Resources from Possibility Project Episodes

Browse resources and takeaways from each Possibility Project episode below. Subscribe to our Youtube channel to watch the full episodes.

1. Power + Philanthropy

Here were some of our favorite takeaways:

  • The practice of "Philanthropic redlining" (justifying why not to invest in smaller organizations) marginalizes organizations led by people of color and grassroots organizations

  • Every few years the social impact sector raises $1.2T and what significant systems and social change do we have to show for it?

  • If the government wants the nonprofit sector to be the safety net, why don't they allow our voice to be heard and influence their practices?

More to read - Here are 3 articles related to our discussion: 

2. Equity + Philanthropy

Here were some of our favorite takeaways:

  • Philanthropy is about substance, not surplus - we can reframe and dismantle this narrative to support substance where anyone who feels they have the heart + mind to give, can give. No one has a lock down on philanthropy.

  • How can we, as leaders in philanthropy, be a powerful tool to address systemic issues and support philanthropy in becoming an agent for truly transformational change?

  • What philanthropy as an institution should be is a fully accountable operation in partnership with communities that we seek to support.

  • Other white male CEOs are silent. Foundations seeking perpetuity are not at the table right now with us having this conversation. 

More to read:

3. Investments + Philanthropy

Here were some of our favorite takeaways:

  • We need new voices in power; accounting for accumulated knowledge on the ground and in an organization; get clear on the main goal around ROI (Return on Impact). 

  • Encourage interrogation of "innovation" (we need long-term investments in movement work -- not always the new, shiny objects that philanthropy tends to chase).

  • 4 pillars: story sharing, social capital, infrastructure, + accelerate flow (check out Angela Barbash/Revalue’s framework at the Innovate Michigan Summit on Sept 3rd.)

  • See additional resources below for more inspiration!

Reading:

Resources:

4. Design + Equity

Resources shared from 08/06/2020

  • Dr. Lesley Ann Noel's article in Medium, My manifesto towards changing the conversation around race, equity and bias in design.

  • The Wakanda Dream Lab- a collective fan-driven project that bridges the worlds of Black fandom and #Blacktivism for Black Liberation. We function according to a value emergence and celebrate the organic self-organizing nature of fandom. We intend to build on the aesthetics and pop-culture appeal of Wakanda to develop a vision, principles, values, and framework for prefigurative organizing for a new base of activists, artists, and fans for Black Liberation. 

  • Designer's Critical Alphabet- This deck of cards created by Dr. Lesley Ann  Noel was designed to introduce designers and design students to critical theory and to help them reflect on their design process. Each card introduces theory under that letter. Then the cards introduce a question or comment to help make a connection to the theory and design practice. The deck is by no means a complete critical alphabet, but rather an introduction to concepts that a designer can reflect on while working. The deck should also be considered an invitation to create your own list of important critical theory concepts.

  • Ashoka Youth Venture- Ashoka invests in transformative ideas and the people behind them, including 3,800+ social entrepreneurs (Ashoka Fellows) in over 90 countries and 270+ Fellows here in the U.S., as well as a growing community of young changemakers. Together with our network, we are working toward a world where everyone can creatively and imaginatively solve problems for the good of all, as changemakers. 

  • Learn Serve International- LearnServe International equips high school students from diverse backgrounds with the entrepreneurial vision, tenacity, confidence, and leadership skills needed to tackle social challenges at home and abroad. 

  • The American Institute of Architects- The American Institute of Architects, as part of the global community, champions a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion within the profession of architecture to create a better environment for all. Achieving this vision has a direct impact on the relevance of our profession and the world's prosperity, health, and future.

  • Youth, Tech, Health- “We drive change by creating, evaluating, and refining technology solutions and providing partners with proven models ready for scale and replication. We also build the capacity of the community to advance youth health by providing research, training, idea generation, and expert advice.”

  • Interact Project in Bay Area- Interact Project (IP) serves primarily middle and high school youth who identify as Black, Latinx and/or of low-income backgrounds. A professionally-supported organization, IP offers a pathway of free design classes and initiatives, in order to introduce youth to the field of design and help channel their creativity into viable career paths.

  • ScholarChip - ScholarChip provides a platform that promotes an engaging, safe and supportive school climate to help foster student success

  • CISV International- We help our young participants develop to their full potential as future leaders and active citizens, to make a difference in their communities and the world. We also give them the opportunity to build global friendships and networks that will last them a lifetime.

  • Universal Declaration of Human Rights

  • Designathon Works - Our mission is to unleash the creativity of 1 million children, teaching them to become changemakers for a better future.

  • Field Guide: Equity-Centered Community Design- Equity-Centered Community Design, created by Creative Reaction Lab, is a unique creative problem-solving process based on equity, humility-building, integrating history and healing practices, addressing power dynamics, and co-creating with the community. This design process focuses on a community’s culture and needs so that they can gain tools to dismantle systemic oppression and create a future with equity for all. Creative Reaction Lab’s goal is to share equity-centered design to achieve sustained community health, economic opportunities, and social and cultural solidarity for all.

  • Creative Reaction Lab- Creative Reaction Lab’s mission is to educate, train, and challenge Black and Latinx youth to become leaders designing healthy and racially equitable communities. We’re challenging the belief that only adults with titles (e.g. mayors, CEOs, etc.) have the power and right to challenge racial and health inequities. However, we are conscious that it’s not just the work of the people that have been historically underinvested to dismantle oppressive systems. Therefore, we are rallying an intergenerational movement of Redesigners for Justice.

  • Liberatory Design Toolkit- The process is adapted from the Stanford d.school's design thinking process and the National Equity Project’s equity leadership development approach. The purpose is to create opportunities for the human-centered designer to NOTICE + REFLECT on the identities, experiences and biases they bring to a design opportunity. Further, through the practice of liberatory design, equity-centered designers begin to notice the larger historical context of oppression and opportunity inherent in the design process. 

  • Design Thinking Zeal- for more information about this awesome group of designers that come together to share, please contact Lee Kim at leekim.nyc@gmail.com

5. Consultants: Enabling or Dismantling the Status Quo?

Below is a list of resources that were referenced in the chat and by our speakers. 

  • Color of Change- We help people respond effectively to injustice in the world around us. As a national online force driven by 1.7 million members, we move decision-makers in corporations and government to create a more human and less hostile world for Black people in America.

  • SPECTRUM Panel Discussion-Rashad Robinson, Crystal Echo Hawk, & Cynthia Muller spoke at SPECTRUM on how America is Suffering.

  • Boston Ujima Project- We believe that change won’t happen if we continue to work in silos. The challenges facing our communities — gentrification, poverty, homelessness, lack of food access, unemployment, and lack of healthcare — are all interconnected. We need a solution that is equally complex.  Explore our ecosystem of innovative strategies for transformation.

  • Grid Impact- Our hybrid methodology meets organizations and people where they are. We combine the rigor of behavioral science with the creative, collaborative, iterative process of human centered design for more participatory approaches and impactful results. Our approach results in products, programs and services that respond to how humans actually behave as well as meet their needs, preferences and desires.

  • Converge is a network of strategists, designers, storytellers, and systems thinkers. We partner with foundations, nonprofits, mission-centered businesses, and government agencies to build collaborative networks that increase connection, learning, and action.

  • The Gut Check- This is the rubric that George Aye was speaking about in which his team determines whether or not to work with a client. 

  • ProPublica article about McKinsey and ICE mentioned by George Aye.

  • Beeck Center at Georgetown University- Our work centers on investing in outcomes for individuals and society. We believe impact at scale requires the courage to think, behave, and collaborate differently.

6. Reframing Leadership

“How can we let go of productivity? Being me as a human is important enough.”

 - Monisha Kapila, Founder and CEO of ProInspire

“We are beginning to be concerned as equally about the means as the ends of leadership.” 

- Dell Gines, Senior Community Development Advisor, Federal Resource Bank of Kansas City

  

Resources:

Highlights:

What is Dysfunctional in leadership in the social sector? 

  • Reframing leadership today means letting go of old notions of charity and focusing on justice

  • Leaders not holding an empathetic mindset + lack of critical self-reflection

  • Dissension - we need to encourage questioning of ourselves as leaders and welcome questions from others (without threat)

  • Leadership being about optics than about true emotional connection with your people

What gives you hope related to leadership? 

  • Crises are an opportunity for radical action (spotlighting structural racism)

  • Shifting white dominant norms to race equity (from one decision-maker to collective decision-making)

  • The productivity narrative moving to flexibility (objectivity moving towards vulnerability)

  • Validate the humanity of the people we are leading and not just the concrete goal we are working towards

13. Designing Equitable Futures

15. Empathy in Equity-Centered Work

Books: 

Design

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Articles:

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