What is a side benefit of COVID-19? A recognition of systemic inequalities among communities of color particularly as it relates to access to food, healthcare, and health outcomes. What is the pivot? Raising up nonprofit organizations in these communities that until now have gone largely unnoticed by philanthropy.
Enter North Texas Cares, a funder collaborative among North Texas foundations and United Ways to provide emergency dollars to agencies addressing issues surrounding COVID-19.
Organizers of North Texas Cares noted the coronavirus’ disproportionate impact on communities of color and took a bit of an out of the box approach to its funding. Agencies eligible to apply include those offering direct services in response to COVID-19 along with organizations addressing racism as it relates to the pandemic and those addressing racial disparities in communities of color regarding food insecurity, access to care, and health disparities.
Through efforts of Dr. Frowsa Booker-Drew, Kimberly O’Neil, and others websites have been formed including ServeDFW and Serve South Dallas to promote the work of agencies within these neighborhoods that otherwise might fly under the philanthropic radar.
And the movement doesn't stop with the short-term needs surrounding the coronavirus. Enter Power In Action, a new platform and space for individuals and groups to come together, share dialog, share experiences, and lift up existing networks of people of color led businesses and nonprofits working within these neighborhoods.
This post recognizes a pivot within the North Texas philanthropic community and its nascent steps to acknowledging and giving a voice to the long-time systemic inequities that loom large in our own backyards.
For more, click here for a June 18, 2020 article on FWD>DFW, a forum that connects companies, causes, and communities to the short- and long-term economic advancement of North Texas.
Image by Omar Flores @omarg247.