On the first morning of the Facing Race conference this year in Atlanta, I was washing my hands in the bathroom when a tall black man walked in. Startled, he looked at me in the mirror and asked, “Uh, am I in the right place?” “Yeah,” I responded, “it’s all-gender.”

An exploration of what a makes a good conference and a call to love in work and action. 

With the 2016 Presidential election now over, I’ve entered a process of much needed reflection. For me, I’ve blocked the media and rhetoric of political pundits out of my thoughts and now look to the future – one that I will impact positively. The campaign season is usually a time where people divide and organize themselves in an us vs. them fashion. We become so focused on why MY candidate is better than yours and what MY candidate will do for the people that we estrange ourselves from those who may not share our views. I am not criticizing these practices, as it is natural to the political process and how people ultimately make voting decisions. My thought is simply that campaign politics, for me has become more of a system of disunion than one where we unite.

America hates us. That’s what the election results told me and millions of immigrants, Muslims, LGBTQ and people of color, especially my black and brown brothers and sisters. It said we do not belong in America, and it said it loud and clear. Only two days after the elections 2,300 people from around the nation came together, still mourning, outraged, scared, upset, but to realize and affirm that folks fighting for racial justice - we are not alone. We came together in Atlanta, Georgia for Facing Race - a national conference presented by Race Forward: The Center for Racial Justice Innovation. A unique collaborative space for racial justice movement-making, Facing Race is the largest multiracial, inter-generational gathering for organizers, educators, creatives and other leaders.

As a mixed Asian American woman, I've grappled with white privilege from an early age. My experience as a multiracial person influenced how I've conceptualized and constructed race and identity, and it is what first politicized me as a teen, and led me to Race Forward's Colorlines blog over eight years ago. As one of my go-to resources on racial justice, I’ve valued how they view it through an intersectional and interdisciplinary lens. Facing Race was a rare opportunity for leaders across a variety of sectors to converge around racial justice and smashing the silos that often exist in social justice work. ...

Originally aired on November 16, 2016.

A message from Tamir Novotny following the 2016 Presidential Election.

Tony Bowen, Director, Grants Management and Operations, Democracy Fund as interviewed by Tom DiGenno, EPIP-DC Chapter Leader. Learn more about Tony, his work, his time with EPIP and some fun facts.

Originally aired October 26, 2016.

Originally aired on October 19, 2016.

EPIP remains committed to promoting excellence in philanthropy and responsible stewardship of philanthropic resources. We can also do more to promote the success of our diverse members and advance equity in our field and the wider world.