Thoughtful. Inspiring. Diverse. Empowered. Inclusive. These are just a few words attendees used to describe EPIP's 2018 National Conference, held in Detroit, Michigan this summer. With over 230 people in attendance from the philanthropic, non-profit, corporate, and government sectors, this conference was our largest turnout since 2013!
Our conference kicked off with a full day of pre-conference programming that included a Chapter Leader Gathering to strategize how to hold anti-oppressive spaces, a Board Leadership Institute to educate participants about board governance and prepare them to join non-profit boards, three learning tours which gave participants an insight into economic, environmental, and immigration & refugee justice issues within Detroit, and a People of Color Network Gathering where members engaged in a small group discussion regarding some of the challenges they experience within the sector.
Conference workshops and plenaries focused on the themes of collaborative visioning, collaborative action, and collaborative leadership. And building upon a relationship that began during our 2016 National Conference, Erika Totten, spiritual life coach and founder of the transformative healing organization Unchained Visioning, returned to our 2018 conference to create on-site spaces for healing and rejuvenation, facilitate several small-group liberatory healing circles, provide one-on-one coaching sessions for attendees, and co-facilitate a conversation among members of our People of Color Network regarding the challenges they experience working in the sector.
In our post-conference feedback survey, 92 percent of attendees reported their experience as excellent or above average; 86 percent noted they left the conference having learned something new that changed their perspective; and 81 percent reported they gained a better understanding of equity and how to take action towards equity in their work and personal lives.
Conference Supporters & Sponsors
Thank you to our 2018 Conference Supporters and Sponsors!
Champion/Host Sponsor
The Kresge Foundation is a private, national foundation that works to expand opportunities in America's cities through grantmaking and social investing in arts and culture, education, environment, health, human services and community development in Detroit. In collaboration with their nonprofit, public, private and philanthropic partners, they help create pathways for people with low income to improve their life circumstances and join the economic mainstream.
Founded in 1924 to promote human progress, Kresge builds and strengthens pathways to opportunity for low-income people in America’s cities, seeking to dismantle structural and systemic barriers to equality and justice. Using a full array of grant, loan, and other investment tools, Kresge invests more than $160 million annually to foster economic and social change.
Overview Brochure: The Kresge Foundation
Ally Sponsor
The Skillman Foundation works to ensure that Detroit youth have access to high-quality educational and economic opportunities and a strong, broad network of champions that work on behalf of young people’s interests. They believe children are our greatest asset, and that the children of Detroit are integral to the city’s sustained recovery and growth. To best ensure Detroit youth are prepared and positioned to be tomorrow’s leaders, the Skillman Foundation is focused on three Impact Areas: Education, Economy, and Equity. To learn more about their work, visit skillman.org.
Conference Supporters
Scholarships
Thank you to all who supported our scholarship fundraising efforts. Due to your generosity, we were able to provide 7 people with full scholarships to attend the EPIP 2018 National Conference.
Planning Committee
A BIG thank you to the dedicated members of our Planning Committee for your thoughtful leadership and partnership!
Brenda Abdelall, Bridge Strategies LLC
Erick Abernathy, The University of Kansas Health System
Manuela Arciniegas, Andrus Family Fund
Farrah Azizi, Give Great Group
Robin Baird, The Philanthropic Initiative
Darius Bartolomei, The Schott Foundation for Public Education
Vic Bell, The Concrete Oasis Project
TeQuion Brookins, McGregor Fund
Naeema Campbell, Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation
Laura Collier, Council of Michigan Foundations
Kimberly Collins, MacArthur Foundation
JC De Vera, The San Francisco Foundation
Sarah Grady, Heising-Simons Foundation
Rachel Hamalainen, Open Society Foundations
Tamar Kaim Doniger, Independent nonprofit consultant
Hannah Kennedy, Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation
Mike Kerkorian, United Way Worldwide
Andrew Maisel, Open Society Foundations
Allistair Mallillin, Common Counsel Foundation
Tory Martin, Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy, Grand Valley State University
Arielle Milton, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
Meredith Morrison, Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation
Tyler Nickerson, Philanthropic Consultant
Thena Robinson Mock, Communities for Just Schools Fund
Beth Rubins, Vegas PBS
Morgan Shannon, Executives’ Alliance for Boys and Men of Color
Tori Small, North Carolina Network of Grantmakers
Jeff Smith, Moses Taylor Foundation
Adrienne Stanfill, Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo
Brianna Suarez, Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation
Teleange' Thomas, Foundation Center
Katie Van Dusen, Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation
Cassandra Zawilski, Philanthropic Consultant