#OnWhatMatters: Social Justice Leaders Share Their Innovative Plans for a More Just World
From disability rights activists calling for fair economic reform to sustainability experts pushing for the protection of natural resources, social justice leaders around the globe play a pivotal role in making the world a better place for all who live in it.
In our interview series “On What Matters,” Ford Foundation leaders speak to a range of our social justice grantees about the fields they operate in—from restorative justice to immigration, reforming global aid structures to narrative change to ethical technology—to learn more about the biggest challenges facing our society today. And we hear their bold solutions for a more just world.
In the first three episodes of our latest season, you’ll learn how Adeso’s Degan Ali is changing the way people deliver humanitarian aid, how Equal Justice USA’s Jamila Hodge is encouraging restorative justice strategies that can transform the American criminal justice system, how National Disability Rights Network’s Marlene Sallo is amplifying where disability intersects with other identities, and much more.
Tune in and discover how social justice leaders are reshaping our world, one issue at a time.
On What Matters Season 3
Centering Disability Rights and Justice With Marlene Sallo and Hilary Pennington
Marlene Sallo of the National Disability Rights Network and Hilary Pennington of the Ford Foundation talk about the systems that support and fail the disability community and how disability justice is essential to building a multiracial democracy.
Advancing Community-Based Violence Intervention With Jamila Hodge and Sarita Gupta
Jamila Hodge of Equal Justice USA and Sarita Gupta of the Ford Foundation talk about community-based violence intervention and the importance of promoting a trauma-informed public health response to violence. Jamila explains how, if we want to address institutional racism, we must address the root causes of violence and center those most impacted.
On What Matters Season 2
Working Towards a Truly Just Energy Transition with Hilary Pennington and Saliem Fakir
Saliem Fakir, the founder and executive director of the African Climate Foundation, the first grantmaking foundation in Africa focused on furthering solutions for sustainable climate development, joins Hilary Pennington to discuss the urgent need to address climate change and South Africa’s promising Just Energy Transition Partnership.
Making AI systems more just with Hilary Pennington and Dr. Timnit Gebru
Dr. Timnit Gebru, founder and executive director of the Distributed Artificial Intelligence Research Institute (DAIR), joins Hilary Pennington to discuss how an inclusive and collaborative approach to creating AI systems can address the uneven benefits and harmful impacts of technology on society.
Holding corporations accountable with Hilary Pennington and Fernanda Hopenhaym
Fernanda Hopenhaym is the co-executive director of the Project on Organizing, Development, Education, and Research (PODER), a nonprofit in Latin America that pushes for corporate accountability for human rights and environmental abuses. Fernanda and Hilary discuss how to keep businesses ethical and transparent by using feminist and human rights organizing strategies.
Saving forests while eradicating poverty with Hilary Pennington and Gita Syahrani
Hilary Pennington talks with Gita Syahrani about how engaging Indigenous and local communities in sustainability efforts can lead to greater economic mobility for them. Her work shows how civic engagement at the district level can have global impact.
The future of reproductive justice with Hilary Pennington and Dr. Herminia Palacio
Hilary Pennington and Dr. Herminia Palacio discuss this moment in the reproductive justice movement, how different communities are impacted, and what the United States can learn from countries that have won gender and reproductive health victories.
Reimagining how we think about disability with Hilary Pennington and Dessa Cosma
Hilary Pennington talks to Dessa Cosma about disability justice and inclusion. They discuss the importance of using intersectional approaches to activism and how to restructure the economy to be more just for disabled people.
On What Matters Season 1
The future of feminism: Hilary Pennington with Geetanjali Misra
Geetanjali Misra has bore witness to the evolution of feminism both on the ground in the U.S. and India and in her work as an activist. Seeing patterns change and movements shift, she speaks about the importance of intersectionality in building a more inclusive feminist future.
COVID’s impact on civic space: Hilary Pennington with Poonam Joshi
Civic space is essential for democracy. It allows people to participate in society and communicate freely and without discrimination. But, according to Poonam Joshi, director of Funders’ Initiative for Civil Society director, there are threats that need to be addressed before we solidify the civil society we want in the future.
Funding Black feminism: Hilary Pennington with Tynesha McHarris
Black feminist movements are advancing social justice globally. Tynesha Harris, one of the founders of the Black Feminist Fund, aims to channel more support to movement leaders and create a model of true solidarity. Racial, gender, and class injustice need an intersectional approach that acknowledges the inherent value of Black women.
Philanthropy and environmental justice: Hilary Pennington with Laura García
When it comes to climate change, time is running out. But communities all over the world are working on solutions, and philanthropy needs to center their ideas and perspectives to win this fight. Laura Garcia, CEO of GlobalGreen Grants Fund, shares how funding grassroots movements can address challenges at the intersection of social and environmental justice.
Technology and gender: Hilary Pennington with Mariana Valente
The internet is a force for good, but it must be guided by fundamental human and privacy rights and offer social protection, said InternetLab director Mariana Valente. In this way, technology can advance equality and, with the right policies in place, be used as a tool for advocates to organize.
The power of storytelling: Hilary Pennington with Moky Makura
For too long, Africa has been defined in the media by stereotypes and oversimplified narratives. With Ford’s support, Africa No Filter is disrupting these narratives by empowering storytellers helping to create a nuanced, balanced view of the continent and an equitable, inclusive way of how to partner with it.
What essential workers need right now: Hilary Pennington with Saket Soni
Disasters present the opportunity to bring us together and give us the chance to reevaluate our priorities and ask what’s really important. Labor organizer Saket Soni sees COVID-19 as a prologue to other threats, like climate change. He says disaster responses need to focus on strengthening essential workers.
Philanthropy and Black women: Hilary Pennington with Teresa C. Younger
Social justice organizations led by women of color often receive less funding. Teresa C. Younger, CEO of the Ms. Foundation, explains why philanthropy needs to center women of color to address systemic racism and uplift women and girls of color for a more just future.
How young feminists are organizing: Hilary Pennington with Hakima Abbas
COVID-19 has impacted the way we work, but it also exacerbated gender inequality in the workplace. Hakima Abbas, of the Association for Women’s Rights in Development, believes we can prevent any further damage by including feminist leaders across the board in devising solutions.
How nonprofits make an impact: Hilary Pennington with Tim Delaney
Over one million nonprofits exist in the United States, but Tim Delaney, the CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits, has an idea to make them even more impactful. To him, bringing social justice groups together can transform philanthropy for the benefit of all.
Immigrants are essential: Hilary Pennington with Marielena Hincapié
Immigration has been used as a weapon to divide the United States. The National Immigration Law Center aims to help the country understand that immigrants are not only important members of our communities and essential workers, but they are also valuable political constituencies needed to make American democracy work.
Social justice and pop culture: Hilary Pennington with Bridgit Antoinette Evans
Pop culture plays an important role in advancing social justice. Bridgit Evans of Pop Culture Collaborative produces cultural strategies that build on points of connection to ensure policy changes are not just symbolic. By finding commonalities through culture, she believes we can create a world where everyone feels they belong.
Global work needs to be local: Hilary Pennington with Anannya Bhattacharjee
While the labor movement has worked to improve the lives of garment factory workers globally, activist Anannya Bhattacharjee advocates that solutions need to start locally and come from the ground up to have a significant impact on workers’ lives.
Essential workers are the economy: Hilary Pennington with Erica Smiley
The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed the way we as a world work. As we face this inflection point, Erica Smiley, executive director of Jobs With Justice, believes people—especially essential workers—need to have the right to come together collectively to organize and negotiate their conditions to build a global economy that works for all.
The urgency of this social moment: Hilary Pennington with Eric Ward
We need to dismantle racism to make inclusive democracy truly possible. Eric Ward of Western States Center believes smaller movements can help support bigger waves of change. From creating cohorts of emerging leaders to encouraging small group interactions can help protect democracy and put an end to white supremacy.