Stories of Philanthropic Leadership in Advancing Regional and ...

peer work, we can reestablish a significant role forresearch—the often forgotten component of themovement as we move to action,” he says. “Part ofwhat drove the movement was some prettyinteresting studies on how inequity plays out incommunities. Research and organizing need to gohand in hand.” Anthony sees future success tied tothe people the movement can serve. The broadeninginterest of the middle class in improving regionalequity must be articulated and effectivelycommunicated, because the language used to discussregional equity concepts is not yet accessible enoughto wide audiences.A Role for Philanthropy and Other Partners“There really are these three kinds of basicregionalisms: economic, environmental, andregional equity, which positions itself to be able toaddress better social disparity,” Pastor postulates.“Foundations can be institutions that ensure there isa serious equity component. They can increaseengagement, build capacity, encourage investment,reach business groups. These are things foundationscan bring forward to the table; they can weavetogether institutions.”Starrett points to several steps that he has seenfoundations take in his organization’s role as aphilanthropic affinity group committed to smartergrowth policies and practices and equity issues. “Weknow foundations can provide direct, core operatingsupport for proactive organizing, effectiveintermediaries, and institutions that generatestrategic applied research. We know that this kind ofgrantmaking works. Now we need to see more of itthroughout philanthropy.”Anthony agrees that there is a specific role forphilanthropy in advancing regional equity. “Ageneration of regional equity demonstrations thatconnect a policy framework to outcomes and largerconstituencies is developing. These demonstrationscan be used to convene actors, build networks,encourage cross-issue collaboration, and take raceand class out of the closet.“The political climate of the day supports thedominance of narrow interests that underminecommunity,” notes powell. “Regional equity is sayingthat we have to have a collective shared communitythat exists consistently. Public education,intermediaries, and other organizations that connectequity to the greater public good can get crucialsupport from philanthropy.”Foundations are not the only critical partner as themovement goes forward. As Blackwell notes,“Regional equity must connect to the interest of theprivate sector inorder to besuccessful. Thereforeduring this nextperiod, we must bebuilding thoserelationships, findingthe language to speakto business …crafting win-winscenarios becomesessential.” Part ofthat process will bemaking a strongercase that the policiesand strategiesembraced by regionalequity actually work. “We have to demonstrate howwe measure regional equity statistically,” declaresRusk, an accomplished researcher in his own right.“We have to bring some real rigor to define what weare trying to do—are we getting there?” Pastoragrees. “This movement has made quite a lot ofprogress. A critical reflection now opens up the wayfor a lot of exciting work.”“Foundations can beinstitutions that ensurethere is a serious equitycomponent. They canincrease engagement,build capacity, encourageinvestment, reach businessgroups. These are thingsfoundations can bringforward to the table; they canweave together institutions.”—Manuel PastorBlackwell offers a caution as the work goes forward.“Issue-based agendas will not ultimately procure thegroundswell needed for transformation to a societywhere everyone can participate and prosper. Regionalequity has to catch fire the way the suburbanizationof America did, or the environmental movement. Weneed a vision that builds a society that focuses oncapturing the best everyone has to offer. That is astall an order as it gets. The intermediate steps comeout of our work today, but ultimately that is whatwill have to happen.”Part II: Perspectives on Advancing Regional and Neighborhood Equity8