SC nonprofits Facing Race Together
February 26, 2020
A 2019 gathering of South Carolina’s nonprofit leaders ranked racial equity as the most important issue for them to address in preparing for the future. In response, Together SC will host a groundbreaking gathering, Facing Race Together – 2020 Nonprofit Summit, onMarch 4-6 in Columbia.
Featuring national and regional experts on racial equity, bias and the role of race, the 2020 Summit will provide a forum for courageous dialogue, an opportunity to commit to change and a framework for accountability that will continue long after the Summit concludes.
“There have been conferences about diversity, inclusion and equity, but none specifically focusing on racial equity and the impact it has on the work of nonprofits and their leaders in South Carolina,” said Madeleine McGee, president of Together SC. “It is important for us, as the only organization solely dedicated to advancing SC’s nonprofit leaders, to be a catalyst for transformation and a resource for nonprofit volunteers and professional leaders. Our aim is to meet them wherever they are in their journey to address racial equity in their personal and organizational work.”
With 30 plus breakout sessions, tours, a showing of the Emmanuel movie, and a decompression space, participants will be supported as they confront discomfort and examine the impacts of race on SC outcomes.
“Nonprofits and their partners are often on the front lines of trying to address, through their service delivery, inequities in health, education, housing and financial opportunity that exist for many South Carolinians,” said Melanie Huggins, Richland Library’s executive director. “Barriers to prosperity and wellness exist today because of years of systemic racism. For anyone working to make South Carolina better, Facing Race Together will provide tools for individuals, organizations and communities wanting to have an honest dialogue about our past and taking action to improve our shared future.”
“As a native South Carolinian and a nonprofit leader of color for over 20 years, I welcome opportunities to see more leaders who look like me and look forward to the day when more of us are regarded as valuable in leading systems change. Far more focus is placed on minorities as receivers of services and their deficits, rather than as leaders in developing community solutions. It’s time we changed that, and I feel this year’s Nonprofit Summit will help all of us do so.” shares Sherrie Snipes, Charleston Promise Neighborhood’s CEO and Summit co-chair with Huggins.
“This work takes lots of learning and unlearning. The first step is understanding what racism and system racism really mean and look like,” says McGee. “Together SC is curating resources to assist attendees and others eager to learn.”
About South Carolina Association of Nonprofit Organizations
Founded in 1997, Together SC, formerly known as the South Carolina Association of Nonprofit Organizations, or SCANPO, is the only statewide membership organization and network that brings together charitable nonprofit and philanthropic leaders to strengthen the state’s entire charitable nonprofit community.
The mission of Together SC is to strengthen, unite and advance South Carolina’s nonprofit and philanthropic community.
The Nonprofit Summit is the state’s largest and most comprehensive annual conference for nonprofit professionals, bringing together 600 to 750 leaders each year. Hosted by Together SC, and in its 21styear, recent Summit themes have included: Building Bridges, Community UNITY, and CollaborACTION – all aimed at insuring that SC’s nonprofits and their allies are integral players in successfully building vibrant, equitable communities.
