What's Happening?
The Rockefeller Brothers Fund (RBF) is actively supporting the RISE Together Fund (RTF) to advance power-building and civic engagement among Black, African, Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim, and South Asian (BAMEMSA)-led organizations. This initiative, which
began in 2019, aims to address discrimination and over-policing that undermine democracy and civil liberties within these communities. Keesha Gaskins-Nathan, director of RBF's Democratic Practice–United States program, emphasizes that this partnership helps build self-determinative civic leadership and organizing capacity, enabling these communities to shape policies and institutions that affect their lives. The RBF's broader goal is to foster a vital and fully inclusive democracy in the United States where civic participation is not constrained by discrimination or surveillance.
Why It's Important?
This initiative is important because it directly addresses systemic barriers to civic participation faced by marginalized communities in the U.S. By supporting BAMEMSA-led organizations, RBF is working to empower groups that have historically been excluded from meaningful engagement in governance due to factors like over-policing, surveillance, and discriminatory profiling. Strengthening the civic leadership and organizing capacity of these communities can lead to more representative policy ideas and effective democratic representation. This work is crucial for countering democratic decline by disrupting concentrations of power and protecting civil liberties, ultimately contributing to a more just and equitable society. The focus on grassroots organizing and civic innovations aims to ensure that the constitutional promises of democracy are delivered to all segments of the population.
What's Next?
The Rockefeller Brothers Fund will continue its partnership with the RISE Together Fund, focusing on strategies to improve public participation in governance. This includes ongoing support for grassroots organizing, development of civic leadership opportunities for underrepresented populations, and the adoption of effective civic innovations. The RBF will also likely continue to engage in funder learning communities to connect with grantees and link its goals to the work being done on the ground, including civic engagement, women's leadership, and narrative development. The long-term vision is to foster a fully inclusive democracy where all communities can participate without fear of discrimination or surveillance, suggesting sustained efforts in advocacy and community empowerment.
Beyond the Headlines
The deeper implications of this work extend to the very fabric of American democracy. By empowering marginalized communities to shape policies, the initiative challenges existing power structures and promotes a more equitable distribution of political influence. This can lead to a more robust and resilient democracy that truly reflects the diversity of its population. The focus on addressing discrimination and surveillance highlights the ongoing struggle for civil liberties and the need for continuous advocacy to protect fundamental rights. Furthermore, by fostering self-determinative civic leadership, the program aims to create lasting change that goes beyond immediate policy outcomes, building a foundation for sustained community resilience and political agency. This approach recognizes that a healthy democracy requires not just formal rights but also the capacity for all citizens to exercise those rights effectively.
