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Racial Equity
“The SouthCoast Community Foundation has an opportunity to make a forceful case for racial equity by explaining the challenges, highlighting the areas of opportunity, and taking bold action to embed racial equity into our organization, our work, into our community’s fabric, and more importantly, into our personal growth. Only by actively renewing the social contract, starting with a race-conscious approach at the Foundation, can we begin to address the impact of rising inequality and damaging social disparities and help our communities heal.”
MARIA A. ROSARIO, BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND RACIAL EQUITY WORKING GROUP MEMBER
Last year we made two significant steps in our journey to become an anti-racist organization and embrace the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. First, we launched the Leadership Equity Fund to award grants to nonprofit organizations working to end racism and run by leaders who identify as Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) and to support the professional development and advancement of nonprofit employees who identify as BIPOC. Second, we worked both internally and with an outside consultant, Strategy Matters, to begin to understsand how racial inequities and inequality impact all of our lives and to start to make change in the way we do business so that we put racial equity specifically, and diversity, equity and inclusion, more broadly at the center of all that we do. This is work that continued throughout all of 2021 and we still have much to do. We are committed to this effort and look forward to updating you on our progress in the future.
LEADERSHIP EQUITY FUND
The Leadership Equity Fund awarded $110,340 in total last year. The first grant round was awarded to the New Bedford Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and YWCA Southeastern Massachusetts. The YWCA has a three-year plan to strengthen and extend equitable practices amongst Boards across the South Coast so that they will become more diverse, inclusive, and equitable. The NAACP also has a three-year plan to train NAACP members and others by developing workshops, hiring a communications specialist, and building infrastructure to support ongoing outreach.
The second grant round went to BAMSI for their BIPOC Leadership Path program, Buy Black NB for operations and administrative support, Coaching4Change in support of their CEO and plans for expansion; and the New Bedford Whaling Museum for their Equity in Leadership program.
Discussing the importance of the fund and reflecting on her own experiences, our Vice-Chair Gail Fortes wrote a personal essay, The Journey to Equity is Hard. Start by Looking Within, which was published in the local media outlet, New Bedford Light.
DR. LASELLA HALL, PRESIDENT NEW BEDFORD BRANCH, NAACP
GRANTEE STORY: Marquis Taylor, Founder & CEO of Coaching4Change
GROWING AS A LEADER
“There is a whole ecosystem of support within the school system that plays a part in how kids grow up, whether they go to college and explore career paths. This training has helped me talk and enlighten upper school management about race, social issues, and personal beliefs without resulting in hurt feelings. Having the ability to navigate tough conversations around diversity, equity, and inclusion is key. Everyone is ready to engage and wants to see things change, but there is a lot of listening, learning, and shedding of perceptions that need to take place. I’m glad I’m in a better position to help.”
When Marquis Taylor grew up in South Central LA, he struggled in school. However, he was a strong athlete, which provided him with access to resources and support. His coaches and mentors helped him build his confidence and stay out of trouble enabling him to enjoy a very successful academic life. Marquis recognized that he was very fortunate and that many other kids from his neighborhood were a drift through the system.
Inspired to do something about this imbalance, in 2010, while in graduate school, Taylor started Coaching4Change. Based out of Taunton, his organization connects K-12 and college students with mentors, often college students themselves. Marquis believes “college students want to make a difference. Those with shared experiences are particularly effective in encouraging and connecting with students. Helping them to navigate conflict resolution, celebrating small wins, and coaching them to bring their best selves to the school community.” But Marquis’ work doesn’t stop there. It’s more than just working with the kids but collaborating with school administration. Coaching4Change provides schools with additional support staff to help improve student’s attendance, behavior, and engagement. Staffing shortages contribute to whether young people get the support they need to thrive, which was particularly critical during the pandemic.
Marquis’ Leadership Equity grant from the Community Foundation enabled him to tap resources and training that strengthened his leadership and diplomacy skills helping him effectively partner with the schools and navigate tough conversations.
