Power to the People! Collaborative Strategies for Increasing Political and Economic Democracy in San Francisco's Communities of Color

Power to the people? It's been almost a half-century since the height of the U.S. civil rights movement. Even as some assert that we are in a post–racial era, countless indicators reflect persistent, racially differentiated inequities in political power and economic conditions among poor and immigrant communities. In San Francisco, as the gap between wealthy and poor people continues to grow, our neighborhoods are in need of greater voice in civic life. What will it take to change the power dynamics moving forward? S.F. Rising — nine nonprofit organizations rooted in the rich culture and history of San Francisco's diverse communities of color — is jointly stepping up to this challenge.

Please join The San Francisco Foundation, the Akonadi Foundation, and the Mitchell Kapor Foundation in a lively discussion with S.F. Rising about how this alliance is mobilizing the disenfranchised to change the power balance in San Francisco through voter work. S.F. Rising's coordinated neighborhood–based voter education is already delivering: In last November's election, S.F. Rising mobilized thousands of unlikely voters through an unprecedented level of collaboration and coordination. If politics or financial resources in San Francisco play a crucial role in "moving the needle" on advancing solutions that close disparities in the communities that you fund, or if you want to learn more about creating change through collaboration, you'll want to join us and weigh–in to this important conversation. 

Featured Presenters:

• Yolanda Alindor, The San Francisco Foundation
• Cedric Brown, Mitchell Kapor Foundation
• Antonio Díaz, People Organized in Defense of Earth
• N'Tanya Lee, Coleman Advocates for Children and Youth
• Maria Poblet, Causa Justa/Just Cause

Visit Northern California Grantmakers' website to register and for more information about the speakers.