March 25 DIVERSITY + YOUTH + FAITH IN ACTION Joint Call

DIVERSITY + YOUTH + FAITH IN ACTION Joint Call March 25, 2009
(Notes by Crickett Nicovich)

Intro Question:
What is a way that RESULTS could engage new people in RESULTS? More diverse leadership, more people of color in groups, more student groups, successful outreach to diverse faith communities, outreach to minority media outlets – particularly Hispanic read papers, a greater institutional commitment to diversity.

Attending: Meredith, Ken, Blair, Jos, Diane, Michael Richardson, Sammi, Crickett, Sarah Beardmore, Douglas L.

SHARES: What are your biggest successes and challenges for the different task forces?
Faith in Action: Biggest Success: writing the curriculum and getting them used as outreach tools. Challenge: Getting new people excited and involved.
Diversity: Biggest Success: New outreach materials, blog, Spanish pages within the RESULTS website Challenge: Getting feedback and action from the Board.
Youth in Action: Biggest Success: Growing the number of students and the youth voice – more new campus groups than ever before. Preparing a funding/grant proposal. Helping to grow RESULTS new media campaign. Challenges: Getting funding for new outreach and engaging the board in the YIA work.

BOARD OUTREACH UPDATE: Diane, Sarah and Douglas - Met to talk about the report to board – preparing a lasertalk to really getting the board more involved. They’re trying to create a compelling argument about the benefits – if they go through with this process with a well build lasertalk, than there can be a real launch of a campaign.

The board has had pressing matters facing them – especially around this time of financial crunch. But also, there’s some built in resistant to diversifying – because it could mean that RESULTS might change. They will be meeting next Monday at 2 to further plan their efforts. Contact sbeardmore@results.org to get the call in information

How can the task forces better collaborate?
• Connect once every 3 or 4 month by having a joint call. Maybe have an umbrella group (possibly called Engaging New Voices?) and then have break out committees.
• Ken – it makes sense to have one umbrella org.
• Ben – these are inextricably connected – HBCs engage diverse youth – Hispanic churches engage diverse people of faith.
• Sarah – Calls could be on adhoc basis but not less than every 3 months. Building capacity on these issues – having a visible identity is key to funding our efforts.

NEXT STEPS:
• EVERYONE Bring back information from the prospective task forces about having as needed calls every 3 to 4 months.
• Bring back information about how do we want to use the IC for a stepping stone to really bringing these issues forward to our collective.
• Come up with a new name for the group! Bring ideas…

We set up the next call for Wed, April 8, at 9 pm ET. Question for the group: could you use a free conference line (so it would be a toll call, but for those with cellphones no difference) for our calls in the future? Please respond directly to me if that does not work for you.

- meredith