Long before the Coronavirus pandemic, Black and Latino communities have lived amid the pandemics of racism, poverty, and lack of investment in California. Now, philanthropy has an urgent opportunity to lead the charge for a just recovery which not only addresses the disparate impacts of COVID-19 on Black and Latino communities but begins to fully address decades of racism and disinvestment in grassroots leadership.

Ensuring the safety and health of our people in the months and years ahead, we must unite to ensure that Latino and Black-led grassroots groups are heard, respected, and supported at scale.

The Black Funders Network of the Bay Area, East Bay Community Foundation, Latino Community Foundation, and Philanthropy California have joined forces to create a speaker series around the persistent and pervasive underinvestment in Black and Latino-led grassroots nonprofits. What began as a conversation about addressing the COVID-19 needs of our Black and Latino community leaders has now leveled up and we are determined to use our power to demand justice and to advance change in this nation. Join us as we reflect, learn, and share with one another about the ways that philanthropy can manifest real, transformative change led by leaders and communities of color.

Our first session features a panel discussion with Luz Maria Ayala, co-Founder of Todec Legal Center, and Dr. Noha Aboelata, CEO of Roots Community Health Center. Moderated by Masha Chernyak, VP of Programs at Latino Community Foundation and Byron Johnson, Capacity Building Initiative Officer at East Bay Community Foundation, we will have the opportunity to be in discussion with two nonprofits that have been essential in meeting the needs of Black & Latino communities in California, especially throughout the COVID-19 crisis.

Accessibility: If you have a disability and require accommodation in order to fully participate in this activity, please contact our programs team at programsrsvp@socalgrantmakers.org or (213) 680-8866. You will be contacted by someone from our staff to discuss your specific needs.