EGA President and CEO
This month, the administration continued to blatantly escalate attacks on people and planet in a direct confrontation with the principles, values, and practices of democracy. As critical lovers of our collective work, we are not okay. We grieve our proximity to violence, to deprivation, to peace, and now we mourn the loss of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, among countless others who have been made casualty to oppression, under the directive of artificially degraded rule of law.
As federal encroachment eviscerates freedoms, targets identity, and demonizes decency and dignity in broad daylight, the surge of aggression ramps up across cities in the United States. We have all borne witness to a crescendo in Minneapolis, a crisis that demands that we stand together as neighbors and allies with our principles as our guide. We must defend the rights of our constitution, our speech, the autonomy of our bodies, our freedom of assembly, and our shared humanity, alongside our choices in favor of a sustainable Earth.
We are an Association committed to the pursuit of a thriving people and planet.
As such, we recommit to the daily task of engaging our democracy through complexity, while modeling accountability as a part of the necessary work of transformation.
Our love for rivers, streams, flora, and fauna extends to stewardship of the rights of people and protection of the sacred as one mission. In this time of challenge and uncertainty, our love for our Earth home shifts from tender affection to tender relation.
We stand in our humanity in solidarity with the people in Minnesota. We continue our vigil in every location where our siblings are unsafe, or our ancestors’ hard-won rights are subject to compromise or conflict. As a part of our witness in this shared work, we direct you to your peers, partners, and the truth as you respond and resource impacted communities everywhere.
Read EGA member, Tonya Allen, President of the Minneapolis-based McKnight Foundation’s call on philanthropy to stand up for Minneapolis and the country.
During these trying times, I implore you to practice mindful engagement with media and news backed by engagement with your community. I wish you deep and direct conversations about what you love, what is lost, and what needs tending to move the work forward.
If you’re feeling immobilized or overwhelmed, know that you are welcome at EGA as a part of your support planning.
We will continue to share resources and tools from your peers, partners, and philanthropic and community leaders working to advance an ailing democracy in service to an ailing planet. I challenge you to co-locate yourself within the Santa Ana Accords for the Future of Philanthropy. And finally, I invite you to nourish your convictions with the resources shared here.
Sector Resources to Support Communities in Minnesota
- Share and browse McKnight Foundation’s resource hub for Minnesotans and allies to learn about what’s going on and how to support people on the ground.
- “Philanthropy Must Stand Up for Minneapolis and Our Country” -Tonya Allen, President of the McKnight Foundation
- [Watch] Tonya Allen shares a statement on ways to support communities in Minnesota.
- Ben Passer, Program Director, Midwest Climate & Energy at the McKnight Foundation: "Lessons from Minnesota: To Preserve Our Planet, We Must Also Preserve Our Democracy"
- John Palfrey, President at the MacArthur Foundation shares a statement of support for Minnesota and surrounding communities.
- “Dark Enough to See the Stars: A Statement on Minnesota” Surdna Foundation
- "We all must stand with Minnesota" Freedom Together Foundation
- Stand With Minnesota has curated a growing list of verified fundraisers and mutual aid opportunities.
- United Philanthropy Forum's resource list and a statement of support for the people and communities of Minnesota.
- Ways to support Minnesota communities Sahan Journal
- Resources to support community Minnesota Council of Nonprofits.