YMCA of the USA (National Resource Office)’s Post

JFF is vital to the post-release outcomes for people leaving jails and prisons. There are 40,000+ barriers for people to overcome to have the opportunity to apply their education to meaningful roles that pay a living wage. If you can make it to DC, this event will illuminate the issues and in true JFF fashion, offer actionable solutions. Jobs for the Future (JFF) #horizons

An impactful initiative. By statistically gathering key indicators to emphasize areas of increasing disadvantage, The My Brother's Keeper Initiative (Denver) is identifying and focusing on societal and systemic problems that limit opportunities for boys and young men of color by neighborhood. Through this data-driven approach, Denver is unpacking the complex barriers that these youth face and working to create supports that will ultimately lead to solutions to improve outcomes for boys and young men of color.

The Equity, Engagement, and Evaluation program at CETE, in partnership with organizations like the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce and Ohio Head Start Association, allows us to offer strategic planning, logic model development, and comprehensive evaluations tailored to benefit our educators and youth. Equity, diversity, and inclusion are integral to our work, and we work to center the needs and voices of the communities we serve, through: 🤝 Equity and Inclusion: Providing equal access to opportunities and resources. 💪🏾 Empowerment: Creating clear access to opportunities for marginalized groups. 🏘️ Community Strengthening: Fostering an inclusive, resilient society. https://lnkd.in/dB5vHnng

Tough work can be fun, complexity brings with it innovation, collaboration is motivating - that's what every day feels like as I sit in a unique position as the AmeriCorps #Bridging and #Democracy Fellow. The work we're advancing in partnership with so many giants is of great consequence, not just for the field of national service but for our country as a whole. I believe when we lean into hard conversations, not with the expectation of 100% agreement or compromise, but of shared understanding through deep empathic listening, we grow. Our pathways towards solutions grow, our capacity to articulate the nuances grows, and our willingness to be "yes / and" leaders also grows. It's with deep gratitude for so many incredible partners we work with directly and for the many more that we have yet to meet who are also doing the hard and impactful work. America's Service Commissions, BridgeUSA, Civic Health Project, CoGenerate (Formerly Encore.org), The Greater Good Science Center, Interfaith America , Service Year Alliance, and Convergence Center for Policy Resolution Bridging Images from several of our Partners: Interfaith Enrichment Corps, Lead For America, Move for America, Upstate Greenways & Trails Alliance, UServeUtah https://lnkd.in/e6r5e5cf

Juneteenth is a holiday commemorating the emancipation of those who have been enslaved in the United States. It started in Galveston, Texas and is now celebrated every year on June 19th across the United States. Although it has been nearly 2 centuries since this pivotal moment, we are still working towards achieving equity across the nation. There are many nonprofits today that are doing important work in helping our community become a more diverse and inclusive place. These are just a few nonprofits that you can support: 1. National Urban League — The National Urban League is a historic civil rights organization dedicated to economic empowerment in order to elevate the standard of living in historically underserved urban communities. 2. Race Forward — Race Forward catalyzes movement building for racial justice. They work to advance racial justice through research, media, and practice. 3. Color Of Change — Color Of Change is the nation’s largest online racial justice organization, fighting to hold decision-makers accountable in achieving a more equitable society.

To conclude our four-part series "Equity in Action: Shaping Racial Justice at The BUILD Health Challenge," we're sharing our commitment to advancing racial justice. The practices detailed within emerged from intentional partnership with BUILD awardees and the recommendations surfaced during that process. In this article, we detail the work we have done since the start of this journey and our commitments going forward. This includes:  - Field-building through transparency and shared learnings; - Enhanced support for awardees through trust-based philanthropy practices and equity-focused technical assistance; and - A dedicated focus on community voices, community power, and systemic change.    Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/e9ee2UZj

#STRATA9 is dedicated to fostering social and economic mobility for all members of the American populace. The McKinsey Institute for Black Economic Mobility’s new report explores the impact of place on Black residents’ life outcomes across seven distinct profile communities. It emphasizes the pivotal role of geographic location in perpetuating inequitable economic prospects and impacting physical and mental well-being, overall quality of life, and sense of community inclusion for Black residents. The report shares a shocking statistic: At the current rate of progress, it would take between 110 and 320 years to eliminate outcome disparities between White and Black residents. How can we, as a country, expedite efforts toward equitable access to a higher quality of life for Black Americans? 1. Invest in initiatives within specific communities: Prime examples include the Harlem Children's Zone, East Baltimore Development, Inc. (EBDI) Initiative, Atlanta’s East Lake Foundation, and San Diego’s City Heights Community Development Initiative. National nonprofits, philanthropic investors, and government entities can support these local efforts. 2. Create affordable housing in low-poverty neighborhoods: Roughly half of all renter households nationwide spend more than 30% of their income on housing; a quarter spend more than 50%. Black residents are less likely to own homes and more likely to be cost-burdened. 3. Provide early childhood education: High-quality early childhood development programs can change the trajectory of disadvantaged Black children’s lives. Formal childcare and pre-K also can be critical to parents’ ability to work and provide for their families. Learn more about the report here: https://mck.co/3HZbPSG #EconomicMobility #EconomicOutcomes #Careers #Equity #AffordableHousing #EarlyChildhood #Education #BHM #blackhistorymonth

Dear Professional Community, I am thrilled to share with you the launch of a very special project that has been a labor of love for me - the Onyx Cares Foundation. Our Mission: Inspired by the need to make a meaningful difference, the Onyx Cares Foundation is dedicated to uplifting communities through targeted initiatives. Our mission is grounded in the belief that with the right support and resources, we can catalyze lasting positive change. Learn more about our initiatives at https://onyxcares.org/ Get Involved: To provide deeper insight into the challenges we aim to address and the communities we wish to support, we have shared an interview conducted at Roxbury Correctional Institute. This conversation sheds light on the very issues at the heart of our foundation's mission. I invite you to watch and hopefully be inspired by the potential for change we have before us. Watch here: https://lnkd.in/e-SUXdVF As we look ahead, the Foundation seeks to partner with like-minded individuals and organizations on future initiatives, particularly those focused on empowering the youth; we're also focused on enhancing community and economic development. Further, we aim to leverage Onyx Consulting Services' recent HubZone certification to underscore our commitment to making a significant difference in historically underutilized business zones. Stay Connected: Keep up with the latest updates on our projects, events, and opportunities to make a difference by following us on social media. Your active engagement and support—whether it be through partnerships, sharing our message, or simply keeping track of our progress—are vital to our collective success. https://lnkd.in/ejyz9JTc Thank you for your support as we embark on this meaningful journey together. With your help, we can achieve profound, lasting change. PS. If you’ve previously visited our draft website and are not seeing the most recent updates, please clear your browser cache (CTRL+Shift+DEL) to view the latest content. #atriskyouth #community #empowerment #501(c)(3) #AcademicAchievement #STEAM #HealthandWellness #NeurodiversityAwareness #advocacy

Good read relating to building social capital. The questions posed by 4-H are worth reflecting upon when developing strategic plans or when engaging staff in a CQI process.

At a recent The Aspen Institute Ascend event, I was describing the work of Advancing Communities for Equity with a new connection, Kat Kaufmann of The Bridgespan Group. She is a passionate early childhood advocate who had wonderful questions about our work. The one that I continue to reflect on is this: "Who is community?" My answer at the time was that we combine quantitative data (census tracts, enrollment data, community surveys, eligibility information, and the like) with what we learn in conversation. Who are the individuals and organizations in the community who are trusted by children and families? Where do they turn for resources, help, and guidance? Sometimes this starts with one or two names. Our goal is that by the end of our work, we have weaved together connections between systems and trusted community partners, to enhance collaboration and build communication that leads to stronger families. At the same time as this mixer, I began a re-read of @bell hooks' "Belonging: A culture of place" and I know that my description of community is too narrow. Community is where families feel safe and cared for, rejuvenated and seen, supported and whole. Healed. The supports offered by systems are by their very nature bureaucratic in administration and delivery. Through community partnerships, systems can tap into what works for families. This will require widening the table, sharing resources, reconsidering how power is operating, and doing things differently than we have in existing systems. What might we accomplish if people were more connected to each other and to the resources intended to support them? That is the the work of Advancing Communities for Equity. I am excited to share more about our work on this page. Thanks for the follow.