Sankofa Summer

Join EPIP for 6 weeks of knowledge, wellness, and community.

Sankofa is a West African concept that invites us to reach back to gather the best of what our past has taught us in order to reach our fullest potential as we move forward. Now, during a moment in history in which we are reflecting on, reimagining, and reshaping the world around us, EPIP is proud to introduce Sankofa Summer, a virtual learning series taking place in July and August 2020. 

Join us for events designed to rejuvenate your mind, body, spirit, and connection to the philanthropic community, with a focus on three key themes:

  • Decolonizing Stories by elevating the forgotten histories of giving and philanthropy in communities of color;
  • Disrupting the Status Quo by highlighting those who are pushing forward transformative work in the sector which is rooted in the knowledge and wisdom of communities of color; and
  • Embracing Collective Approaches to Healing by viewing healing as an integral part of self-care to ensure one’s longevity and sustainability to continue in this work.

Webinars in the series feature speakers from The Kresge Foundation, PEAK Grantmaking, Candid, Leeway Foundation, Common Future, and more, and include sessions on Re-defining Free & Safe for Communities of Color, Navigating Entrenched Philanthropic Systems from Within, Shifting Power in Philanthropic Practice, Women of Color Leaders in Philanthropy, and Healing Justice 101.

Click Here to See the Full Schedule and Register!

Previews & Recaps

Quick Links:

Week 1 Preview: The Kick-Off

Wondering what's on deck for Sankofa Summer's opening week? Click here for a summary and some frequently asked questions, or check out the full schedule and register!

But before you go...read this: Former EPIP Board Chair Jasmine Hall Ratliff, who will be one of the women of color speaking about leadership in the philanthropic sector during our opening plenary, shares her thoughts on being Black in the philanthropic workplace.

Want to hear more? Register for Sankofa Summer today!

Week 2 Preview: Philanthropic Practice

Week 1 of Sankofa Summer was filled with healing and inspiration - Week 2 follows this up with tools and techniques to deepen your practice of philanthropy and wellness, with sessions on Land Acknowledgements, Creating Cultures of Healing, and Grantmaking for a Just Transition.

Before you go: 

Want to learn more? Join us for Sankofa Summer!

Week 3 Preview: Abolition

Week 2 of Sankofa Summer brought us practical tools and tips for the practice of philanthropy - Week 3 builds on that learning with a focus on equity, featuring a session on the meaning of abolition from organizers and organizations that are re-imagining safety without law enforcement and helping people live free from the carceral state. Week 3 will also bring together POC Sankofa Summer attendees for a special People of Color Network Happy Hour. 

Before you go:

Haven't registered yet? It's not too late - join us for Sankofa Summer!

Week 4 Preview: Equity

Week 3 of Sankofa Summer focused on Abolition, with a session that brought a wealth of resources from the presenters and the participants. If you're registered for the learning series, you can watch the recording here: Abolition: Re-defining Free & Safe for Communities of Color By Those Most Impacted.

This week, the focus is on Equity, with sessions on having racial justice conversations and reimagining research and evaluation in service of racial equity.

Before you go: 

There's still time to register - join us for Sankofa Summer!

Week 5 Preview: Change

Week 4 of Sankofa Summer helped us move equity forward by having honest conversations about race and justice and seeing research and evaluation as tools in the fight for racial equity.

This week, we're focusing on creating change - in how we understand the sector and in how we can shift it. We can't change what we can't see, so our Demographic Data Learning Lab will share tools for helping the sector gather better demographic information from grantees, beneficiaries, and institutions, and Navigating Entrenched Philanthropic Systems from Within features philanthrofolk who have created change within their institutions sharing how they - and you - could create important shifts from inside philanthropy.

Before you go:

And as always, there's still time to register - join us!

Week 6 Preview: Power

Week 5 of Sankofa Summer focused on ways to create change in individual career journeys, philanthropic institutions, and the sector as a whole, with a session on the importance of demographic data in measuring and shifting the impact of foundation dollars and another featuring emerging leaders who have created change within their institutions sharing their wisdom and advice.

This week, we're focused on shifting philanthropic power. Transforming philanthropy and building grassroots power through 501(C)(4) resources will demystify the 501(c)(4) organizational structure while exploring how it can help activists and social movements achieve their goals in new transformative ways, and Shifting Power in Philanthropic Practice: Leeway Foundation + You will use the Leeway Foundation's transition from a traditional and predominately white organization to one led by people of color that challenges grantmaking norms as a case study and conversation springboard.

Before you go:

Next week is our final week, but there is still plenty of time to view recordings, participate in the remaining sessions, and enjoy our closing happy hour. Click here to register!

Closing Week Preview: Perspective

It's the final week of Sankofa Summer and we're ending strong! Since July, we've been talking about ways to better understand and reshape the philanthropic sector and our roles within it, whether by having richer equity conversations and creating healing spaces, building and supporting movements that work towards social justice, or transforming the way power is held within the sector. Thank you for being a part of those conversations alongside us.

This week, we're focused on uplifting perspectives that are often forgotten in philanthropic conversation. Reframing Philanthropy: Time-Talent-Treasure will focus on Black giving, uplifting Black-led social change models and telling the story of giving within the African-American experience. Collective Challenges, Communal Solutions: Perspectives from the US-Mexico Border will share the challenges faced by communities living at the border and the efforts of organizations and movements to strengthen their resilience and support their long-term well-being.

Finally, we'll wrap up Sankofa Summer by coming together as a community to connect and celebrate during our Closing Happy Hour. And don't forget, if you've missed Sankofa Summer programming, you can always check out the recordings if you're registered.

Before you go:

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