By Taryn Palumbo Diversity, equity, and inclusion, known as DEI, has become a lightning rod across all sectors. As corporations, academic institutions, and other public and private entities face increasing scrutiny in today’s landscape, the future of many of these programs is uncertain. From deleting DEI language on websites to eliminating diversity hiring goals, businesses […]
In the wake of the recent fires in Los Angeles, emergency food response leaders are reflecting on both the lessons learned and strategizing for how to plan for more effective disaster response in the future. Orange County Grantmakers (OCG), a nonprofit which serves as a hub for funders who want to be more strategic and
Preparing and Planning: Emergency Food Response in Orange County Read More »
Our phones, wearables, and computers silently capture streams of data — digital traces that reveal insights into our behaviors, emotions, and mental well-being. In a world where demand for mental health services far exceeds the supply of therapists, digital technology offers a powerful solution: expanding access to care, connecting people to support, and collecting data
Tracing Mental Health: How Everyday Tech Can Support Well-Being Read More »
To achieve systemic change, we must go beyond the numbers to look at the stories and people who are contributing to a more equitable Orange County. Last month, Orange County Grantmakers brought together experts to address our collective responsibility to address Black maternal and infant mortality. The Beyond Equity Learning Series presentation shed light on
Orange County is known for its amusement parks, wealth, and conservative politics, but our region is also a space for labor movement activism, resistance to segregation, struggles for public space, long-lasting campaigns for environmental justice, and more. On April 25, OC Grantmakers hosted the first session in year two of our Beyond Equity learning series,
Uplifting Stories of Community Power in Orange County Read More »
By Anne Olin, Charitable Ventures and Taryn Palumbo, Orange County Grantmakers It is an important election year for the country, locally, regionally, and nationally. As part of our commitment to strengthening our communities, Charitable Ventures (“CV”) and Orange County Grantmakers (“OCG”) are reigniting the OC Votes, Get Out the Vote Campaign for the duration of the year. Launched initially
Why OC Votes: What Would Orange County look like if Everyone Voted? Read More »
At Orange County Grantmakers, we are committed to supporting an inclusive and equitable Orange County where all people, no matter their race, ethnicity, or religious preference, feel welcome and safe. We denounce all forms of hate and violence that run counter to these ideals. While the brutal terrorist attacks on Israel and the ongoing violence
by Alison Edwards,(She/Her), CEO, OC Human Relations; Taryn Palumbo, (She/Her), Executive Director, Orange County Grantmakers; Peg Corley (She/Her), Executive Director, LGBTQ Center Orange County; Uyen Hoang (she/they), Executive Director, Viet Rainbow of Orange County (VROC) In America we have many freedoms to celebrate, in fact, some might say that those freedoms are what separate this
The Pride Flag Should Fly in the Name of True Community. Read More »
By: Ameera Basmadji, Access California Services Orange County continues to be an ever-changing landscape. A landscape that has been home to diverse communities throughout history. As we welcome new immigrant and refugee communities, it’s important we ask ourselves – are we doing our part to help them belong? And are we helping build an equitable
Reflections from the 2022 Summit: A Conversation with Language Justice Champions Read More »
By: Alison Edwards, OC Human Relations and Chancellor “Chance” Patterson, The King Center In October at the OC Grantmakers Annual Summit, we – Ali Edwards, CEO of OC Human Relations, and Chancellor “Chance” Patterson, Head of Marketing and Communications at The King Center – led a breakout session conversation around social justice. It was a
Reflections from the 2022 OCG Summit: A Call to follow the path of Kingian Nonviolence Read More »
How do we build a compassionate and inclusive America in an age of distrust? WAJAHAT ALI knows from personal experience that when we come together to be the superheroes of our own stories, we can create honest social change. The beloved TED speaker has written for the New York Times, the Washington Post, and The Atlantic about our urgent issues—immigration, politics, parenthood—with boldness, hope, and humor. His memoir Go Back to Where You Came From, one of Amazon’s Best Books of the Year, follows his life as a Muslim Pakistani-American on a surprising, emotional, and challenging quest for the good life. Iconic journalist Katie Couric says that “we are all so fortunate to be on the receiving end of his intellect, his humanity, and his heart.”
“With wit and charm, Ali delivers a masterful meditation on growing up brown in America...he gives us a clear-eyed affirmation of the country America could be.” — Mara Gay, New York Times
Wajahat Ali uses his platform to fight tirelessly for the social change we need in our country—and he isn’t afraid to get personal while doing it. The Daily Beast columnist and former New York Times writer, TED speaker, award-winning playwright, and Peabody-nominated producer of the documentary series The Secret Life of Muslims offers us his experiences of triumph over hardship as a beacon of hope and resilience in the face of life’s impossible situations. From his experiences of Islamophobia growing up as a Muslim Pakistani-American to his two-year-old daughter’s liver cancer diagnosis, Wajahat is living proof that when we share our authentic stories, we build the America we wish to live in.”
In his memoir Go Back to Where You Came From: And Other Helpful Recommendations on How to Become American, Wajahat teaches us how to create our own superhero origin story, invest in hope for the future of America, and enact real social change. The book was called “biting and funny and full of heart” by NPR. Representative Ilhan Omar called Wajahat’s work “hilarious” and “deeply moving”, and legendary writer Dave Eggers said it was the book he’d “been hoping Wajahat Ali would write for ten years—hilarious, stylistically fearless, deeply humane.”
Wajahat is also the author of The Domestic Crusaders—the first major play about Muslim-Americans in a post-9/11 world. He was the lead researcher and author for the Center for American Progress’s seminal report “Fear Inc., Roots of the Islamophobia Network in America,” and served as a national correspondent for Al Jazeera America, where he told stories about communities and individuals often marginalized or under-reported in mainstream media.
As Creative Director of Affinis Wajahat Labs, he worked to create social entrepreneurship initiatives to support and uplift marginalized communities. He also worked with the US State Department to design and implement the “Generation Change” leadership program to empower young social entrepreneurs. Wajahat initiated chapters in eight countries, including Pakistan and Singapore. For his work, he was honored as a “Generation Change Leader” by Sec. of State Clinton and recognized as an “Emerging Muslim American Artist” by the Muslim Public Affairs Council.
He has given keynote speeches around the world such as TED, The Aspen Ideas Festival, Google, the United Nations, and The New Yorker Festival. His writing appears regularly in the New York Times, The Atlantic, the Washington Post, and The Guardian. He’s a Senior Fellow at The Western States Center and Auburn Seminary and co-host of Al Jazeera’s The Stream.