Narrative Power Unleashed: Communities Shifting and Claiming the Narrative
Three years ago, Convergence Partnership shifted our funding strategies to focus on the intersections of racial justice and health equity. We are now celebrating nearly $3 million in grants to 12 frontline, people of color led and staffed organizations that are growing civic, economic, and narrative power. We are marking this milestone in a series of blog posts, “Powerful Ripples of Change,” that spotlights these organizations, their accomplishments, and the powerful work they have underway.
As More Foundations Seek to Influence Public Perceptions, New Approaches Abound
Convergence Partnership’s first-of-its-kind report on funding narrative change was covered in Chronicle of Philanthropy, sharing findings of the report, specific issue areas where narrative has shifted, and challenges for funders to consider as they explore this strategy for change.
Season 1, Episode 3: Kansas City, Missouri: Black and Latinx Solidarity for Justice
Season 1, Episode 3: In this episode, local audio producer Cynthia Fails interviews Ave Stokes about a year-long process to bring Black and Latinx communities together to heal historic divides and build collective power. Stokes describes why this work is critical for the racial justice and health equity movement in Kansas City, MO, and what they are learning from the process. Stokes also shares his reflections on funding disparities faced by Black and Latinx led organizations and the challenges these disparities pose to building grassroots power. The second segment, hosted by Justice Gatson of Reale Justice Network, continues the conversation, further examining the year-long process of bridge-building between Black and Latinx communities in Missouri. We hear from Victor Morales of Kansas/Missouri Dream Alliance, Mo Del Villar of ACLU of Missouri, Edgar Palacios of Latinx Education Collaborative, Ave Stokes of Alive & Well Communities, and Hakima Tafunzi Payne of the Uzazi Village. This episode is hosted by Justice Gatson, a Kansas City based organizer, who organizes intersectional movements that uplift the voices of the most marginalized groups.
Poverty, Policy, and Public Attitudes in Greater Kansas City
In Greater Kansas City, community organizers are engaging neighborhood residents to gather stories and policy priorities to shape the regional discourse around food access and food security while artists are creating works that challenge pervasive racialized narratives about government food programs.