When the City Speaks: Reflections from Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy Annual Conference

Most conference host cities offer attendees a convenient, welcoming, and unique environment and in that way, New Orleans, where we gathered with our social sector peers from June 2nd-June 5th didn’t disappoint with its extraordinary cuisine, music, culture, and charm. However, with their “equitable exchange with the city”, EPIP’s planners elevated things to another level by integrating the community into the program as much as the speakers. As we gathered to exchange ideas on shifting power dynamics in philanthropy, the city itself became an active participant, serving as a testament to the need for philanthropic efforts that put equity and inclusion at the forefront. From a focus on local artists to set the tone, to the complex and devastating historical stories we heard at area venues, the need for centering our efforts on those affected by issues took on new resonance. 

We are excited to take this experience back to our work as we design, plan, and facilitate convenings, and integrate the lesson that the places we gather have power as well. Delving into communities has always been core to how we work, and we are energized to move forward with this fresh perspective. We look forward to sharing more reflections from our experience at EPIP in the coming months, and if we met you there, we’d love to connect here!