Be positive, look forward and take rhetoric to action. For several years I have asked many to embrace this mantra. Given the uncertainty and challenges related to COVID-19, it seems more important than ever. Inequity has too long existed and has been exacerbated and highlighted by the pandemic and accompanying economic downturn. Members of our community are held back relative to education outcomes, health results, and significant gaps in income and wealth creation. We want a better future for Rhodes Island as a whole, and this is the moment to make changes that will truly make a difference.
That’s why the Rhode Island Foundation has committed $8.5 million over three years to both lead and strengthen efforts throughout – and with – the community that are focused on diversity, equity, access and inclusion – with a first focus on racial equity. This commitment is on top of the foundation’s traditional yearly grant-making across many nonprofit sectors.
As the largest funder to the nonprofit community, and the state’s 104-year-old community foundation, one of our core values is to address the underlying causes of inequity and eliminate disparities. While the foundation’s grant-making, civic leadership and fundraising efforts have been informed by that value for years, now is the time to focus on it more publicly and with clear commitment and conviction.
This is the moment to make changes that will truly make a difference.
The first aspect of this multiyear, multimillion-dollar commitment will be the launch of the Rhode Island Foundation’s Equity Leadership Initiative. One effort of the initiative will be to identify, cultivate, mentor, and seek access and opportunity for individuals who identify as Black, Hispanic or Latino, Indigenous, and Asian, from across sectors to help build a pipeline of future leaders in established positions of influence throughout the state.
At the same time, we will continue to work with our staff and board to take our internal focus on equity to a higher level.
We also plan to listen to, and learn from, members of Rhode Island’s diverse communities about potential ways to best allocate the new resources we’ve committed.
This is our way of taking rhetoric to action.
We cannot just talk about our values, our intent, our plans, our wishes and our vision for a state that embraces cultural, racial and ethnic diversity. Instead, with this action and financial commitment we will work with the community to truly address the underlying issues that have evolved over centuries into systemic barriers to equitable access, opportunities and wealth-building.
At the same time, we will continue to focus on implementation of the long-term plans for education and health released earlier this year by the dedicated, experienced planning committees that we’ve convened and led over the last two years. A focus on equity, high achievement and reducing disparities by addressing social determinants is at the heart of each plan. And we will continue to provide funding and support for small business and job-training efforts, a vibrant arts and culture sector, and basic support to the state’s most vulnerable populations.
So, what do we ask of you? Join us.
In all honesty, for decades I have seen and heard many companies and many organizations move to hire a director of diversity, announce internal training, form affinity groups, adopt the local school, commit to diversifying staffs and boards, state values and goals – all of which is well-intentioned. Few have made real investment in our community. We are still polarized when we need to come together, radicalized when we need to promote respect of and for all. Lamenting protests and violence, when together we need to get at the underlying causes of each. Facing widening income and equality gaps, when we should be investing to close the gaps and lift up the entire community.
To those who have recognized, either over time or more recently, the importance of all of this, I’m hopeful that you, too, will step up with real meaningful commitments and investments in the community. Send me an email or try a phone call and we are glad to help as we move forward with this significant commitment to a better future for ALL in Rhode Island: being positive, looking forward and taking rhetoric to action.
Neil D. Steinberg is CEO and president of the Rhode Island Foundation.
