Breaking out of a Bifurcated World: A Bridge Conversation on Philanthropy

At Grantmakers in the Arts Navigating the Art of Change 2.0 conference

Monday, October 18, 2010 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm

Organized by Caron Atlas, project director, Arts & Democracy Project; Tia Oros Peters, executive director, Seventh Generation Fund.

Discussion catalysts: amalia deloney, grassroots policy director, Center for Media Justice; Timothy Dorsey, program officer, Open Society Foundations, Tia Oros, and Pepon Osorio, artist and professor, Temple University Taylor School of the Arts

We will engage a paradox faced by many funders: While some of the most creative strategies for positive social change live at the intersections of sectors, disciplines, cultures, and generations; many of the practices and structures of philanthropy create silos and disconnect funders from their grantees and their full selves. The session, designed to be generative and participatory, provides an opportunity for funders to reflect on what is needed to create hybrid and integrated programs and strategies. It also addressed issues of power and privilege that are part of bridging in contexts of social justice.