000 families, the crisis remains ongoing.
On a recent trip to Anchorage, after engaging with local philanthropic leaders and learning about Alaska’s unique attributes and challenges, it dawned on me the many lessons funders in the lower 48 can glean from Alaska’s philanthropic leaders. In a geographically large state with a small population, funders wear multiple hats and coordinate easily across organizations to address formidable challenges – including homelessness, lack of affordable housing and healthcare services, access to high-quality P-16 education, workforce development and much, much more.
From this recent visit and in my role with Philanthropy Northwest over the past year, I’d like to share my observations about the unique positioning of philanthropy in Alaska.
We are thrilled to announce the latest keynote plenary speaker at the Philanthropy Northwest annual conference in Vancouver, coming up Oct. 3-5: Dr. Gail C. Christopher, D.N., N.D. Christopher joins former Deputy Secretary of Labor, Chris Lu, as a conference headliner. Other just-announced closing plenary speakers will include: Maulik Pancholy, best known for his role on NBC's hit show, 30 Rock, and leading the #ActToChange anti-bullying campaign; Becky L. Monroe, Director of the Stop Hate Project, at the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law; and Eric K. Ward, incoming Executive Director of Western States Center.
One of the things I'm most proud of about this year's conference is the way we've curated conversations about timely topics. That's apparent in Day Three's closing plenary, which features four incredible panelists who will discuss the rise of hate in a post-9/11, post-Charlottesville context that's become quite unfriendly toward Arab-Americans, South Asian-Americans, and immigrants, including my friend, former 30 Rock actor Maulik Pacholy.
