This spring, Workforce Matters will launch two new peer-to-peer learning labs facilitated by Clair Watson Minson of Sandra Grace LLC to serve as communities of practice for grantmakers working to implement ideas and strategies inspired by A Racial Equity Framework for Workforce Development Funders.
The first learning lab, launching in May 2021, will specifically target workforce grantmakers who work for corporate foundations or corporate giving programs. The second, launching in June 2021, will be open to any workforce grantmaker. Both learning labs will assume a working knowledge of racial equity terms and principles and an understanding of how race and racism show up in the labor market.
Each learning lab will feature four bi-weekly sessions spread out over 8 weeks. In contrast to our fall/winter 2020 labs, which focused mostly on peer sharing, our spring learning labs will be designed to support grantmakers who have already begun—or who are on the cusp of launching—specific racial equity initiatives. Sessions will include opportunities to share lessons learned about your work and opportunities to gather feedback and advice from your peers.
The four sessions in each lab will roughly follow the arc of the Racial Equity Framework and will create space for participants to discuss their efforts and initiatives to:
- Center BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color) workers and learners in developing, supporting, and evaluating workforce initiatives;
- Advocate for equity for BIPOC in workforce policy and public funding;
- Use philanthropic levers to drive employer practice change; and
- Support workforce practitioners in centering racial equity and justice in program design and practices
Each learning lab will be limited to no more than 16 participants to ensure that participants not only represent a diverse range of experiences, geographies, philanthropic organizations, and backgrounds but also have the opportunity build a trusted community with an opportunity for rich exchange. We are seeking grantmakers who can commit to and actively participate in all four conversations.
The deadline to apply is April 16, 2021.
Selected participants will be notified by April 30, 2021.
Important dates
Corporate Funders Learning Lab - Implementing the Racial Equity Framework for Workforce Development Funders
Every other Thursday at 2:00 pm central beginning May 13th:
May 13 (90 min)
May 27 (60 min)
June 10 (60 min)
June 24 (90 min)
Grantmaker Learning Lab - Implementing the Racial Equity Framework for Workforce Development Funders
Every other Thursday at 2:00 pm central beginning June 3rd:
June 3 (90 min)
June 17 (60 min)
July 1 (60 min)
July 15 (90 min)
