ABFE News and Updates - June 2009 Issue

Banner updated 6.18.08

 

  ABFE News and Updates  

JUNE 2009 Issue

 

In This Issue

ABFE Publishes "Family Matters"

OSI Panel Discussion on Media and Black men and boys.

Coverage and Highlights from the 2009 Annual Meeting in Atlanta

ABFE's Spotlight on People and Organizations

Meet ABFE's New Board Members

 

Quick Notes and Mentions

 

This Just In...
Nicole Campbell
ABFE Connecting Leaders Fellow Nicole F. Campbell (Class of 2008-09) and Vice President at Deutche Bank of Americas Foundation has been selected as a White House Fellow for 2009-2010.

 

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Benjamin Jealous, ABFE Board Member and President of the NAACP, wrote a compelling commentary "For the sake of my daughter" where he highlights the harsh treatment of Blacks for drug offenses by the criminal justice system.

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Taking Care, A Rejuvenation Retreat for Black Philanthropy Professionals
August 20 - 23, 2009 Cavallo Point Lodge, Sausalito, CA.  Sponsored by ABFE, Bay Areas Blacks in Philanthropy and the Mitchell Kapor Foundation

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The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) released a comprehensive report exploring key factors impacting academic outcomes for African-American males.   The report, "Breaking Barriers: Plotting the Path to Academic Success for School-age African-American Males," analyzes academic success indicators from national surveys that together give voice to nearly 5,800 pupils from schools across the country. "Breaking Barriers" suggests policy solutions that will assist policymakers, educators, school advocates, families and others in enabling African-American males to have greater success in the classroom and afterward.  Read the report.

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Lynne Algrant, ABFE's Professional Development Coordinator 
was elected the Democratic nominee for the At Large City Council seat in Englewood, New Jersey.  The election is in November 2009.  Congratulations on your victory!

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 Career Opportunities

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Connect with your colleagues across the country by using  ABFE's Membership Directory. 

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Become an ABFE Member or Renew Your Membership at abfe.org. (PayPal is Now available)

 

 

A Note From Susan Taylor Batten, ABFE President

Maintain the Gains: Promoting Equity in Philanthropy During Tough Economic Times

 

Too often, we think about equity and diversity when resources are plentiful - when we are enjoying the growth and expansion of our workforce and investment portfolios.  This is clearly important, but I would argue that focusing on equity is even more important when making difficult decisions about reducing staff or cutting grants.  Read Susan's message to ABFE Members.


 

 

ABFE Publishes 'Family Matters', an Important Report Challenging Common Perceptions of the Black Family
 

"Family Matters is a must read for not only grantmakers but for policymakers and family and child advocates alike," said Susan Taylor Batten, ABFE's President and CEO. "The investment strategies and recommendations outlined in this report offer important lessons and advice for those of us concerned with the well-being of Black families."

Family MattersFamily Matters examines three issues that have a substantial impact on Black families and Black communities -- foster care, fatherhood and identity development.

 

In the report, Dr. David Sanders, Executive Vice President for System Improvement at the Seattle-based Casey Family Programs offers an analysis of the challenges facing children in the child welfare system, and recommends that "philanthropy draw a web of support and services around our most vulnerable families to help them address crisis and stressors that, if left unattended, can overwhelm and put them at risk of having their children taken away."

 

 

(Editor's note: Family Matters is available to ABFE members by accessing our Members Section of the website).

 

 

 

ABFE Institutional Member The Open Society Institute (OSI) Will Host A Most Urgent Discussion For Black Communities and Philanthropy - Reframing the Story of Black Males in the Media: A Philanthropic Call to Action.

 

Open Society Institute 

 

With the election of the first African American president, how can philanthropies encourage media to provide more accurate, nuanced portrayals of Black men and boys?  The Open Society Institute Campaign for Black Male Achievement will address this question at a breakfast panel discussion on Thursday, July 9, 2009. 

 

Co-hosted with public interest Public Relations firm Fenton Communications, the event features philanthropic leaders, media professionals, and community-based youth media advocates. Participants will discuss how to foster partnerships to counter negative stereotypes about Black males in the media.

Panelists
· Loren Harris, Executive Director, Black Male Donor Collaborative and Founder, Thinking Man Consulting
· Sharon D. Toomer, ABFE Director of Communications and Membership, Association and the Founder and Managing Editor, BlackandBrownNews.com.
· Byron Hurt, Award-Winning Documentary Filmmaker, Writer and Activist
· Erik Eckholm, Staff Writer, New York Times
· Jordan Coleman, Youth Filmmaker, Actor
· Rashad Robinson, Senior Director of Media Programs, Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)

 

Moderator: Curtis Stephen, Journalist, Columnist, and former Soros Justice Fellow.

 

Coverage and Highlights from the 2009 Annual Meeting in Atlanta!

 

 For those who were unable to attend and for those who simply want to take your time to review the events at our 2009 Annual Meeting in Atlanta, visit our website.  And while you are there take a few moments to see a taped message to members from Benjamin Jealous, ABFE Board Member and President of the NAACP. For ABFE's 2009 Annual Meeting and Program at the Council on Foundations annual conference in Atlanta, Georgia, ABFE tried a fresh approach to covering our events by asking a writer and blogger to cover the two-day event. 

 

Ms. Amina J. Dickerson is ABFE's 18th James A. Joseph Lecturer.  Read Ms. Dickerson's lecture,Building Bridges of Opportunity: Succession Planning for OUR Next Generation.  This is a MUST READ.

 

 

 

Spotlight on People and Organizations

ABFE's News and Updates' Spotlight on People and Organizations identifies for grantmakers people and organizations whose work, reach and mission impacts Black communities.   


 naadcp2

 

In this issue of ABFE News & Updates we highlight the National African American Drug Policy Coalition (NAADPC), a collaborative initiative to address the problem of drug abuse in the African American community with each member organization contributing distinct intellectual content, practices and procedures for eradicating the deleterious societal effects of drug abuse. The organization was founded in 2003 by the National Bar Association (NBA), under the leadership of its 61st President, Clyde E. Bailey, Sr.  

NAADPC's mission is to promote drug policies and laws that embrace the public health nature of drug abuse and provide a more effective and human approach to address the chronic societal problem of drug abuse.

Read more about NAADPC at www.naadpc.org.

 

 

Meet ABFE's New Board Members 

 

At the Annual Meeting in May 2009 ABFE elected six new members to its board of directors.   ABFE welcomes their experience and diverse backgrounds in philanthropy and look forward to their leadership. 


Dr. Ivye L. Allen is President of the Foundation for the Mid South, a regional community foundation serving Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi.  Ms. Bithiah Carter is the Senior Director in the Community Impact division of United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley in Boston; and she is also the President of New England Blacks in Philanthropy (NEBIP).  Dr. John Jackson is the President and CEO of The Schott Foundation for Public Education, and recently served on the Obama-Biden transition team as a member of the President's 13-member Education Policy Transition Work Group.  Ms. Toya Randall joined Grand Victoria Foundation in 2000 and currently serves as the chief administrator of Foundation activities in Elgin, Illinois.  Ms. Alandra L. Washington is the Deputy Director for the Family Income and Assets, Civic and Philanthropic Engagement and New Mexico teams at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.  Ms. Sherece Y. West is the President of the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation. 

 

ABFE Welcomes Our New Board Members!

 

Be a part of promoting effective and responsive philanthropy in Black communities!  Join ABFE today or renew your membership at www.abfe.org. 

 

 

 

ABFE STAFF

Susan Taylor Batten, President

Marcus F. Walton, Director of Programs 
Sharon D. Toomer, Director of Communications and Membership  
Joshua Powers, Director of Administration  
Floria Abney, Administrative Associate  
Lynne Algrant, Professional Development Coordinator   
Christine Nicholson, Coordinator of Membership Services 

 

ABFE's New Logo 2008 

ABFE's mission is to promote effective and responsive philanthropy in Black communities.   As the first official affinity group of the Council on Foundations, ABFE is the champion of diverse leadership in philanthropy. Progress is defined by a substantial increase in the number of Blacks as leaders and emerging leaders within the philanthropic field. Today, ABFE counts among its members some of the most influential staff, trustees, and donors of grantmaking organizations who are intimately involved in shaping the focus, decision-making, and response of foundations toward Black communities. Please visit our website at www.abfe.org.