Pre-Conference Institutes

Two pre-conference institutes will focus on the craft of grantmaking related to two cross-cutting themes: Place-based Philanthropy; and Boys and Men of Color. Held Sunday before the conference, the institutes are in-depth, content-rich sessions designed to give each participant a new framework, skill or tool to use in his or her own work. Pre-registration is required.

Session Coordinator: Lise Maisano, S.H. Cowell Foundation

In recent years, place-based philanthropy has emerged as a strategy for public and private funders to address the complex needs of children, youth and families, and especially those in the most vulnerable communities. Access to basic resources such as healthy food, family support, decent housing, high quality education, employment, and meaningful after-school activities for young people is highly dependent on the communities in which they live.

This institute will explore various place based grantmaking models, from small local and regional grantmakers to large state and national grantmakers. This session will also feature perspectives from local beneficiaries of place-based work in California.

Learning Objectives:

• Consider the history of place-based approaches;
• Explore various models of place-based grant making;
• Consider the impact and challenges of place-based approaches;
• Discuss how placed-based work is built on the knowledge, talents, and skills of individuals in those communities.

Featured Presenters:

• Moderator: Lise Maisano, S.H.Cowell Foundation
• Ann Kubisch, Co-Director Aspen Roundtable on Comprehensive on Comprehensive Initiatives for Children and Families
• Michael McAfee, Director of Promise Neighborhoods Institute at Policy Link (San Francisco, CA)
• Ed Egnatios, Program Director -  Neighborhoods, Skillman Foundation (Detroit, MI)
• Diane Aranda, Program Manager – Richmond, The California Endowment
• Ken Doane, Senior Program Officer – Education, S.H. Cowell Foundation
• Charles Rutheiser, Senior Fellow, Annie E. Casey Foundation
• Claudia Harrison, Executive Director, First Five Ventura
• Jamie Alvarado, Executive Director, Somos Mayfair (San Jose, CA)
• Kelley D. Gulley, President and CEO, National Community Development Institute (Oakland, CA)

Pre-Conference Institute 2:

Innovative and Comprehensive Strategies for Improving Outcomes for Boys and Men of Color

Sunday, September 11, 1:00pm-5:00pm

Sponsored by GCYF Healthy Men, Healthy Communities (HMHC) Grant Projects

Decades of early childhood and youth development research have shown that to grow and thrive, children, youth and young adults need: supportive, nurturing environments; opportunities to gain a sense of belonging and power within their communities: and to be recognized as valued and respected assets to society. Yet too often, traditional systems and programs perpetuate negative perceptions of youth, and devote critical resources and energy to punitive programs and strategies that focus on the “problems” of youth, particularly crime and violence. This is especially true for boys and young men of color in this country, a population that has been historically marginalized by traditional systems.

A lack of asset and strength based approaches to boys of men of color in society, as a whole, and within certain systems not only perpetuates an intergenerational cycle of boys and men of color that expect less from their communities and systems that serve them, while at the same time society expects less of them and treats them accordingly.

Asset-based approaches that build on the strengths of individuals, connect them to their communities, and provide positive pathways to success are essential. Such approaches are essential not only to individual boys and men of color, but to their families, communities and society as a whole. In the last decade, private philanthropy has stepped up to be a voice for this marginalized population, joined by federal initiatives seeking to strengthen communities and supports for boys and men of color. This institute will explore private philanthropic and federal initiatives that seek to shatter negative stereotypes about boys and men of color, defy low expectations society has for these young people, and build on individual and community and strengths to improve outcomes for BMOC and their communities.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the context of how boys and men of color are doing (research, data)
• Explore role of key indicators of well-being and how these play out in various settings (challenges citing examples from pre-K, youth, community spaces)
• Identify unique innovative strategies we can use to improve outcomes for boys and men of color at local and national levels.

• Moderator: Maisha Simmons, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Program Associate – Vulnerable Populations, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; Co-Chair, Healthy Men Healthy Communities Advisory Board (Princeton, NJ)
• Robert Phillips, Senior Fellow, The California Endowment 
• William O. Jawando, Deputy Director of Strategic Partnerships, Special Assistant to the Secretary, U.S. Department of Education
• Maria Brenes, Executive Director, Inner City Struggle (Los Angeles, CA)