Orange County Grantmakers

Orange County Grantmakers Hosts the 8th Annual Summit Entitled “Leading Towards Equity” for Over 300 Business, Philanthropy & Nonprofit Leaders

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One-Day Learning Opportunity Focuses on Equity Profile of Orange County and Research Illustrating that Equity is the Path to Inclusive Growth and Prosperity for Local Nonprofit Leaders

SANTA ANA, Calif., (September XX, 2019)—Orange County Grantmakers, a community of philanthropists committed to improving outcomes for Orange County and beyond, will host the 8th annual summit entitled “Leading Towards Equity, Tackling the Challenge Together” on Wednesday, October 2, 2019, at the Delhi Center in Santa Ana, Calif. The summit will offer topics of interest to the nonprofit and philanthropic community and provide a full day of learning and discussion focused on defining equity and the ways in which the community can work together to tackle the inequity challenge. The one-day event is open to executives, staff and board members, presenting an opportunity for leaders of all ages to network, grow and connect.

The one-day event will begin with a session in which Melissa Berton, Academy Award-winning producer and LA teacher, and Elizabeth Scharpf, founder and CEO of Sustainable Health Enterprises (SHE), will discuss how connection with the community can lead to vast social change. Breakout session speakers include nonprofit executives engaging on topics that range from economic mobility and the 2020 Census to civic engagement and ensuring that immigrants are welcomed into the community.

The summit is the next step in a robust discussion about equity in Orange County, coming just months after the release of the 2019 Equity Profile of Orange County. The profile, published by PolicyLink and the Program for Environmental and Regional Equity (PERE) at the University of Southern California, highlights what Orange County must do to lead the way in racial and economic equity, strategies to ensure accountability, and ways the community as a whole can prepare for any challenges along the way. The rising inequality and changing demographics of the region trigger the need to address disparities in order to achieve economic sustainability.

According to the profile, about 58 percent of Orange County’s  3.1 million residents are people of color. This population is expected to become the majority by 2044. As Orange County experiences dramatic demographic change, its regional economy continues to outpace national growth. However, when examining data by race, the profile reveals dramatic countywide disparities: For example, in 2016, the median hourly wage for whites was more than double that of Latinos ($32 versus $15.60). It also states that Orange County’s GDP would have been $83 billion higher if there were no racial gaps in income.

To achieve equity and a level economic playing field in Orange County, the profile suggests specific tactics. These include committing to reducing disparities and improving outcomes, using data for cross-sector dialogue, linking inclusion with innovation, investing in early childhood education and other early interventions, ensuring affordable housing and embedding a prevention-oriented approach to advancing health equity. Other recommendations include promoting immigrant integration, building civic health for underrepresented groups, creating a culture where racial equity is discussed and shared and developing a regional equity strategy that includes indicators of progress and data systems for measuring progress.

The 2019 summit is presented by the St. Joseph Community Health Partnership Fund with media support provided by Cox Communications and in partnership with Bracken’s Kitchen and The Tiyya Foundation’s “Flavors from Afar” catering organization—which gives back to the local community. The event is sponsored by JP Morgan Chase and Wells Fargo (Gold Sponsors); Hoag and Sun Family Foundation (Silver Sponsors); Disneyland Resort, Edwards Lifesciences, Orange County Community Foundation, PIMCO, Peter & Ginny Ueberroth Family Foundation, Union Bank (Bronze Sponsors); United Way (Supporting Partner); and Antis Roofing, Fieldstone Leadership Network OC and Kingston Technology (In-Kind Sponsors).

Registration for the summit is now open to the public at ocgrantmakers.org.

Media Contact

Taryn Palumbo

Executive Director

714.900.2998

Taryn.Palumbo@ocgrantmakers.org

About Orange County Grantmakers

Orange County Grantmakers is a community of philanthropists committed to improving outcomes for Orange County and beyond. Our mission is to advance social impact by supporting, strengthening and building adaptive leadership across our nonprofit and philanthropic community.

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