Via
By Julie Zeglen / STAFF
Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia Executive Director Sidney Hargro has spoken at length about the need for cross-sector collaboration and new ways of operating to solve Philadelphia’s biggest problems, including poverty.
One of those needed shifts: a focus on equity, not just diversity and inclusion, with a more intentional focus on the systems and biases that contributed to a lack thereof over time.
“The term diversity has been in the sector and been around for decades and longer,” said the nonprofit pro told Generocity in August, “but the reality is, if we achieve embedding equity not only in our work, but also in seeking equity in our communities, the other two are automatically there. You can’t achieve equity without diversity and inclusion.”
Following 2017’s “Vision, Voice, Values” and 2016’s “Toward a More Perfect Union,” Philanthropy Network’s 2018 annual conference, which convened a few hundred foundation heads, corporate social responsibility pros and nonprofit execs this past Friday at the Hilton Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing, was themed “Onramps to Equity in Action.”
First, a definition: Philanthropy Network thinks of equity as “fairness and justice for those who are disproportionately affected by structures, policies and and practices due to race, ethnicity gender identity, sexual orientation, faith or some intersection of the above.”