Who's at the Table?: Inclusive, Equitable Philanthropy

For your convenience, you can download the webinar slides here.

The past year has proven beyond a doubt that there needs to be change. Yet so many are scared of doing the wrong thing, saying the wrong thing, or causing more damage. We will stumble. We will fall. We will get embarassed. What matters is that we show up and have the conversation. No matter where you or your organization is on the journey to equity and inclusion, our panel will provide valuable insights as they share their journeys, their missteps, their fears, and their celebrations in a very special session featuring an expert facilitator from Montana Racial Equity Project.

Hear from several organizations committed to leading change across very different communities and learn steps you can take to move forward in your own organizations and communities.

Learn how these organizations are:

Adjusting their processes to address equity, inclusion, and justice (EIJ)
Launching initiatives to support EIJ in their organizations and communities
Addressing challenges and learning from them
Defining success along their EIJ journey

SPEAKERS

Meshayla Cox | Montana Racial Equity Project
Meshayla is a Certified Diversity and Inclusion Professional through Cornell University and serves her community as the Racial Equity and Inclusion Senior Consultant with the Montana Racial Equity Project and Board Treasurer for Earthtone Outside MT. She has always found opportunities to work on Racial Equity and Inclusion initiatives regardless of her environment. While attending the University of Montana, she founded the Black Solidarity Summit and For Us By Us (FUBU), both black-centered events, intended to build relationships and connect people across lines of difference. She values the power of relationship building and education and using it to beneficially expand the minds of others.

She has set out to build equitable and inclusive initiatives that progress anti-racist and anti-oppression organizational cultures throughout Montana. She is passionate about mobilizing the power of institutions to transform our communities and develop equitable and inclusive organizational cultures where people feel included and valued for who they are and what they do. In her spare time, Meshayla enjoys watching reality tv, spending time with her pug puppy, and trying out new restaurants!

Diego Zegarra | Park City Community Foundation
Diego migrated from Peru in 2005 to attend the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah. His journey in the philanthropy sector began in 2009 when he managed education programs and directly worked with immigrant families and their children. With a focus on collaboration and community organizing, he works towards improving equitable outcomes for communities of color as well as other marginalized groups. Diego believes that through empowering folks and creating more inclusive environments, philanthropy can do more than just address the symptoms, but rather, examine the root causes and systems in place creating these disparate outcomes.

Kim Konikow | North Dakota Council of the Arts
As Executive Director of the North Dakota Council on the Arts, Kim utilizes her combined employment, teaching and consulting work. She brings to the Agency her unique skills and abilities as a passionate facilitator of opportunity. In this position, Konikow works to promote creative growth and strengthen communities across ND through the arts.

Ms. Konikow has a varied background in the arts. Prior experience includes Conference Coordinator for Dance/USA, Washington DC; Executive Director for The Mesa in southern Utah; Executive Director for Minnesota Dance Alliance; Associate Director for Art Awareness, in upstate New York; and Director of Special Events at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

As a teacher, she served as Adjunct Faculty at several colleges and universities across the country. As a consultant through artservices & company, Konikow has been engaged in projects which focus on organizational development.

Ms. Konikow was an Administrative Fellow at the National Endowment for the Arts, and a recipient of a Travel and Study Grant from the Jerome Foundation. She has served extensively as a site visitor and panelist for several regional, state and national organizations.

Ann Kvach | Community Foundation of Greater Hunstville
Ann often jokes that she wears many hats but they all have a common theme: a commitment to making our great community even better for all who live here. These hats include Program Officer at the Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville, Chair of the Burritt on the Mountain Board of Directors, secretary for Huntsville High PTSA, but most importantly wife and mom. She strives to be a servant leader committed to our community and an example to her boys of “to whom much is given much is expected.”