In many ways, diversity is about our ability to see and be seen, to hear and be heard—apart from the homogenous mass and overwhelming din of the dominant culture, in all our many distinct flavors. For the social sector, this becomes acutely relevant each Census year. “The count” is uniquely important not just for recognizing our diversity on a statistical or intellectual level, but for translating that into much-needed services and tangible resources. Nonprofits know from experience just how much is riding on our ability to be honest in quantifying who we are in order to meet the basic needs of our communities.
Archive for the ‘Growing Diversity’ Category
Cultural Diversity: Having a good picture of your clients
Tuesday, January 12th, 2010I am currently working with a client who is looking to better target the Latino market. One of their two offices is in a city with a Latino majority (above 75%). The office staff speaks Spanish, and all their material is translated. Yet they know that to attract and keep their clients they need to go beyond translated materials and bilingual staff, and really understand who their clients are. I applaud them– it’s unfortunate that more nonprofits don’t think this way.
Age of Innovation
Tuesday, November 24th, 2009What image pops into your head when you think of the future and innovation? Do you think of someone young and hip playing with the latest electronic gadget? I can’t help but wonder if in our fast paced drive to look and move into the future that we often discount the important role and function of older Americans as critical participants and creators of that hip future.
“How diverse are we?” Nonprofit Diversity and a Call for Context
Tuesday, November 17th, 2009This month, the Urban Institute released its benchmark study of racial and ethnic diversity in California’s nonprofit sector. The overall findings are all too familiar. People of color remain underrepresented in nonprofit leadership, comprising 57% of the state’s population but holding only 25% of the executive director or CEO positions. Most notably, the researchers found that Latinos are the least well represented, holding fewer than 10% of nonprofit leadership positions while making up more than one-third of California’s overall population.
New Podcast: Diversity and Inclusion in the Nonprofit Sector
Tuesday, November 17th, 2009In this podcast, Adrienne Mansanares (Program Officer at the Denver Foundation), Paul Schmitz (CEO of Public Allies), and Michael Watson (Senior VP of Human Resources for the Girl Scouts of the USA) discuss how issues of diversity and inclusion are playing out in the nonprofit sector, and how effective practices around diversity can help nonprofits position themselves for long-term success.
Listen to the Podcast with Adrienne Mansanares, Paul Schmitz, and Michael Watson and tell us what you think.
Growing Diversity
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009Are nonprofits engaging in the difficult and often uncomfortable conversations about diversity – within their organizations, their communities, and in the broader social justice context? How do you “move” organizations that aren’t?
