Racial Equity Fund seeks to make ‘a more thriving community’ for people of color

York County Community Foundation asked its current volunteers of color to form an advisory committee of community members to decide how the grants are distributed.

Written by: Rebecca Hanlon
Lisa Kennedy, a member of the advisory committee for York County Community Foundation's new Racial Equity Fund, believes the committee can help the foundation expand their reach and their touch around who they’ve been serving. (Photo by Chelsea Foster for Our York Media)

Lisa Kennedy recognizes the challenges and limitations color plays in access to healthcare, education, and financial stability.

She sees it during her job as Family Peer Support Specialist with York County Department of Human Services. She sees it in her role of Director of the Board for the School District of the City of York. She sees it as a Black woman in her everyday life.

She hopes York County Community Foundation’s new Racial Equity Fund will help change that.

Earlier this year, YCCF dedicated $125,000 to the fund and created an endowment that would ensure its existence long term. Further, they turned the decision-making over to a committee of current and new volunteers of color to determine how the grants would be distributed.

Lisa was one of the people YCCF asked to be part of the new advisory committee.

“We believe we can help the foundation expand their reach and their touch around who they’ve been serving,” she says.

Lisa Kennedy recognizes the challenges and limitations color plays in access to healthcare, education, and financial stability.

She sees it during her job as Family Peer Support Specialist with York County Department of Human Services. She sees it in her role of Director of the Board for the School District of the City of York. She sees it as a Black woman in her everyday life.

She hopes York County Community Foundation’s new Racial Equity Fund will help change that.

Earlier this year, YCCF dedicated $125,000 to the fund and created an endowment that would ensure its existence long term. Further, they turned the decision-making over to a committee of current and new volunteers of color to determine how the grants would be distributed.

Lisa was one of the people YCCF asked to be part of the new advisory committee.

“We believe we can help the foundation expand their reach and their touch around who they’ve been serving,” she says.

Natalee Colón will also serve on the advisory committee for York County Community Foundation's new Racial Equity Fund. (Photo by Chelsea Foster for Our York Media)

The grants will be given to local charities and organizations, but ideas for how the funds could be used are still very fluid, says Natalee Colón, another committee member.

Natalee, Vice President of Human Resources at York Water Company, says that freedom to work in collaboration with YCCF is exciting, and she looks forward to supporting new initiatives that make York a better place.

“There are a lot of people doing good work in our community, but they don’t have the resources of larger organizations, and the grant process can be intimidating,” Natalee says. “Historically, they have been overlooked. We have an opportunity to change that.”

The Racial Equity Fund is just one step in how YCCF hopes to eliminate biases and be intentional about creating equity in grantmaking.

“It’s not easy for organizations to look inward and find their shortcomings,” Lisa says. “But doing that creates change. It makes York a more thriving community. Our work here is just beginning.”

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