7 Things You Should Know from #ThisAmericanMoment
Last week, a constellation of philanthropists convened in Washington, D.C. to discuss the role of faith communities in the work we all do to make the world better. The event, entitled This American Moment, brimmed with powerful speakers — faith leaders at the forefront of movement work in their communities and across the country, journalists, and representatives across the field of philanthropy committed to supporting what’s happening at the intersection of faith and social change. The goal of the conversation was to explore the current state of religious diversity in our nation, and the role philanthropy can play in bridging divides and building a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive country.
It would be impossible to capture the substance of the dialogue that afternoon in its entirety, but in the spirit of continuing a conversation that is finding its momentum, here are 7 things you should know:
1. “Just because ingredients are in the kitchen, doesn’t mean they jumped into the pot. Just because diversity exists, doesn’t mean bridges get built.”
Eboo Patel, Founder and President of Interfaith Youth Core, shared these wise words from his mother, a reminder that just because diversity exists, doesn’t mean bridges get built. Eboo also reminds us that, while the challenges at hand may feel daunting, bridge building is a practice that pervades our nation’s history. “This is not a new story,” he said. “It’s a chapter in an old story called ‘How do you build a healthy, religiously diverse democracy?” America represents a first edition to that narrative, but it’s one we’ve been building for generations.
2. We’ve reached the transition to Interfaith 2.0: Engagement.
Interfaith dialogues have existed in varying capacities for generations. Today, the challenges we face require a measure beyond multiple faiths peacefully coexisting with one another: this moment requires genuine engagement. And building these connections in the context of social justice cannot occur while pointing to the strides others need to make. Instead, individual introspection is the only way to dissolve our own pre-conceived notions and enable us to be with one another, and to build friendships by moving beyond merely knowing into understanding one another. The work toward true engagement begins within.
3. We’re suspicious of one another. And that’s okay.
These words ring true in numerous contexts today, but Rev. Jennifer Bailey, Founder and President of the Faith Matters Network, referenced a tension between faith leaders and their communities — and philanthropy. “We don’t know about each other — philanthropists, those with resources, and practitioners in this faith-based engagement space,” she said. This dynamic persists in part because of the enduring challenge inherent in quantifying the role of faith in communities; faith is nebulous by nature and difficult to evaluate. This dynamic of mutual uncertainty is worth acknowledging, she offered, so that a shared awareness can serve as a starting place to get real with one another, and find common ground.
4. To grantees: Don’t underestimate the power you hold.
This poignant reminder came from Kashif Shaikh, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Pillars Fund, as a panel of foundation representatives took the stage to address the audience. As the power dynamic between foundations and nonprofits surfaced in the conversation, his words reinforced the reality that the work of foundations simply cannot happen without its grantees; and that truth holds power — and a responsibility to communicate needs, learnings, and leadership. “We want to be challenged and to be told. Help inform us and others about what they should be doing,” added Shaikh. “The boat needs to be rocked sometimes.”
5. Before we build bridges, let’s meet at the border.
Many of the challenges we face as a democracy today are divisions — fractures we often speak about in terms of a need to build bridges connecting two sides. But Rev. Jennifer Bailey reminded us that this vision is limited, and risks overlooking the possibilities that lie before the construction takes place: in meeting one another at the borders. Bridging implies a separation — you live here, and I live here — a relationship that may cross difference when the need arises, but persists in a separation. Rev. Jennifer reminded us that we need to be neighbors first. When we encounter one another at the border, we acknowledge our differences, but are able to foster a closeness of relationship, truly “bridging” the distance. Finally, even the best bridges have limited two-way traffic, often requiring one person or group to take a risk by crossing it. In this American moment, we’re all being called to come to the edges.
6. Philanthropy’s role is much more than grantmaking.
Above and beyond the grants given, foundations can leverage their convening power, creating a place for meaningful conversations to drive progress around the issues we care about. Far too rarely do foundations host such convenings from a framework of inquiry, as opposed to advocacy. Fostering these dialogues when the answers are uncertain can be a challenge — especially with less established, grassroots organizations. But foundations have a role to play in supporting the field while also fostering innovation, and not getting in the way of it. We need to navigate without doing harm to the work itself.
7. We can’t make an impact on generational challenges without long-term commitments.
The challenges we face are many, and the temptation to solve all of them is great — but the only way for philanthropy to tackle enduring, generational issues is by being focused on one thing in an abiding way. There are ways to be consistent within any foundation’s theory of change, and ways of shifting and adapting to change within those constraints. Making long-term commitments to tackling systemic issues is key, as is moving forward with the understanding that the change we’re working toward may not happen in our lifetime. Along the way, we can be better about sharing what we learn — ”lifting the curtain,” so to speak, on philanthropic practice for the benefit of the world we aim to create.
As David Brooks reminded us in his closing address: “we’re all here because we want to make the world a little easier to be good in.” And in the coming weeks, months, years, as our work evolves, we hope to create a new ethos of commitment emerge: a deepening of trust. A trust that is rooted in the other, and enables a degree of commitment many of us know well: where the work takes on life, and we know we can’t not do it. This American moment calls for that kind of commitment, to the work and to each other. May we find one another at the borders.
For another reflection on this event, please check out this piece by PACE member, Chicago Community Trust.
