The Economic Moment & What Philanthropy Can Do

COVID 19 is leading to an economic collapse of proportions we have not seen since the Great Depression. Leaders across sectors are acting swiftly in order to be responsive to the crisis at hand. However, we have known for many years that the economy was not working for our most vulnerable populations and has been exacerbating racial inequality. The strategies of the past will not be what brings is to the economic future we need. It’s time rethink our economy and reimagine a future which works for all.

Join us for an interactive discussion on where we are today; where we need to be and what programs, policies, and systems we need to reconsider in order to have an economy that works for all.

Panelists will share:

• An analysis of existing state & federal government pandemic response who is still left out
• Where California is taking a leadership position and where we need to focus our efforts
• Bold policy and program strategies 
• The need for a racial equity lens in funder responses
• A framework of a future reimagined which works for all

Speakers

Alexandra Bastien, Financial Stability Program Officer, Silicon Valley Community Foundation (moderator)

Alexandra leads the Financial Stability grantmaking strategy. For over 10 years she has worked toward gender, racial and economic justice. Prior to joining SVCF, Alexandra was Senior Associate at PolicyLink, a national research and action institute dedicated to advancing social and economic equity. In this position, she led a variety of projects including the Employment Equity in Southern States initiative – a project to advance a full employment agenda across the southeast U.S.  She also supported local coalitions in cities in the development of policy agendas to advance economic opportunity, led a criminal justice fines and fees portfolio, and managed technical assistance to state and local grantee cohorts focused on asset building policies and programs.

Prior to joining PolicyLink, Alexandra was a 2012-2013 cohort member of the Proteus Fund Fellowship for Diversity in Philanthropy and served as the Co-Executive Director of the Young Black Women’s Society. Alexandra holds a Master of Public Policy degree from the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University and a B.A. in Communication from Boston College. Alexandra is also an alumna of the 2017 Boards and Commissions Leadership Institute at Urban Habitat.

Chris Hoene joined the California Budget & Policy Center as Executive Director in 2012. Prior to joining the California Budget & Policy Center, he was director of the Center for Research & Innovation at the National League of Cities in Washington, DC, leading efforts to analyze trends in local and state government and promote constructive policy action on issues including public finance, economic development, governance, housing, sustainability, and infrastructure. Chris previously worked for the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Public Policy Institute of California. In 2010, he was inducted as a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration for his service and expertise in the areas of public policy and government. Chris holds a Ph.D. in political science from Claremont Graduate University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the College of Idaho.

Teri Olle, California Campaign Director, Economic Security Project Action

Teri Olle is the California Campaign Director for Economic Security Project Action. Beginning her career as an attorney, Teri soon moved into policy and issue advocacy, working on state and local efforts to ban toxic chemicals and pesticides, decrease food insecurity and hunger, increase gender representation in politics. She is a founding member of a political action committee dedicated to inserting parent voice into local politics and served as the president of the board of Emerge California. She lives in San Francisco with her husband and two daughters.

Solana Rice, Co-Founder/Co-Executive Director, Liberation in a Generation

Solana Rice was raised by a Black, midwestern family that made tremendous emotional and physical sacrifices to get by. Dedicated autoworkers, food & retail workers, entrepreneurs; her family gifted Solana with a tremendous work ethic and a passion for making the world a better place for people of color. Solana is a dedicated advocate aiming to shape the most vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable economy this country has yet to see. 

Prior to starting Liberation in a Generation, Solana was Director of State & Local Policy at Prosperity Now where, under her leadership, she built strong advocacy partnerships with organizations in the field and advanced dozens of policies in nearly half the states in the nation. Prior to joining Prosperity Now, Solana served as a director for financial security initiatives at PolicyLink. Solana has a Master’s in City Planning from MIT, where she researched the integration of individual development accounts into community development services. She holds a B.A. in architecture from Washington University in St. Louis.

Target Audience

This program is open to NCG members and non-member funders. 

Partners