First, let me offer a heartfelt appreciation to all of you for your support and encouragement as I stepped into the role of CEO. In the last month, I’ve been able to connect and meet with many of you (via Zoom) to nurture existing relationships and establish new ones. Most recently, I had the distinct honor of attending the Silicon Valley AAPI Civic Leadership Summit. It was so powerful to experience the community gathered in support of our Asian American and Pacific Islander siblings, yet I could not help but notice the absence of folks from other communities. As I pondered why, my immediate thought was that with so many of us experiencing hurt, trauma, displacement, and devastation right now—in the United States and abroad—it can be hard to focus outside of our own communities. 

Personally, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Adam Toledo resonate in my consciousness as do countless other names we’ve come to associate with police abuse and murder. I acknowledge that recently and rapidly the spotlight shifts our collective attention through the myriad *man-made* existential crises we’re all facing: the resurgence of gun violence, an increase in hate crimes against the AAPI community, the Delta variant, deadly effects of climate change, consequences of American militarism around the world, the ongoing curtailing of civil rights, and more. While each of these threats is of the utmost importance, how can we maintain our focus on the collective as well as the systems of oppression that tip the scales of imbalance in our world? What steps can our organizations take to weather the storm while contributing to our collective liberation?

This awareness and understanding moves me to examine how CEN continues to show up for the people and movements already doing the work for the good of us all. At CEN, our approach is to do all we can to embody and project IDEAL principles while holding firm to our commitment to offer affordable services for the sector. In fact, over the last year we offered upwards of $65,000 of services at no cost in order to increase accessibility for this network, with a dedicated focus on organizations led by and serving Black, Indigenous, AAPI, and other people of color. We remain committed to meeting your needs in the coming year and finding where, when, and how we may show up in solidarity with you. I look to each of you to learn what opportunities lie ahead for CEN to do and be more. 

Thank you.

Congratulations to Ronesha Jackson, Executive Director of City Youth Now, and Bindu Oommen-Fernandes, Executive Director of Narika, who both received a full scholarship to attend this year's Nonprofit Management Institute! The virtual conference, hosted by the Stanford Social Innovation Review, will take place Sept. 21-23. Here is some information about their organizations:

"City Youth Now provides programs and services that promote stability, personal growth, academic and career success for youth in San Francisco with foster and juvenile justice experience. Our work addresses barriers to long-term success and supports young people with recognizing and meeting their full potential." - Ronesha

"Since 1992, Narika has served survivors of relationship abuse and domestic violence with culturally and trauma responsive services including counseling, workforce development, wellness and support groups, food justice, technology abuse and community and corporate awareness campaigns." - Bindu

Participants are brought together on a monthly basis (virtually until it is safe to do so in person) to share experiences and to participate in full-day, high-impact professional development sessions. After 8 months, the cohort graduates with a strong peer support network and the techniques and resources needed to sustain an effective organization.

Join Dr. Francis Pearman, Stanford Assistant Professor of Education in the Graduate School of Education, as he shares his research on the shifting geography of urban inequality in the Bay Area and explores what gentrification and affordability challenges mean for educational access and equity.

Join AFP Silicon Valley Chapter for its annual IDEA luncheon, featuring Michele Lew, CEO of the Health Trust, and Aubrey Merriman, CEO of Lifemoves. These two incredible community leaders will discuss the ways they have shaped their nonprofits’ response to the Covid 19 pandemic, the Black Lives Matter Movement and the wave of violence impacting the AAPI community.

Join the celebration of our mosaic of American cultures at the first annual Mosaic Festival in Silicon Valley at the School of Arts & Culture at the Mexican Heritage Plaza in San Jose. The very first of its kind, the festival honors our community with a day of belonging, healing, and harmony through art.

Joint Venture Silicon Valley is developing a communication and coordination platform to serve as a dynamic resource to the region’s recovery. This database and corresponding network map of recovery initiatives will be sortable, searchable and may be updated at any time. This survey is meant to be completed by anyone leading a recovery effort of any kind.

The Trust seeks a collaborative, inquisitive, inclusive, and equity-centered professional to lead strategic development, grantmaking, evaluation, and engagement for the Adults & Transitioning Youth with Disabilities program. The program officer is the content expert and thought leader of the program area, reporting to and working in partnership with the Director of Programs (DOP).

We are looking for an experienced full-time Senior Communications & Marketing Manager to play a critical role in helping Ploughshares Fund move closer to its ultimate goal of eliminating the threat posed by nuclear weapons. The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented, problem-solving project manager with a minimum of five years of experience in the nonprofit communications and marketing industry. We are looking for a diplomatic and collaborative team player and lead communicator who can help Ploughshares Fund implement big picture strategies while also adapting to fast-paced, deadline-sensitive day-to-day needs.

Please email tarryl@cen.org to feature your organization's job opening(s) in an upcoming newsletter (format: 3-4 sentences with a link to learn more). Priority is given to CEN members.

Sobrato Center for Nonprofits - Redwood Shores

330 Twin Dolphin Drive, Suite 151

Redwood City, CA 94065

650-517-5855