UPLIFTING BLACK PHILANTHROPY |
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Deaconess Community,
Since 2011, August has been recognized as Black Philanthropy Month (BPM). Established by Dr. Jackie Bouvier Copeland, this celebration aims to elevate Black giving and funding equity, which is rich with history and tradition. For too long, Black philanthropy has gone largely unnoticed and underappreciated in mainstream philanthropic spaces – but the tide is turning.
Towika T. Smith, founder and executive director of SEM Link, perfectly articulated the importance of inclusive philanthropy in a recent article, stating, “When the philanthropic sector invites and includes Black voices in philanthropic decision-making process, it allows the sector to make impactful change because it is work for the community with solutions created by the community.” To achieve this, we must promote, support, trust, and be in fellowship with those who are doing the work. Community members and leaders know what work is overlooked and underfunded, and they are best equipped to make impactful investments.
In my interview with Inside Philanthropy, I recently discussed how funders play a key role in the efforts to “uproot and to reverse” old giving traditions. I shared that, "the undoing is really important so that we can truly meet the community where the healing and their medicine is taking us.” It is our role to make sure that they have the resources to do so.
The collaborative St. Louis Regional Racial Healing + Justice Fund applies this principle through its Community Governance Board, made up of community members which directs the Fund’s investments. The board members' lived experience informs their grantmaking which is focused on healing community trauma and demolishing the conditions that reinforce systemic racism.
I invite you to consider how you, too, can be a part of the turning tide. What traditions does this new era challenge you to break from in order to create possibility like we've never seen before?
To the people global majority who have a history of continuing to give even during times when there are more needs than finances: We see you. We appreciate your sacrifice. It matters and, prayerfully, it’s worth the sacrifice for the just future we are building together.
In service to the mission,
Bethany Johnson-Javois
President & CEO
Deaconess Foundation
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PARTNER SPOTLIGHT:
RUSTIC ROOTS SANCTUARY
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Rustic Roots Sanctuary is a sustainable farm and retreat space located in the Spanish Lake community of North St. Louis County. It is intended as a holistic healing space for residents, of whom majority are Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC). Rustic Roots Sanctuary is also home to GROW Spanish Lake, an organic garden, and it serves as a teaching space for sustainable agriculture and the necessity of good nutrition.
Rustic Roots Sanctuary aims to increase access to healthy food while creating sustainable food systems. The organization offers learning sessions for the community including those centering youth and seniors with an intent to positively effect health outcomes in its community.
Deaconess Foundation provides funding to Rustic Roots Sanctuary through the Responsive Grant portfolio to support their efforts in bringing community together to sustainably overcome food limitations.
Learn more about Rustic Roots Sanctuary's upcoming programs and events here.
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The collaborative St. Louis Regional Racial Healing + Justice Fund launched its third grant cycle this week and is now accepting applications through October 5th. The Fund aims to invest $800,000 this Fall in Black and Brown-led community healing and racial justice initiatives. The investment would mark the largest dollar amount distributed in one cycle in the history of the Fund and add to more than $550,000 already distributed to organizations in the first two cycles. Learn more about the grants and how to apply here.
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CDF FREEDOM SCHOOLS® RETURNS |
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Deaconess-sponsored CDF Freedom Schools returned following a two-year break during the pandemic, and we were thrilled to once again welcome scholars and their families and caregivers to join us for a summer filled with new experiences, culturally-rich literature, and fun-filled learning. We served more than 100 scholars at four locations (Christ the King UCC, Deaconess Center for Child Well-Being, Peace United Church of Christ, and Saint John's Church (The Beloved Community)) with 18 staff team members. We deeply appreciate the educators, college students, and volunteers for their dedication to making sure this summer was safe, exciting, and filled with learning. Many community leaders, including Mayor Tishaura Jones of the City of St. Louis (pictured here), volunteered to read their favorite childhood book to our scholars during their morning Read Aloud segment.
Recognizing the impact of two years of relentless collective trauma, social and emotional wellness activities were woven into lessons for the scholars and workshops for their families and caregivers. Deaconess partnered with Alive & Well Communities to host the workshops which focused on self-care and trauma awareness, giving families the tools to tend to themselves and each other well beyond the summer months.
We wish everyone a joyous and safe school year full of wonder. We are looking forward to serving our scholars in 2023 with our partners throughout the St. Louis region and at the Children's Defense Fund.
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We are thrilled to announce the promotion of Deaconess team member Constance Harper, Esq. (she/her) to Vice President of Policy, Advocacy, and Strategic Initiatives. In this role, Constance has the overall strategic and operational responsibility to articulate policy priorities developed in partnership with impacted communities and formulate strategies to advance those priorities, including local, state, and federal legislative and administrative advocacy, and coalition building to advance the Foundation’s mission. She will coordinate the execution of strategic initiatives aimed at shaping and transforming oppressive systems that impact the well-being of children and their community of caregivers through leveraging the Foundation’s financial resources, relationships, and other assets for the causes championed by the communities in Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois.
Constance will continue to provide leadership to the Foundation’s cross-cutting functions which include overall strategy, innovation, communications, legal, and leadership development while playing a key role in embedding equity, inclusion, and anti-racism as a process and an outcome throughout the organization.
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Camille Hogan, MSW (she/her) recently joined Deaconess as the Communications & Digital Media Coordinator in July. In this role, Camille coordinates routine processes for strategic communications and advocacy activities within the Foundation's program portfolio. She will focus on effective ethical storytelling as a vehicle to drive change and advance public policies that create healthier, equitable and just conditions for people to thrive. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English literature and nonprofit leadership from Seattle University and a master’s degree in social work from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis. Camille is on the Rise Young Professionals Board and enjoys being an English tutor through the Immigrant Home English Learning Program (IHELP). Originally from Northern California, Camille has fallen in love with the charming neighborhoods, compassion, and hospitality of St. Louis. In her free time, she enjoys St. Louis’ markets, festivals, and beautiful parks. Welcome to the team, Camille!
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Kiesha Davis, MSW (she/her) has been named the Board President of Places for People. Kiesha is Deaconess' Director of Partnerships & Capacity Building. Kiesha has dedicated more than 18 years of her career to creating equitable opportunities and interventions for underserved communities. “I’m very excited to work with Kiesha as we move forward through our new strategic plan over the next two years,” said Laura McCallister, chief executive of Places for People. Kiesha brings her experience in executive leadership and promoting nonprofit leadership to the table. We know she will be a great asset to the Places for People team. Congratulations!
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Deaconess Center for Child Well-Being - Welcome Desk Volunteers needed during the evenings (Monday - Saturday, after 5 pm).
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PARTNERS IN THE NEWS:
FEED THE BABIES PROJECT
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The Feed The Babies Project is a community-wide collaborative designed to address the infant formula shortage in the City of St. Louis that disproportionately impacted people with low income and people of color. The first distribution events from July 7 – August 9 resulted in a distribution of 1,382 ounces of packaged baby formula and 6,256 ounces of pasteurized human donor milk (donated by The Milk Bank of Indianapolis) to 60 families. The expanded coalition now plans to replicate this model in St. Louis County and the Metro East to increase nutritional support for mothers and babies in need. A future goal is to establish a locally accessible community-based milk dispensary to serve families if there are future disruptions on the scale of the recent formula shortage.
Deaconess has served as the fiscal sponsor for this project. Partners include:
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PARTNER OPPORTUNITIES AND EVENTS |
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August 27: Delmar Black Business Expo. Over 50 vendors will be present; black entrepreneurs selling unique products and services both indoors and outdoors. The event is from 1:00-6:00 pm. Learn more.
September 2-3: ANEW 2022 Conference hosted by partner Faith for Justice. This event is focused on economic security, education and public health as part of Black liberation. Register here.
September 15th: Join fellow St. Louisans to watch the Straight Facts animated series breaking down how our local government works. The event is from 6:30-8:00 pm at the Contemporary Art Museum of St. Louis. Register here.
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October 1st: Take part in voicing the North Central Plan's wins, challenges, and approaching solutions together. Residents and stakeholders of the Covenant Blu Grand Center and Vandeventer neighborhoods are invited to our second gathering to discuss the future of our community through the North Central Plan People’s Assembly. Continue to take an active role in shaping housing, education, health, and environmental changes throughout your neighborhoods. Learn more here.
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ICYMI: A CRITICAL SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION ON STATE INCOME TAX |
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Missouri's Governor Mike Parson announced in July that there will be a special session to discuss the state's income tax (the schedule is still to be released). There are already pending tax cuts that will cost the state $660 million per year. This new tax change proposal will increase that state revenue loss to more than $1 billion annually. Missouri Budget Project's analysis shows that these income tax deductions are expected to favor the wealthy and critically funded needs including schools, public safety, healthcare, and others will be significantly impacted. "The wealthiest 1% of Missourians would see an average cut of $6,030, while the lowest income Missourians would receive just $13." This is crucial as an economic recession is on the rise. Learn more.
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