Episode 8: Michelle Walker, Walker Philanthropic Consulting Part 2
Release Date: 10/28/2019
Episode 12: Jake Goodman, Executive Director of The Opportunity Fund Part 2
Empower by Example
In our second episode with Jake Goodman from The Opportunity Fund, Jake and I talk openly about our personal struggle with imposter syndrome. As Jake states, in almost everything that we fund, people are going to do even if they don’t have access to the funds. We realize that the founders of these amazing programs and initiatives will run their programs without paying themselves. We become close with the people and programs we fund.
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Episode 11: Jake Goodman, Executive Director of The Opportunity Fund Part 1
Empower by Example
We have touched on the dark side of philanthropy on this podcast before, but Jake and I take a deep dive here. How did we get here and how do we do these jobs with the knowledge that our daily lives are surrounded by privilege? And what does it look like to work with us? Our organizations have many parallels, but we are at different phases in our process creation.
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Episode 10: Michael Yonas, Director of Research and Special Initiatives for The Pittsburgh Foundation
Empower by Example
In this episode, we discuss Michael’s role at the Pittsburgh Foundation. His grant making portfolio is broad and varied, and his interpersonal relationships with funders bring many engaged and creative outcome-driven solutions. His work with Michelle McMurray (https://pittsburghfoundation.org/michelle-mcmurray) has been instrumental to The Rock Family Foundation and how we partner with other organizations
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Episode 9: Tammy Thompson, Executive Director, Circles of Greater Pittsburgh
Empower by Example
Tammy is a Poverty Expert, Nationally Sought After Speaker, Executive Producer of We Wear The Mask, a documentary released in 2017 highlighting the stigma associated with women in poverty and The Owner of T3 Consulting and T3 Media.
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Episode 8: Michelle Walker, Walker Philanthropic Consulting Part 2
Empower by Example
We discuss what we can all be doing to support gender and racial equity in our day to day lives. Michelle speaks to what needs to change in the philanthropic communities in order to further racial and gender equity. We should consider who holds the power, what systems are we working in, and how can we highlight these inequities in the actual work.
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Episode 7: Heather Arnet, CEO Women and Girls Foundation of Southwestern PA
Empower by Example
Get to know Heather Arnet and her work at WGF!! From theater to branding to business development, Heather used her experience as a feminist/activist theater director to step into the role of CEO of a women’s fund that was founded in Pittsburgh in the late 1990’s. Arnet joined the organization in 2004 and she is a tireless advocate for women and girls rights locally, nationally, and internationally.
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Episode 6: Gisele Fetterman, For Good PGH
Empower by Example
Pennsylvania’s second lady, Gisele Fetterman, joins us to tell you all about her work in communities across the state. Fetterman is an empathetic, compassionate and courageous entrepreneur, as well as mother and wife to Lt. Governor John Fetterman. The Fettermans are a Pittsburgh power couple and they mix initiatives, relationship building, optimism and their incredible work ethics to make drastic positive changes in their hometown of Braddock, in the city of Pittsburgh, and throughout Pennsylvania.
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Episode 5: Michelle Walker, Walker Philanthropic Consulting
Empower by Example
Michelle spent 20 years working in the nonprofit sector before starting her own firm, Walker Philanthropic Consulting. She has been instrumental in the founding and operation of The Rock Family Foundation, and her expertise and insights help to shape and guide our strategies and initiatives. Michelle wants to help you fight the apathy that is rampant in our world. She specializes in helping individuals participate in philanthropy in the ways that work best for your life.
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Episode 4: Julius Boatwright, Steel Smiling
Empower by Example
Julius Boatwright is the CEO of Steel Smiling, an organization that bridges the gap between community members and mental health support through education, advocacy and awareness.
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Episode 3: Kathi Elliott, Gwen’s Girls
Empower by Example
In this episode we discuss the results of the Inequities Affecting Black Girls in Pittsburgh and how the Alliance works together to change longstanding policies in these systems. Kathi discusses examples of issues such as the school to prison pipeline, the adulteration of black gils and having honest conversations with high school students.
info_outlineEmpower by Example - Episode 8
Michelle Walker, Walker Philanthropic Consulting, https://www.walkerphilanthropic.com
Awareness Excitement Engagement
Michelle and I recap the articles, conferences, films and studies have come out regarding implicit bias and gender equity since we last spoke. We also give listeners some background information about how the mission of The Rock Family Foundation was determined, and how we hear the same question over and over:
Why girls???
Specifically, why young women of color, and why these specific transition points, county placements and referrals? From foster care to juvenile justice - how can we empower these girls to transition to a sustainable life?
Let’s dive in!
There has been a big buzz in October 2019 around gender equity. From Melinda Gates to a study by the Women’s Philanthropy Institute, we are finding that women and girls are funded as an afterthought. 1.6% of philanthropic contributions in the US goes to women and girls specific programs. $338 Billion total contributions, $6.3 Billion total for women and girls.
We discuss what we can all be doing to support gender and racial equity in our day to day lives. Michelle speaks to what needs to change in the philanthropic communities in order to further racial and gender equity. We should consider who holds the power, what systems are we working in, and how can we highlight these inequities in the actual work. How do more women and more women of color find themselves at the table, or how they can set their own table? How can we begin the work that you know needs to be done. How can we change the systems? Can we change the rules or replace the rule makers?
We hope that we gave you a lot to think about, from statistics and percentages, to ways you can make change right where you are today. Join us in the Empower by Example Facebook group to continue the discussion and share you ideas and tips with a network of people who are making the moves and changing the systems each day.
Links to learn more:
White Privilege Conference: https://www.whiteprivilegeconference.com
You can check out highlights of the 2019 Black Girls Equity Alliance Equity
Link to Melinda Gates article:https://time.com/5690596/melinda-gates-empowering-women/
Information about the 1.6% statistic: https://www.philanthropy.com/article/Charities-Dedicated-to-Women/247273
Link to black owned businesses in Pittsburgh https://cocoapreneur.com
Ways to support gender equity https://www.evoke.org/articles/october-2019/big-ideas/how-to-support-gender-equality-in-america?utm_source=FB&utm_medium=MG_OG&utm_campaign=EV_OCT&utm_content=10419_POST_&linkId=74762401&fbclid=IwAR2Qfc2mu4pmV76eMD86shLeaqhIaAEZhejv23XkMDy_eMfp5yctVOQt6ds
Systems change expert article: http://donellameadows.org/wp-content/userfiles/Leverage_Points.pdf
Pushot: The Criminalization of Black Girls https://www.moniquewmorris.me/documentary
Empower by Example Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/611787169312502/
Heather Hopson at Motormouth Multimedia: https://motormouthmultimedia.com/our-team/