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Partners in Equity
Our centennial year is drawing to a close, but the celebration will continue beyond this year! In this issue of PARTNERS in community, we highlight equity. Like previous issues, we will look through the lens of our history, impact, growth and learning over the last century, as well as our future focus.
If you have partnered with Grand Rapids Community Foundation for several years, you have read stories about our diversity, inclusion and equity journey. Whatever we may have called our work through the years, the Community Foundation’s focus has always been on assuring that needed supports and services are accessible to everyone.
Our commitment today to racial, social and economic justice is something each of us brings our personal understanding to. As a “seasoned” (meaning my outside appearance) white woman I don’t have lived experience with racism. But even recalling an event on the playground as a little girl—when I saw my own family member express predjucide to strangers—brings forth feelings that have shaped how I have led the Community Foundation over the past few decades. I feel things deeply and have used that strength of empathy to stay sensitive to the experiences of others.
As the Community Foundation continues to focus on eliminating the systemic causes of inequity, we are shifting how we provide support and with whom we partner. We have learned that the people closest to the pain, are also closest to the
solution. So, we listen to community members in many ways to inform our investments. We aim to invest in projects that are community-led in voice, scope of work and the iterative process for change.
Listening to our community’s voices and understanding that solutions and approaches come from the people most affected by the problems is an important lesson, because it allows us to adapt to Kent County’s most pressing needs. I am thrilled by the emerging leaders in our community. Diverse and bright, those who are willing to share their expertise to create a more equitable community are doing a service to us all.
Equity is not a new concept. It has been expressed in many ways over the years, from diversity, representation and equality to equity. It is a continual journey and something we need to explore carefully as we launch into our next century of service and impact. As we do this, we answer the question, “What is the why?” The why is not steeped in divisive rhetoric or divisions that seem to continue to grow in our country. Instead it is rooted in our position as the community’s foundation: created to be open, a resource and a partner to everyone!
This is a joyful journey, one that speaks to our past and speaks to our future.
