-Maya Angelou
That sentiment guides us as we apply a racial equity lens to all that we do. That lens is intersectional, inclusive of racial, economic, social, political, and gender disparities.
Though principles of justice and equity have guided our work from our beginning twenty years ago, the current cultural moment, catalyzed by the unjust killings of Michael Ramos, Sandra Bland, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and so many others, has revealed gaps in our own understanding of race in America; and is unraveling unintentional naivety and insensitivity born of willful ignorance.
Tragedy leads us to know better. We are committed to use all our assets and influence to do better.
As more and more of our country reflects on the impact of long standing and systemic racial inequities in our society, we are revisiting our core values, contemplating our place in the broader conversation, and discerning our responsibility to our colleagues and community.
The Center for Nonprofit Studies is fully committed to being an anti-racist organization, focused on achieving racial equity in the nonprofit sector as well as in general society.
We are accelerating our personal learning journeys, confronting our own biases and blind spots, and creating opportunities for others to do the same.
We are expanding the engagement of people of color throughout the Center’s programming, among both faculty and participants, and in ways yet to be defined.
We are moved by a new sense of urgency to heighten our community’s consciousness of institutional racism and systemic impediments to racial equity and aggressively progress on the continuum to racial equity to fulfill America’s promise for all of its citizens.
As always, we appreciate thoughts and recommendations from those we serve.