ANN ARBOR – Nonprofit Enterprise at Work has been awarded a $2,000 grant from the Michigan Equity Network to support the Board Connect program, Catalysts for Change.
This grant will allow NEW to expand its programming to assist nonprofit organizations in the areas of diversity, inclusion and equity. In May 2013, the program was awarded a $1,500 grant from the Comerica Charitable Foundation.
?To achieve social change and equity, nonprofits must actively engage the participation and leadership of stakeholders who are directly impacted by these organizations’ charitable missions,? says the program?s creator Rosemary Linares, NEW?s Program Associate and Training Specialist. ?Research shows that the demographic composition of boards is not always representative of the communities whose needs are addressed by these missions. We see NEW’s role as shepherds of this social change by developing diverse leadership on boards and guiding organizations towards implementing inclusive practices.?
The Catalyst for Change Program will advance diversity, inclusion and equity using a three-pronged approach, promoting social change on the individual, organizational and sector-wide levels. The program includes two public and customizable workshops, ?Towards a Culture of Inclusion: Building and Sustaining a Diverse Board? and ?Cultural Fluency in the Board Room,? as well as consulting.
?To maintain sustainability and effectively meet the needs of the communities they serve, it is essential that nonprofit boards become more diverse and inclusive,? says Michael Tyson, NEW?s President and CEO. ?We are ecstatic that the Michigan Equity Network shares our vision.?
The vision of the Michigan Equity Network is a state where disparities, inequity and achievement gaps no longer exist, individuals have the opportunity to reach their full potential, there is abundant opportunity with regard to jobs, education and access to healthcare and communities are able to see elected or appointed leaders that are like them and proportional to the diverse makeup of the community. They are concerned with aspects of diversity most often targeted for discrimination, bias, or those that result in unequal outcomes including race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, and immigration status.
Attend the public workshop, ?Towards a Culture of Inclusion: Building and Sustaining a Diverse Board,? on Friday, June 28 from 1-4 p.m. at the NEW Center located at 1100 North Main St. in Ann Arbor. You will review key trends and statistics illustrating the national nonprofit landscape relative to board diversity and inclusion, explore your organization?s barriers to, strengths of and opportunities for diversity, inclusion and equity, and leave with the tools necessary to build a strong case for fostering a culture of inclusion and advancing social equity within your organization.
In addition, you’ll learn practical strategies to build and sustain diverse boards and explore exploring a case study depicting a local nonprofit that recently completed a comprehensive diversity action plan. The cost to attend is $50. To register, visit www.new.org or call 734-998-0160 ext. 206.
