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ICYMI: In the newest episode of Nonprofit Report, Liberty Hill Foundation President & CEO Shane Murphy Goldsmith and Senior Vice President of Programs Julio Marcial join mOppenheim Org CEO Mark Oppenheim to discuss the state of Transformative Justice in LA and Liberty Hill’s work to power grassroots organizations fighting for systemic change and a reimagined approach to justice. Watch the full episode here: libhill.co/moppenheim #LibertyHill #ICYMI #YouthJustice #TransformativeJustice

Eloquent Charity Chat interview with Charlotte Lamb about her work at NPC on bringing lived experience into an organisation's culture. It brought to mind one of my clients' difficulty with establishing clarity to their executive role, and their fear of mission drift as a consequence of “losing touch” with the lived experience of the very people their charity was established to help. A leader has to juggle numerous priorities, and at times of uncertainty it helps to find space to think about your guiding light and key principles. If inclusion of lived experience is one of your key principles, here are 3 ways in which you can integrated it within your organisation: 1.     Assign to a role/team. This comes with a note of caution as assigning responsibility to a small part of the organisation can hinder the process. For lived experience to be fully integrated, the engagement role needs to be strategic and given the power to lead a culture change from within, starting at leadership level. Charlotte talks about improvements to the governance process and bringing lived experience alongside other skills on boards. 2.     Upskill staff. Engaging effectively with people who are marginalised is an art which extends beyond the token service exit surveys. The higher up the ladder of participation you go, the more sophisticated your processes need to be, especially in hierarchical structures. The organisation as a whole needs to be emotionally intelligent and self aware, it needs to question itself and reflect upon its own power and position over people’s lives. It needs to  question who it is here to serve and protect. staff training is only the beginning of this process.    3.     Create a framework. The framework includes all the stages and opportunities where lived experience can feed into the organisation. It is supported by systems that capture the ways in which lived experience influences how the organisation is run at all levels. A CRM such as D365 can help with this, but there are other sector specific systems on the market. The data produced by CRMs informs continuous improvement and helps the organisation stay relevant and in touch with contemporary needs. These options can be deployed one at a time or together. They will need sufficient resourcing and buy in from leaders who are open to changing how they do things. Charlotte reminds us that this takes time and requires a long term vision. It is not an easy process and wherever you start on this journey, she recommends that you start by involving people with lived experience in the workings of the organisation and put it at the forefront of internal conversations at all levels. I agree and will add that the benefits of doing so will make the organisation all the stronger for it. 

"Embrace the transformative journey of responsibility and commitment in philanthropy with our groundbreaking report, Cracks in the Foundation: Philanthropy's Role in Reparations for Black People in the DMV. This comprehensive exploration provides a unique opportunity for philanthropic leaders to not only understand but actively engage in repairing, healing, and restoring local communities that have been impacted by the actions and decisions that shaped charitable wealth. For those grantmakers already at the forefront of the fight for racial justice, this report serves as a valuable resource to deepen your commitment. It offers insights into targeted areas for bold action, empowering you to make a more significant impact. This is not just a report; it's a roadmap for creating meaningful change."

Exciting update: With only 71 days to go, a third-party poll shows our campaign leading in Maryland’s 3rd Congressional District, emphasizing the importance of term limits and fresh leadership. This achievement underscores our collective desire for change and accountability in Congress. Support our mission for a better tomorrow. Consider donating today: https://lnkd.in/eX8eEVUE  #TermLimits #TermLimitCongress #JuanForMaryland #Politics #PoliticsNews

🎞️ One week on‼️ 🎙️ Our conference featured some heavyweight speakers spanning charities, grassroots organisations, young people, violence reduction experts, community leaders and local authorities. 🤝 It brought communities and those working to tackle violence and inequalities in society together to map out how collaboratively, we can bring about change. Some key contributions in the video below from Black Equity Organisation @Dr Wanda Wyporska, FRHistS, FRSA Active Communities Network Lib Peck and this from The Ben Kinsella Trust: 💬 "Since the Violence Reduction Unit has been set up, the narrative has changed. We no longer feel isolated." #PreventionNotIntervention #systemschange #childfirst #communityfocused

Endurance Adventure. *** Governing our country should be an endurance adventure, not a culture war. When we take on challenges because they are hard, push through resistance when everything goes to @#$!, and regroup for rest, we build endurance. The Liberatus creative cycle, connecting policy debates to everyday conversations with renewed values, is built to be an endurance adventure, so you and many Americans can participate to make our country more just and free. To create Volume Two, leader training, and community connections, we’ve set a goal of raising $2,000 in monthly donations. That’s part of the bigger goal of raising $1m over five years to become a biannual publication and national grassroots organization. Here’s the direct link to set up your plan: https://lnkd.in/e5MeMxMw Build endurance.