eNews
November 2021
POSITIONING DEACONESS TO REALIZE OUR VISION
Deaconess Community,
  
Last week during the Annual Joint Meeting of the Deaconess Foundation and Deaconess Center for Child Well-Being Boards I had the honor of sharing, virtually, with many of our neighbors, community partners, and fellow advocates our approach to realizing a just future for kids in our lifetime – or even better by 2039. Today, I am equally as honored to share that framework with you.
 
My purpose is rooted in John 6:39 and Isaiah 58: to do the will of Him that sent me and to finish His work; to repair breaches of injustice and to inspire excellence, fierceness and hope. This purpose reflects the same spiritual and moral imperative that guides Deaconess: to combat structural racism and to mobilize people, policy, and power for the health and wellbeing of endangered children in the context of their families, neighborhoods, and systems that influence their ability to self-determine their bright and blessed futures. My leadership and what anchors our future is found in our values: justice, hope, service, identity and faithfulness. It is also the foundation for our approach to position Deaconess to address current and future challenges life may bring.
November eNewsletter
As we all know, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rock the world and will have reverberating effects that will impact us all for decades at spiritual, economic, political, and environmental levels. It is for this reason that the bringing together of community health and public health practice with community organizing, anchor and responsive investments and the faith community is essential and necessary to shift from a crisis orientation to a proactive futurist orientation that will accelerate the realizing of the just society we aspire to build together.
 
The image to the right, adapted from Grantmakers for Effective Organizations’ Supporting Movements Framework, represents our approach to moving our mission forward as an institutional anchor advocate, investor, broker/translator/facilitator, healer, connector, and learner.
 
  • As institutional anchor advocate with 130 years in mission and counting - aligning with the visionary leadership of Rev. Starsky Wilson, we will continue to transform from a grantmaking foundation that advocates to an institutional advocate that makes grants. And we will continue to provide expertise support beyond grants that holds accountability for ourselves, our partners in philanthropy and systems and elevate community voice, vision and power. 

  • As investor, we are committed to stewardship over the corpus and partnership with other investors who share our values and our vision to attract new investment dollars for the purpose of sustaining the work generationally. Being an investor also means investing in growing and supporting a community leadership pipeline that retains the talent and expertise of young leaders in community with our elders to sustain the change we seek.
 
  • As broker/translator/facilitator we will dismantle white supremacy culture to allow for the inclusive beloved community that God intends found in deep relationship, community rootedness, and connectedness in something bigger than ourselves – abiding love. From transactional to relational, valuing lived experience and expertise co-equal with degrees and title: both sides of the fence must come to a shared table if we’re ever going to overcome this chronic stagnation we’ve called progress in this part of the Midwest.
 
  • As healer we will hold space for traditional partners like healthcare providers and faith communities inclusive of the United Church of Christ and Black church traditions like my own – the Church of God in Christ—to infuse joy, Spirit, and healing arts into this work. We will welcome culturally congruent partners like community health workers and others who center healing to address the level of grief and loss our community is reeling from now and for a generation to come.
 
  • As connector we – especially through the community asset of the Deaconess Center – will host and convene with the intent to foster and build trusting relationships that cross traditional barriers by sector, generations, intersectional identities, geographic footprint, and spiritual practices. All for the purpose of the improved health of the community and its people.
 
  • As learner together with you we will root new understanding and awakenings in taking action. Learning from our successes and making it right from our inevitable failed tries. There’s a lot I’ve learned. And there’s quite a bit that hasn’t been revealed to me yet. Thank you in advance for sharpening me. Evaluating impact together with other partners to know if life has gotten better or worse as perceived and lived by our young people through the lens of racial equity will remain our commitment.
 
We have work to do, critical work. But first, I leave you with two asks and my personal commitments:
 
My asks of you: (1) Give us the grace to do what my mentor Sr. Mary Antona Ebo and Rev. Richard Ellerbrake captured for me when he said, “in all, be open to the Spirit and go do as the Spirit leads.” (2) Every one of us is called to be a healer, policy influencer, and history maker. Your leadership no matter who you are or where you sit in the circle of life is vital in this moment. All that you’ve been through and the strength found in you has been preserved for this moment to help finish the work that has remained unfinished on our watch. The ask: don’t live life as a question mark. Live life as an exclamation point: be the healer, policy influencer and history maker you a called to be.
 
My commitments to you: (1) We will seek the wisdom of the community, but we will not exploit it. (2) Deaconess will work in partnership and in covenant relationship where the will of the Spirit and the will of the people meet. (3) I will listen with new ears and an open heart. No voice is too small and no vision is too audacious to influence our work.
 
Now, let’s get to work and do what must be done. 
 
In service to the mission,
 
Bethany Johnson-Javois 
President & CEO
Deaconess Foundation
PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: COMMUNITY BUILDERS NETWORK OF METRO ST. LOUIS
The Community Builders Network of Metro St. Louis (CBN) gathers community leaders of various backgrounds to build engaged and equitable neighborhoods. They envision a St. Louis region where all people live in safe, economically strong, and vibrant neighborhoods and all community-based organizations are sustainable, supported, and valued. CBN began on September 29, 2011 at a meeting of over 30 community building nonprofits from across the St. Louis area. These pioneer members were looking for ways to support each other as peers and advocate for critical issues and policy with a shared voice—especially as federal and state dollars that support community building work continue to shrink. 
 
Deaconess Foundation supports Community Builders Network through our Responsive Grants portfolio. With our support the CBN commissioned the St. Louis Affordable Housing Report Card for the Affordable Housing Trust Funds (AHTFs) in St. Louis City and County. The St. Louis Affordable Housing Report Card was created as an accessible, easy-to-use tool for community organizations, housing advocates, regional decision-makers, and residents in St. Louis City and County who want to see growth in and more equitable use of affordable housing resources. The Report Card was released on November 8 and is available at affordablestl.com
 
Learn more about Community Builders Network of Metro St. Louis on their website.
FROM THE FOUNDATION: ENGAGE IN REDISTRICTING PROCESSES
Now that the Census is complete and its data distributed, states and localities around the country are busy drawing new legislative maps or actively considering proposals – including here in Illinois and Missouri. Redistricting is a process that occurs every ten years following the release of the U.S. Census. Legislative bodies redraw or adjust electoral district boundary lines to account for population shifts. The intended purpose of redistricting is to ensure every person’s vote counts in accordance with the federal Voting Rights Act. It is imperative that residents and communities are engaged and apart of these processes.
Of notable novelty, for the first time in 100 years the City of St. Louis will be reducing the number of wards from 28 to 14. On November 9 Deaconess joined 20 other organizations in the St. Louis Metropolitan area in calling on the Board of Aldermen of the City of Saint Louis to hold additional public meetings following the release of each draft map to provide equitable opportunities for residents to give feedback and contribute to and participate in the redistricting process. To date, the Aldermanic Legislation Committee has released three draft maps for public comment and held virtual public meetings.
 
More drafts are expected, and we encourage residents to review the draft maps and submit comment through the public comment portal. The Legislation Committee published a tentative schedule for the redistricting process that began in late October:
 
Oct. 25 - Nov. 24 - Public Comment Portal Open
Oct. 27 - Oct. 31 - Develop first draft map after conversations with Board members
Nov. 1 - First DRAFT map released
Nov. 9 - Second DRAFT map released
Nov. 11 - Third DRAFT map released
Nov. 1 - Nov. 16 - Community Engagement and Public Comment on proposed DRAFT map to solicit and collect revisions from Board members and community members
Nov. 17 - Nov. 18 -Legislation Committee Hearings to make changes to the map and adopt changes
Nov. 19 - Second Reading of Board Bill 101
Nov. 23 - Nov. 24 - Perfection of Board Bill 101
Dec. 3 - Third Reading and Final Passage of Board Bill 101
 
No matter where you reside, actively engage in the redistricting process in your city or county and state. Robust public participation in democracy at all levels and stages empowers residents to take action to build stronger communities. An inclusive, representative democracy is critical to achieving our vision of child well-being through racial equity. Fair and equitable maps is a means to the end.
 
Redistricting In the News Around the Region
 
PARTNERSHIP & CAPACITY BUILDING: NEW GRANTMAKING PORTAL
In 2017 we publicly released the results of Deaconess Foundation’s Foundation Core Capacity Assessment. The Foundation Core Capacity Tool (FCCAT) is an organizational assessment tool, administered by the TCC Group, that measures institutional capacity considered critical for foundation effectiveness. It measures five dimensions that make up a larger organizational effectiveness framework: leadership, management, adaptive ability, technical faculty, and organizational culture. While the FCCAT looks more comprehensively at how foundations function as a whole, it does measure strengths and challenges of a foundation’s capacity to develop efficient grantmaking processes. Our steepest challenge and most significant area for improvement identified fell within the technical capacity dimension. Plainly, the aggregated findings indicated the Foundation did not have the necessary technology resources (equipment, systems, software, etc.) to run efficient operations.
 
The gap in technical capacity inhibited the Foundation’s ability to efficiently implement organizational and programmatic functions. We have been busy working to increase our capacity in this area. Over the past few years, we have acquired the necessary technology infrastructure and external technology partners to increase our capacity to improve functions across the Deaconess enterprise. Particularly in our grantmaking program area, we have spent the past several months developing a new grantmaking portal using the Blackbaud Grantmaking platform. Beginning in January 2022, we will begin receiving grant proposals through the portal. With this shift will come a new user experience for submitting grant proposals for funding. We have published both a written and video guide to help navigate the new process which are available here. With the new portal we will, at minimum, streamline the submission of grant proposals for our partners and prospective partners and automate internal workflows for Foundation staff.
 
Our partners and stakeholders have been and continue to be open, honest, and candid with us, so as we engage the new process together in the new year, please share feedback on your experience using the portal. We appreciate your participation and investment in Deaconess and helping us to improve our own capacity, practices, and policies to better serve our mission, partners, and community.
AT THE CENTER: WINTER SABBATH
As the year winds down Deaconess Center for Child Well-Being will be observing its annual sabbath beginning in December. As reflected throughout the year in Deaconess Center’s practice of a weekly Sabbath on Sundays, the Sabbath tradition provides opportunity for restoration, reflection, and rest.
 
In this expression, Deaconess Center observes a time of Sabbath annually for four weeks. From December 17 to January 13, no convenings will take place at the Center or on its campus. Instead, we will tend to the physical needs of the space, including painting common spaces and deep cleaning convening rooms. We look forward to welcoming you in a fully refreshed space in the new year.
IN THE NEWS
Affordable housing report card says St. Louis, St. Louis County need to do better
 
Andrea Y. Henderson | St. Louis Public Radio
 
A group of housing organizations has given St. Louis and St. Louis County failing grades on affordable housing for Black households, low-income families and renters.
 
St. Louis and St. Louis County needs more than 35,000 affordable housing units to provide for Black households, low-income families and renters, according to the St. Louis Affordable Housing Report.
 
The Affordable Housing Trust Fund Coalition, a group of over 30 housing organizations and advocates, published the first-ever report to highlight the gaps in affordable housing and to provide recommendations on ways officials could create new housing opportunities for many households.
 
In St. Louis and St. Louis County, Black people and low-income families are spending much more than they can afford on housing and discriminatory policies make it difficult to find better housing, said Cristina Garmendia, founder of URBNRX, the organization that created the report.
 
“While we're not allowed anymore to discriminate on the basis of race, you can discriminate on the basis of income,” Garmendia said. “I think it's really a smokescreen, to continue to discriminate on the basis of race. We're just calling it a different name.” Read more >>>
Beyond Housing: Focusing on economic development in north St. Louis County
 
FOX 2 Now
 
Beyond Housing’s Once and For All effort focused on transforming the under-resourced areas of north St. Louis County. Beyond Housing’s vision is to create a stronger and more prosperous St. Louis. Ken Christian and Chris Krehmeyer visited Studio STL to discuss the plans to better the health of citizens and to offer the best education and employment opportunities.” Watch>>>
WHAT WE'RE READING...
Few Foundations Give Groups They Support Decision-Making Power on Funding Priorities | Emily Finchum-Mason | The Chronicle of Philanthropy | November 2021
 
Reimagining the US Public Health Sector | Kevin T. Kirkpatrick | Stanford Social Innovation Review | November 2021
 
Reimagining Capacity Building: Navigating Culture, Systems & Power | Grantmakers for Effective Organizations | October 2021
PARTNER OPPORTUNITIES AND EVENTS
November 17: Addressing Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Issues in Schools with FOCUS St. Louis, 8 – 9 AM. This event is free, but registration is required. Click here to register. 
 
November 17: Action St. Louis hosts the #WeDraw314 People’s Map town hall, 6 – 7 PM. In-person at Deaconess Center for Child Well-Being (1000 N. Vandeventer Ave., St. Louis, MO) Click here to register. 
 
November 18: Missouri Health Care for All hosts virtual phone banking for Medicaid Expansion, 5:30 – 8:30 PM. Click here to sign up
 
November 18: Applications and Nominations deadline for the Racial Healing + Justice Fund Community Governance BoardClick here to learn more
 
November 18: Application deadline for Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis and The League of Student Advocates Policy Fellowship ProgramClick here to learn more and apply
 
November 30: November Tenant Meeting hosted by ArchCity Defenders and Action St. Louis, 6 – 7:30 PM. Text TENANT to 314-789-8694 for more information. 
 
December 7: The History of Afro-Christian Churches in the UCC, 3:30 – 4:30 PM. Hosted by United Church of Christ. Click here to learn more register
 
East Side Aligned is seeking nominations for The Champion’s Initiative, highlighting those in the Greater East St. Louis area advancing equity and justice with and for young people. Click here for the Youth Nomination FormClick here for the Adults, Organizations, Events, & Initiatives Nomination Form
 
Missouri Faith Voices (MFV) is hiring for the role of Executive Director. The Executive Director is responsible for three primary roles: 1) Organizational development and oversight, including supervising and development of staff; 2) Fundraising, including the cultivation of funder relationships, application and management of grants, membership recruitment, and individual donor management; 3) Statewide collaboration and organizing around issues that impact communities in Missouri. Click here to contact MFV for more information.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: ANNUAL JOINT MEETING OF DEACONESS BOARDS
On Tuesday, November 9, 2021, the public Annual Joint Meeting of the Deaconess Foundation and Deaconess Center for Child Well-Being Boards was conducted in a virtual format and streamed live. Bethany Johnson-Javois, President and CEO of Deaconess Foundation, delivered an address to the St. Louis community for the first time in her new role.
Stay Connected!