Gathering Ground Inc

Elevating Equity, co-created in partnership with Justin Laing, Hillombo LLC, is evolving into a multi-pronged approach to identifying oppression in our social sector and designing actions that dismantle those systems, build resistance to those systems, and advance the creation and commitment of equitable organizations and processes.

Our Elevating Equity community includes nearly 100 people from nonprofits, philanthropy, government, & community groups. In collaboration with a team of anti-racist experts, facilitators & documenters, we engaged our diverse community in a journey that resulted in:
-A dialogical approach that examines personal stories of oppression;
-The teaching of an anti-oppressive framework influenced in part by Freire's Pedagogy of the Oppressed;
-A community of people dedicated to taking action that disrupts oppression in their organizations & the social sector;
-A cohort-wide commitment to staying mutually accountable to each other.
EE webpage: bit.ly/3m5k2gn

In 2021, we launched Communities in Conversation (CiC) – a vibrant, fast-paced, action-focused, cross-sector think tank in a one-hour Zoom gathering. CiC provides a platform for dialogue on critical issues. Join with your peers from throughout New Jersey as we collectively puzzle-through current challenges, together.

During each CiC, a handful of individuals will present their challenge. The majority of us serve as the think-tank: a diverse group of creative and strategic thinkers who offer expertise, resources, and connections to help our peers solve their challenges. During Communities in Conversation we pose the questions: “What issue are you trying to solve and where do you need a partner, an alliance or access to certain kinds of resources (knowledge, capital, etc.)? Where are you stuck?”
CiC webpage: bit.ly/3koXGWy

In times of crisis, connection, communication and collaborative action are essential. Gathering Ground’s cross-sector movement provides the opportunity for quick activation of networks to disseminate timely information in rapidly changing environments and for people and organizations to connect and coordinate efforts.

2020 COVID-19 Briefings: In response to the global shutdown from COVID-19, as situations rapidly deteriorated and information changed on a daily basis, we launched a 10-week series of virtual statewide conversations and activated our expansive network of colleagues with expertise in health, nonprofit advocacy, food justice, journalism, accessibility, education, emergency management and government services, and philanthropy, among other fields.
--Summary resources: bit.ly/3J1azjj
--You Tube Playlist: bit.ly/3lTUum8

Each year Gathering Ground hosts a Summit for our communities, collaborators and supporters for a day of knowledge sharing, network weaving and creative thinking. Our Summit is an opportunity for individuals to connect with other people driving change in their communities and across states to share ideas, challenges, and innovative solutions.

We focus on real-world examples that show how people in communities are creatively problem-solving, building partnerships, driving equitable change, and creating impact in a variety of sectors and industries, so that participants walk away with practical information and contacts for continuing to create positive change.