Securing our People, Securing the Future

The world can often feel like an unsafe place, with the risk of random acts of violence looming in our psyches and fed by news cycles eager to deliver sensationalistic content. For those with marginalized identities or political beliefs, there is an added layer of risk for targeted harassment, threats and violence that often stem from right-wing hostilities. From the Pulse nightclub shooting, to the Charleston church massacre, to the recent killings of Palestinian Americans in Illinois and Vermont, our history is littered with painful manifestations of hate.

For organizations led by and for communities at risk of violence, their physical places of work, as well as their online presence, present real risks to their safety and security. With election-year xenophobic rhetoric picking up amidst a backdrop of an international humanitarian crisis, philanthropy plays a pivotal role in determining whether frontline organizations will have the resources they need to shore up their physical and digital safety. 

As indicated in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, safety and security are foundational to higher-level activities, be it offering humanitarian relief, providing legal assistance, or advancing narrative change strategies. In this session, we’ll explore with movement leaders and funders how they are approaching safety and security, and how other grantmakers can contribute to the well-being of the movement ecosystem.

SPEAKERS

• Nana Gyamfi, Executive Director, Black Alliance for Just Immigration
• Joél Junior Morales, Foundation Manager, Contigo Fund
• Amardeep Singh, Vice President for Programs, Proteus Fund

MODERATOR

• Deepa Iyer, Senior Director, Strategic Initiatives, Building Movement Project