The Real Estate Foundation of BC was honoured to join The Circle and LEVEL in co-hosting a summit on Racial Equity and Justice in Philanthropy (#REJPFS).

The summit took place from June 22 to 24 and brought together more than 300 participants from across Canada and the United States to learn from the experiences of Black, Indigenous, and people of colour (BIPOC) leaders in working with and for philanthropic organizations.

While this summit took months of preparation, the themes in these sessions – racial injustice, colonization, privilege and power – could not have been timelier. Organizers and speakers challenged funders to move quickly from listening to BIPOC communities to heeding their calls to action.

A full list of resources and graphic recordings is available on The Circle’s website. Highllights include:

• Shifting Structures in Black Philanthropy – Calls to Action for Philanthropic Organizations and the Sector at Large (PDF) and graphic recording (PDF)
• Governance Re-Imagined – session on the impact of board culture and power dynamics on commitments to racial equity and justice – graphic recording (PDF)
• Intersection of Environment, Philanthropy, and Justice – session on the ways climate activism and conservation work has erased the experiences of Indigenous and racialized peoples, and ways funders can support BIPOC-led environmental work – graphic recording (PDF)
• Summit workbook (PDF) and colouring book (PDF)

In our own work to build healthy communities and protect natural environments, REFBC staff members recognize the importance of prioritizing racial equity and justice in our work, grants, and partnerships. We are energized and motivated to continue this work.

Here are some examples of what that work will look like in the coming months:

• Understanding our equity footprint. REFBC will hire a third party to conduct an equity audit of our organization to measure action and progress in all aspects of our work.
• Deepening our support to equity-seeking communities. REFBC will formalize and expand on our commitment to funding, investing in, and supporting First Nations and BIPOC-led organizations.
• Committing to ongoing learning. REFBC will provide regular anti-racism, anti-oppression, and decolonization training for staff and board members.
• Using our relationships and resources to engage others in this work. REFBC recognizes the importance of collaboration in this work. Whenever possible, we will combine our efforts those of public, private, community, and philanthropic partners working to sustainable land use and real estate practices.

This will mean implementing new policies and practices, changing ways we’ve worked for years, and discontinuing ways of working that have caused harm. Despite feeling like we should be further along in this work, we have good knowledge and relations to build on, there is no time like the present, and we feel energized by the challenge to take action within our spheres of influence.

Finally, we would like to express our special thanks to Kris Archie (The Circle) and Vi Nguyen (LEVEL – Vancouver Foundation) for their leadership and creating brave space for important learning at the Summit.