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We saw this spirit clearly embodied on November 8, when LZF partnered with five other local social justice funders to host our Annual Grantee Gathering. Leaders and staff from nonprofits working in homelessness, food access, immigrant support, LGBTQ+ advocacy, and more spent the day sharing stories, exchanging resources, offering support, breaking bread, and even singing together (in an improvised song titled “We Will Not Comply”). It was a vivid reminder that community is something we create intentionally – through presence, generosity, and the simple but powerful act of showing up for one another, even when it’s at 8am on a Saturday morning. This is what it looks like to be in community with our grantees, not just alongside them.
At a recent event, someone said to me, “Each of your funding areas is so vast. Even with $100M a year, you wouldn’t be able to solve issues like food insecurity or immigrant support. Why bother?” My answer was this: LZF stands with community, and our communities need support now. Systemic issues take decades or even generations to change, but the people experiencing them cannot wait decades for relief. Through our partnerships with grassroots nonprofits, we are building and strengthening the networks of trust and care that may eventually allow long-term solutions to take root.
As the year comes to a close and we look towards next year, I hope we can continue to strengthen this practice of community building we witnessed at the Gathering. By investing in community today – by connecting, listening, celebrating, and supporting – we are building a more just and sustainable future.
Warmly,
Tiffany Lau
Deputy Director
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