Libra Foundation

A message from our president, Supriya Lopez Pillai: Greetings Libra Community, It is with great tenderness that I reach out to say hello and usher in this new year together. At a time when we’d be wishing one another a happy new year, my heart is with our people in the great city of Los Angeles, facing an unprecedented disaster, contending with so much loss and devastation. Last Monday, a day we celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a new administration took office and we were all hit with a barrage of executive orders, bringing a great deal of uncertainty and challenge to movement work and the communities we support. I have been thinking about how incongruent Dr. King’s legacy is alongside the actions of this administration. We live with so many contradictions; it is important to remove them from the shadows to see them for what they are in order to face into them.?? ? What is core to me is the belief in the power of people, the power of movements, the power for collective capacity toward big leaps and change for all. It is hard to adhere to strategy and a plan when we are batted about in chaos. It is hard to remember or even see the road ahead when we are clouded by turbulence and debris. But this much I know: we weather these times together. I believe so very much in you, in community and in walking the path together.?? ? In this time in which we are all inundated, I want to take a moment to surface and breathe with you. ? I look around me and I see a leaderful movement. I am buoyed by the collective energy that is core to each of us. What I can offer in these challenging times is a steady hand. I am so very proud of the work of the organizations and people the Libra Foundation supports. I am immensely grateful to the team at Libra-- board and staff– that has built this work with community, including the visionary Crystal Hayling to whom I pay much gratitude and thanks. I can assure you that Libra will stay the course in these times and as the winds sway, I will do all I can to find breath and return to center. Where, in the chaos, may we find the opportunities together to leap toward a brighter future? Where can we find our moments to take stock, honor how far we have come on the shoulders of our ancestors? Celebrate the victories, big or small? And yes, where must we make space to grieve. One of my teachers reminds me of the adage that tears are necessary to water the seeds of our future flowers.? I am so grateful for this opportunity to lead and I am undaunted by what’s ahead because I know I am not alone. You have a partner in me as we move together, onward, toward the same horizon. In solidarity,? Supriya Lopez Pillai Artwork by Amir Khadar.

We’re hiring a program associate to support the Digital Democracy Portfolio (DDP). We believe that no matter where people live or who they are, everyone should be able to access the news and information they need to engage in civic life and to participate fully in online conversations without facing discrimination or harassment. Our Digital Democracy Portfolio sits within our Public Square program, which supports trustworthy local news and investigative reporting, equitable newsrooms, press freedom, community engagement, and digital spaces that advance democracy. The program associate will report to the Director of the Digital Democracy Portfolio and will collaborate closely with the team. New staff must reside in the Washington, D.C. metro area (DMV). The projected hiring salary for this position is $87,270 per year. https://lnkd.in/eeFq2ErB

We're #Hiring a Grants and Data Associate to join our joyful, collaborative, impactful Oakland-based team. Please apply or spread the word! https://lnkd.in/g4xb5XdF

Not me on a panel with some of my faves! Excited to be in conversation with Dr. Yanique Redwood Brandi HowardJaniece Evans-Page Nicole Taylor and Chanda Smith Baker for the Black Funders Network of the Bay Area. Check out the details on the flyer and join us!

WE’RE HIRING! The Policy Director is full-time role responsible for leading EBC’s state-level policy work, developing and supporting legislative campaigns in coordination with staff, consultants, lobbyists, and impacted leaders. This role includes advancing EBC-sponsored legislation, collaborating in coalitions for policy change, tracking implementation, and analyzing key legislative efforts to drive systemic transformation. Apply today: https://lnkd.in/gcu4uK-e

On February 27,? I was fortunate to be in a conversation with civil rights attorney and author Michelle Alexander and Working Family Party’s national director Maurice Mitchell. In our talk, Maurice and I shared our respective climate losses and our reflections on this moment. In 2012, Maurice lost his home in Hurricane Sandy. About 7 weeks before this event, I lost mine in the Eaton Fire. Together, we spoke about what we each took with us when evacuating our homes. We talked about care and community and the rise in right-wing nationalism as connected to isolation. We went into what our movements need, and we both closed by speaking to the “evidence” we see in the world that keeps us going. https://lnkd.in/g6Q7nq-F I invite you to watch the full discussion and to share it with anyone you think it may resonate with. Working Families Party Essie Justice Group

Looking for a new professional opportunity? Our grantee network job board has 64 open positions, ranging from internships to executive roles. Take a look and learn how you can work for democracy: https://lnkd.in/eemswtPd

In case you missed Kataly Foundation's annual update

Today!

We're #hiring a new Managing Director (MD) of Finance & Operations in Oakland, California. Apply today or share this post with your network.