Showing posts with label RESULTS Board. Show all posts
Showing posts with label RESULTS Board. Show all posts

Thursday, September 18, 2008

DTF Call August 27, 2008

Attendees: Meredith (DC), Meredy (DC), Betsy (Miami), Sarah (DC), Barbara (Rockland County NY), Sammi (Seattle), Diane (Cedar Rapids), Monica (NC), Jesus (Virginia), Ruth (Philadelphia),

I. INTRODUCCIONS:
Meredith posed the question: “How do you think about Diversity issues in your daily interactions or connections either as part of RESULTS or something else. Seeing diversity in your own community?

Some of the group’s thoughts:
o Meredith: Attending a birth center that serves low income African American women and teen moms. Thinking about how much I am learning from other backgrounds and diversity
o Betsy: Watching the Democratic Convention for several years now and noticing increased diversity in the crow – African American, Latinos, Gay and Lesbians, etc there all voicing their opinions. There is a new movements!
o Barbara: Thinking about American Indians, going to Pow Wows, reliving history. There are many groups in the NY area. It will be nice to give them the chance to change our organization and reduce poverty. There should be a focus on them and domestic issues. How visits to Congress work? Indian community has their own member of Congress?

Meredith: Based on the reparation program there are now divided in separate regions. It is based in their districts where that national representative is part of that district. In South Dakota, there are 2 senators and 1 representative (/) that represent them.

o Diane: I am part of the pilot project and I talked to a Rabbi at the local temple. I explained RESULTS and our efforts to make the group look like Cedar Rapids with different colors and faiths represented. Like a microcosm.
o Meredy: There is a history of those communities giving up their land to US Government with the promise of health services, etc. Diversity for me as a staff person has to do with where we post our job description. For example, for our Communications position, we posted or we plan on posting for the first time in several list-serves reaching minority communities like Asian, Hispanic, Native American.
o Betsy: What are American Indians legal rights? How can we help them?
o Barbara: Yes, we need to learn about it first to help them
o Sammy: I have a mutual friend called ‘Narima Amen” who works for Micro-credit and we had an event with the Muslim school and University of Washington – Muslim Association. They are working on the faith curricula that RESULTS has and it has been a good opportunity to work with the Muslim community.
Meredith: Don’t forget the Faith in Action Conference Call. Take a look at the Website for the calendar – domestic updates.

o Sarah: From the DC office there are educational issues around diversity. Immediately, I partner will go and see Greg Mortenson speak, from the book three cups of tea, tomorrow. He builds schools in Northern Pakistan,. He had an amazing ability to connect to this culture.

Meredith?: For foreign assistance reform, there is a lack of understanding of cross-culture. Diversity is inter-connectedness. The goal is to bring that to our decision-makers.

o Monica: Be mindful of stereotypes and preconceptions when reaching out to other communities since those affect how we share information, how we reach out, how are we perceived, etc.

II. UPDATE ON THE PILOT CITY PROJECT:

Ø Monica: We developed an action plan just a couple of weeks ago with the NC group. We are working on phases where phase I is dedicated to the group’s preparation and dialogue around diversity, needs, etc. Target groups that represent our area will be identified. Phase II will focus on reaching out to target groups and develop trust and communication. Phase III will focus on joint action. See documents attached to Meredith’s e-mail announcing the August Call.
Betsy: Any challenges in reaching out to groups?
Ø Diane: I have had 4 contact meetings with target groups.
o First: Native Americans. I had lunch with a friend from the community and she decided to join RESULTS. She will be adapting Indian Stories to RESULTS materials. She will become more familiar with RESULTS before going out to reservations or the community to present. We are developing trust.
o Second: Meeting with a pastor with 40 flooded out low income families. There was a relationship of trust there already. He likes the idea of RESULTS but he wasn’t ready to buy in the concept yet. I’ll follow up next week and I’ll develop some questions for him.
o Third: A meeting with a new priest from the Catholic Parrish. They have mass in Spanish mass for the Hispanic community. Our state has had 2 ICE raids where there was 400 people arrested last time so they are nervous. It is a slow process. Priest liked the idea of RESULTS but he is new.
o Fourth: Meeting with a Rabbi at the temple. He loved the idea. He wants his community to reach out and not be so parochial. There will be an information meeting at a special event for that community. Faith in Action already has materials for the Jew community so he’ll use those.
Barbara: If pastor not familiar with Hispanic Community, I suggest you go over TB with him. It is prevalent in our area with the Hispanic community. A doctor has served high numbers of Ecuatorians and when he traveled, discover that people contracted TB in their transit to US probably due to staying in close quarters at houses in transition,etc.


Betsy(?): Don’t forget we developed fact sheets, including TB, that we will use in Pilot communities but they can be adapted with local communities. It is available.

Monica: Are the goals of the Pilot Project, listed on the agenda, ok with the group? YES.

Target populations for Pilot Cities will be identified based on region.

Cedar Rapids: Muslims, Hindu, African American, Native American, Jewish

North Carolina: African American, Hispanics, African community. Our group has members from 3 cities closed to each other and issues on each overlap but there are also differences.

Pilot groups will keep the task force updated during the calls!

III. Report from Betsy regarding Board’s response to Diversiity Task Force efforts:
Betsy has been talking to Douglas (?) to pressure the board to see if there is interest. I am so glad there are 12 people on the call tonight!!!

Douglas is very interested as well as the board he said. There have been many changes at RESULTS and that has been the center of attention but the task force and diversity has not been forgotten.

Meredith: Remember that there are two open board positions. Voting is due on September 2nd. We will include Diversity Task Force as part of the orientation for new board members!

IV. NEEDS ASSESSMENT SURVEY

Monica: Explained the questions included in the document sent by Meredith.

Jesus contacted the marketing committee and the idea is to merge these questions with their massive survey to increase response. They are focusing all folks in our network. Their plan is to launch it in 4 to 6 weeks!

Feedback to Monica’s Questions:
Include open ended question to get suggestions for the task force
What is their perceived level of diversity in RESULTS board and staff?
Include gender, people with disabilities, sexual orientation questions to have as a databank. For general use.

V. TRANSLATIONS:
Meredith: Link to home page in Spanish. Thanks to folks helping with that. I like Monica’s idea to get suggestions from grassroot staff for documents to translate.

There are requests from Faith Action group to please translate their flyers, etc in the fall or winter if possible.

Jesus will attend the Faith in Action upcoming call to provide an update on translations from the DTF (Diversity Task Force ;)

NEXT CALL: SEPTEMBER 17TH, WEDNESDAY, AT 7:45 PM ET

Memorandum to the RESULTS Board

TO: RESULTS/RESULTS EDUCATIONAL FUND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

FROM: RESULTS DIVERSITY TASK FORCE

DATE: July 10, 2008

SUBJECT : Diversity Task Force Activities Update

As part of its efforts to expand its membership to better reflect the populations it is serving, RESULTS instituted a diversity initiative last year to increase the representation of people of color and low-income population within the RESULTS Board, staff, and volunteer base. In order to fulfill its principal mission to end hunger and the worst aspects of poverty both within the U.S. and internationally, a RESULTS Diversity Task Force was created to conduct diversity outreach through the use of cross-cultural programming, and review of current best practices, organizational skills, human resources, and technology. The Diversity Task Force is committed to building a diverse and inclusive RESULTS/RESULTS Educational Fund movement and better integrating anti-oppression practices throughout the organization.
The Diversity Task Force intends to work towards achieving these goals by engaging in of the following short- and long-term activities:

§ Enhance the visibility of our diversity outreach efforts at the upcoming RESULTS International Conference (July 12-16, 2008). In addition to exhibiting materials and manning a table during the event, the Diversity Task Force has organized a Diversity Outreach Skills Workshop/Panel Discussion that will include racially-, ethnically-, and generationally-diverse panel members. Members of the Task Force will present during Leadership Day to introduce the mission and concepts of this diversity focus at RESULTS, and will work during other times of the conference to bring these issues to the forefront.
§ Engage in a Pilot Cities Project. Two cities (Cedar Rapids, IA, and Chapel Hill, NC) have been chosen as pilot areas to test diversity outreach strategies, using culturally appropriate materials for presentation and training. The Diversity Task Force will then review what worked in these representative cities as work in this phase is completed during the coming months and will adopt and promote these lessons as Best Practices.
§ Continue to form partnerships with other targeted organizations. In order to better tailor RESULTS' message and mission to targeted populations, the Diversity Task Force will continue to seek partnerships with organizations such as the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, National Council of La Raza, black fraternities/sororities, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, and others in order to leverage their expertise and knowledge in reaching these populations. This information will prove crucial to future efforts to re-shape RESULTS' marketing approach to place greater emphasis on the diversity component of the various issues it promotes.
§ Conduct diversity/anti-oppression trainings. The Diversity Task Force will continue its grassroots approach by identifying people from specific geographic regions among existing RESULTS groups to be a part of a our task force. In addition, we suggest to the board that we create a leadership team for a two-day training session. The leadership team will then spearhead similar training sessions in their own regions and local groups. The estimated budget for this project is: $25,000 ($15,000 for travel/room/board for 15 participants + $5000 for trainer fees + $5000 for local travel). Note: does NOT include any staff time (though can use college interns for credit), limited funds for travel to local groups.
§ Undertake an organization-wide diversity assessment. The Diversity Task Force will continue to analyze its own organization through the use of a grassroots baseline assessment that will be done through the Marketing Committee’s survey. The baseline assessment will include RESULTS/REF Board and staff members. From this assessment, the next steps will be identified and specific recommendations will be made, including quantifiable goals and milestones, where applicable.
§ Elevate diversity issues to a higher policy level within the organization. In addition to its grassroots efforts, RESULTS must support diversity issues institutionally at all levels through its Board policies. The RESULTS Diversity Task Force will research what policies the Board has already adopted to ensure a diversity emphasis is reflected across the organization. If necessary, a small amount of funds should be budgeted for legal review of any board by-law changes.
The RESULTS Diversity Task Force believes that these various actions will help strengthen RESULTS’ mission and goals by diversifying our message and membership as we continue to address issues of hunger and poverty domestically and around the world.

ACTIONS REQUESTED: We ask the board to formally endorse the mission statement of the Diversity Task Force and do so publicly (i.e. mention it when speaking on behalf of the RESULTS/REF Board), include language regarding RESULTS’ support of diversity in the board’s by-laws and other official documents and prioritize this area of work in our development needs.

We appreciate the RESULTS Board's support. Should the Board have any questions or comments regarding the proposed activities, please contact Meredith Dodson (staff: mdodson@results.org) or Betsy Suero Skipp (RESULTS Miami: miaresults@yahoo.com) for further information.

DTF Call July 30, 2008

INTRODUCTIONS:
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE DEBRIEF
Betsy (Miami): Diversity Task Force moved forward exponentially in last month. Asked for update from board, no response yet (but Betsy lobbied him between FL lobby visits). Surprised that more folks didn't sign up. Kudos to Lorna for moderating. Impressed with diversity of Canadian attendees.
Monica (Durham NC): people want training materials and specific strategies when group doesn't represent.
Jesus (DC area): Task Force initially had broad focus, now streamlined to 4-5 initiatives and marshalled resources. NGO exhibit fair-- would benefit from more visual display materials for tabling at other org's conferences (MD reviewed what we have). thanks to Meredy for coordinating translators.
Meredith (DC): liked having tangible materials, looked coordinated and professional. Need to follow up with those who expressed interest, inc Ruth Birchett Diane (Cedar Rapids): very excited to be pilot city, she's adapting Faith in Action materials for Native American audiences. Need help with training materials: Hindu, Moslem, Catholic (in Spanish)-- so asking local contacts for help developing culturally/spiritually appropriate.
Sarah (DC): inspiring to see people in person, got excited about pilot project.

INCREASE VISIBILTY
web presence
- get diversity section of our website (link to info from homepage, About Us)
- then get "diversity" in Google Adwords

SURVEY OF RESULTS NETWORK
Combine with survey that marketing committee would roll out to our network?
- Jesus will follow up with Scott re: status (and incorp diversity into marketing) Draft series of questions (consult marketing survey of general population) to use for combined or separate survey
- send out within 2-3 months
- Monica will circulate draft questions for feedback.

LONG-TERM RECOMMENDATIONS AND BOARD RESPONSE Betsy will follow up with Douglas Lichterman
- board discussion for our 5 recs (notes pasted below)? If not, when?
- request: issue board statement demonstrating support
- also need Joanne statement

PILOT PROJECT
See above for Cedar Rapids
Chapel Hill group: group mtg Tue 8/5 and will adapt Cedar Rapids' plan


NEXT STEPS/CALL= Wed August 20 8:30-9:30 pm ET: (888) 955-5369; passcode: 197427

Looking ahead: 9/15-10/15 Hispanic Heritage month

BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS (MD notes from June):
1. Diversity/anti-oppression training-- 2-stage plan A. identify people from specific regions amongst our groups to be a part of a leadership ("SWAT") team for 2-day training B. they are then responsible for leading trainings in their own region including travel to local groups
** budget: $25,000 ($15,000 for travel/room/board for 15 participants + $5000 for trainer fees + $5000 for local travel). Note: does NOT include any staff time (though can use college interns for credit), limited funds for travel to local groups) 2. Diversity assessment of own organization (Meredy)
- for grassroots baseline: could roll into survey envisioned by marketing committee post-conference
- also identify baseline re: board, staff, etc.
- then identify next steps and make specific recommendations (Meredith: include goals)
** budget: $50,000 (guess, Sarah will research specific number) 3. Develop set of materials and best practices for our groups to use in their own outreach (Betsy)
- build on the work done by Betsy and others already to compile possible partners
- have specific staff time (or additional staff resources) devoted to managing this
** budget: TBD, must inc staff time, materials (Niambi will research) 4. As Marketing Committee moves forward, ultimately "re-brands" organization, make diversity issues a key component (Betsy)
- ex. on our website
** budget: none (absorbed by marketing) 5. Taking diversity to policy level in organization - institutionally support diversity through board policies (Sarah)
- then reflected in our work across organization
- QUESTION: what has the Board already adopted vis-à-vis diversity? If not, what are next steps to make this happen?
** budget: $1000 for legal review

DTF Conference Call June 18, 2008

Notes from 6/18/08 Diversity Task Force All Call:

INTRODUCTIONS: name/something you'd be excited about taking on post-Intl Conf
Sarah: (DC): excited about training, maybe with Regional Coordinators and Diversity Task Force
Betsy (Miami): interested in joining domestic and global together (from marketing) as a way to reach more people may help build diversity [MD gave quick context for idea of "ONE RESULTS", possibilities for crossover in immigrant and other diverse audiences]. FL= top rates of AIDS, TB, etc. Our logo: DIVERSITY with RESULTS coming down perpendicular (a la Scrabble).

Diane (Cedar Rapids): training for new members targeted at new communities — ex. how adapt training for Native Americans so relevant culturally and spiritually. Especially see need in Faith in Action materials, community creating own training. [Betsy: by interacting with communities, ex. Haitian immigrants in FL, id what matters to them. What RESULTS is best at= training]
Meredy (DC): we've limited our efforts to outreach to communities of color, interested in perhaps train-the-trainer workshop for RESULTS Group Leaders, Regional Coordinators or staff: diversity training, anti-oppression. Great opportunity that Sarah's mother= trainer. [Betsy: base on Sam's group start workshops? Meredy: more audience participation].
Monica (Durham, NC): really likes train the trainers idea for within the organization or reaching out beyond the RESULTS network.
Meredith (DC): tangible, quantitative measures for our work to do outreach (as a way to measure success with other great things)
Niambi (DC): support short-term and long-term goals, what the vision is for diversity and inclusion across organization: higher level (ex. board) and grassroots, qualitative and quantitative. Could be 5- or 10-yr goals, or shorter
Longer term recommendations: where put attention after the International Conference
1. Diversity/anti-oppression training-- 2-stage plan (Monica)
A. identify people from specific regions amongst our groups to be a part of a leadership ("SWAT") team for 2-day training
B. they are then responsible for leading trainings in their own region including travel to local groups
** budget: $25,000 ($15,000 for travel/room/board for 15 participants + $5000 for trainer fees + $5000 for local travel). Note: does NOT include any staff time (though can use college interns for credit), limited funds for travel to local groups)
2. Diversity assessment of own organization (Meredy)
- for grassroots baseline: could roll into survey envisioned by marketing committee post-conference
- also identify baseline re: board, staff, etc.
- then identify next steps and make specific recommendations (Meredith: include goals)
** budget: $50,000 (guess, Sarah will research specific number)
3. Develop set of materials and best practices for our groups to use in their own outreach (Betsy)
- build on the work done by Betsy and others already to compile possible partners
- have specific staff time (or additional staff resources) devoted to managing this
** budget: TBD, must inc staff time, materials (Niambi will research)
4. As Marketing Committee moves forward, ultimately "re-brands" organization, make diversity issues a key component (Betsy)
- ex. on our website
** budget: none (absorbed by marketing)
5. Taking diversity to policy level in organization — institutionally support diversity through board policies (Sarah)
- then reflected in our work across organization
- QUESTION: what has the Board already adopted vis-à-vis diversity? If not, what are next steps to make this happen?
** budget: $1000 for legal review
Conference check-in
1. Leadership Day: who will lead short update and pitch for participation? Monica (with guidance from Ken re: general parameters), with coaching (short conf call) with Sarah and Diane
2. skills workshop: Lorna Dwyer (Sarah's mother)= moderator
A. Latino perspective: Meredith: NCLR contacts unavailable but will put me in touch with contact at MALDEF, Jesus approach friend Veronica who is experience organizer in Latino communities. Backup: call someone at Salvadorean consulate or DC-based CBOs that serve the Latino community here.
Meredy: update on African Services Committee: “I can definitely call my ASC contact tomorrow with this request . . . sorry that I haven't yet! they'll be in town next Thursday for a protest against PEPFAR, if we want to think about sitting down with someone over coffee too. I'll let you all know after I chat with them.”
Betsy: invite Cynthia to be a speaker. MD will ask her
Niambi: will talk with Crickett re: contacts at local universities
Plus Crickett recruiting another youth activist/youth organizer?
3. board memo include specific requests (endorse mission statement, highlight during conference board report) and maybe
4. diversity task force table/materials for exhibit fair: Materials for table:
a. Short conference survey people can fill out onsite
- Sarah, Monica and Diane will draft (during their prep call for Leadership Day), have those in room fill out at Leadership Day
- and then incorporate deeper questions in the marketing survey
b. Sign up list
- Monica drafted and has made some edits.
- edits due by 6/27, Monica will then make/bring final copies
- NEEDED: 2 clipboards
c. Campaign fact sheets
- Betsy drafted POVERTY and EDUCATION in the United StatesFlyer for IC.doc; TB Flyer for IC.doc; AIDS flyer for IC.doc, struggled to draft microcredit
- MD will ask Gagan to create health one (focus on disparities), Alan to create microcredit and tax policy
- text edits due by 6/25, Diane will then format, MD will make final copies (final version due 7/2)
d. one page handout/brochure: mission, history. Diane will draft.
- Monica will create Spanish language version
- MD will make final copies (final version due 7/2)
Staffing the table — Monday, July 14 at Metropolitan East/West
- first shift (1-2): Diane, Monica
- second shift (2-2:45): Betsy, Sammie, Jesus?
Pilot project
- everyone give feedback to Diane by 6/20
- Diane will start implementing ASAP.
Getting information on our website
- put information up by July 25, include summary of work at the conference
- message/statement from the board?

NEXT call= Wednesday, July 23, 7 pm ET: (888) 955–5369; passcode: 197427
But, anyone feel like they can call for a call if needed to make sure we are ready before the Intl Conf

DTF Call March 26, 2008

Introductions (15min)
Why you are a part of this taskforce. What do you hope it accomplishes?

Update/Touch base with committees (15min)
Nominations:
o An area that needs attention, but Board in the process of transitioning and restructuring, so there is reduced interest in inviting an outside person to join.
o Right now there is stagnation, we’ll see what comes out in the next couple of months.
Fundraising:
o An area that needs attention; group has not had recent activity
o Expansion/Best Practices:
o To build diversity in grassroots network in group starts and within existing groups
o Last meeting in October
o Betsy’s work can pilot ideas that have come forward; to set an example for other efforts…
People of Faith Outreach:
o Interest but less activity
o Sammi has many good ideas and could generate additional awareness and support
Student Groups Outreach
o Youth taskforce has a significant amount of committees with energy and action, but have not considered diversity within its structure
Translation
o Incredible work: people were very engaged and dedicated many hours which culminated in the pages were posted in November
o Since the pages were posted, however, the activity has diminished. How to encourage them to get involved? Who can look over the page and get it going live?

Touch-base on taskforce structure; How should we work and communicate? (15min)
· There seems to be a lack of interest lately in the Taskforce…what efforts can we take to regenerate interest? Should we alter the structure?
· Amelia: Logistical issues…people are committed in spirit but not in time. We have to structure this to make the most of people’s time.
· Chris: Communities of color are much harder hit with poverty than white people. Maybe we need to step back and do research and presentations about the dire effect of poverty in these communities. Many people are afraid of venturing out of their comfort zone. People don’t always want to venture into other communities and have had group starts in areas where people of color don’t feel welcome, or don’t have transportation access or childcare.
· Betsy: how can people of color “let me in” in my work to reach out to all communities to end suffering?
· Sammi: educate people so their voice has value on both domestic and non-domestic issues; we all have one legislative voice and we need to empower people
· Amelia: our capacity is reduced; we need to think about practical issues, such as raising awareness, promoting information/statistics for fact-sheets and policy briefs. We should structure the task-force to work all together instead of subcommittees.
· Julie: diversity training, “train the trainer,” anti-oppression training
· Meredith: fundraising first? Limited staffing and capacity
· Chris: youth outreach (which started at the same time as diversity taskforce) has been successful and has grown, has become more engrained in the roots of the organization, regardless of funding. diversity taskforce has not grown the same way. Consider how they are successful and why? Can we utilize those skills and resources for regenerating our taskforce?
· Meredith: we need to learn how to prioritize the diversity taskforce.
· Sammi: are there people of color in RESULTS meetings that we already have that people aren’t aware of? We could do a survey across the board to find out our diversity numbers and then learn how to build on them.
· Meredith: recruitment; we need to reach out to our grassroots network, make announcements on conference call
· Betsy and Chris: it has to become part of the agenda, an inherent part of RESULTS


Next steps:
· Marketing/messaging to incorporate into our campaign
· Sammi: do research project to frame global campaign in connection with issues of diversity; bring out how race and diversity is relates to our current campaigns
· Betsy: important for folks to hear from RESULTS volunteers, so spread the word and help articulate on listserv and inspire people.
· Meredith: will incorporate in conference calls, weekly updates, etc.
· Amelia: culling statistics for racial wealth gap nationally…