Grant seekers

Focus Area Priorities

In 2017, we announced two broad focus areas—Building an Inclusive Economy and Advancing Equity in Education. We arrived at the decision to focus much of our programmatic work in these two areas after extensive discussion with our partners and reviewing data showing significant racial, economic, and residential disparities among communities of color.

PRIORITY AREAS DEFINED

In 2017–18, Foundation staff conducted extensive listening and strategy sessions with grantees, partners, and directly impacted community members, and we identified six priorities within our two new focus areas. These priorities reflect areas where significant levels of inequity persist, where the community says our resources are most needed, and where we believe we can make the greatest impact now and for the foreseeable future.

Building an Inclusive Economy

ACCESS TO EFFICIENT AND AFFORDABLE TRANSPORTATION

Transportation is often a barrier to individuals and families moving out of poverty. A lack of transportation makes it difficult to obtain and maintain employment, receive healthcare, attend preferred schools, and more.

By improving access to efficient and affordable transportation we seek to reduce underemployment, increase job retention and family sufficiency, and ensure that individuals and families can easily, safely, and affordably get where they need to go. Public transit ought to play an important role in providing efficient and affordable transportation, but other solutions may also be helpful.

Staff Contact

Charlie Gardner | cgardner@wsfoundation.org

REDUCTION IN THE RACIAL WEALTH GAP

The ability to build wealth is essential so families and individuals can be financially stable and realize economic opportunities. Yet, in Forsyth County one-third of Black and Hispanic residents have zero net worth, which is disproportionately high as compared to White residents. This wealth gap is the direct result of historic and current policies that undermine the ability of families of color to build assets while burdening them with chronic debt. The wealth gap also exacerbates racial disparities in education, employment, health, and housing stability.

We’re committed to addressing this devastating wealth gap and the damage it causes. Our strategies include supporting community efforts that increase the value of home and business assets, while also mitigating the negative impact of debt from student loans and government fines and fees.

Staff Contact

Charlie Gardner | cgardner@wsfoundation.org

INCLUSIVE PATHWAYS TO FAMILY-SUSTAINING CAREERS

Job training and education are important, but often aren’t enough to address what is needed to increase long-term family sufficiency, especially for families of color. Supporting opportunities that mitigate and dismantle systemic barriers to higher wage employment can help address high rates of underemployment experienced by people of color.

We support adopting new strategies such as employer-assisted economic mobility programs, changing workplace culture, and creating new or clearer career pathways could address career retention and growth, increase employee satisfaction, and ultimately lead to family-sustaining wages.

Staff Contact

Sandra Fishel-Booth | sfishelbooth@wsfoundation.org

Advancing Equity in Education

POSITIVE BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION STRATEGIES (PRE-K TO 12)

Stark racial disparities persist in disciplinary actions across our education system, from early childhood education through high school. The over-disciplining of Black and brown students often leads to negative outcomes, including reductions in student achievement, engagement, and educational attainment.

Our work in this area focuses on identifying and dismantling systemic biases and practices that lead to the overrepresentation of these students – especially Black boys – in disciplinary statistics. While discipline is necessary to maintain an atmosphere of safety and learning within schools, it must be applied equitably and in concert with fair practices that nurture and support the whole child.

We support student-centered interventions including social emotional learning, restorative practices, and trauma-informed approaches that seek to hold individuals accountable for their actions, while helping them to grow and become more productive members of their schools and communities.

Staff Contact

Layla Garms | lgarms@wsfoundation.org

EQUITABLE ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES

For too long, families of color have had to choose between schools that provide rich enrichment opportunities and rigor and those that serve student bodies that are reflective of their backgrounds and culture. Many of our public schools are segregated, and the inequitable distribution of resources among them has led to greater inequities. Black and brown students deserve rigor, enrichment, and high-quality instruction.

Our work centers around interventions that bring these resources into schools of color, allowing students and families to select the school environment that feels most comfortable to them without having to sacrifice access to important resources that can support and enhance their educational journeys.

Staff Contact

Layla Garms | lgarms@wsfoundation.org

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GRANTMAKING

Through our community partnerships, the Foundation makes proactive financial investments to help move important work forward. If you have questions or a proposal to discuss, please reach out to us!

Read about our most recent Focus Area Grants

For more information

Sandra Fishel-Booth

Program Director, Focus Area Investments

sfishelbooth@wsfoundation.org (336) 607-5125

Charlie Gardner

Program Officer, Inclusive Economy

cgardner@wsfoundation.org (336) 607-5118

Layla Garms

Program Officer, Equity in Education

lgarms@wsfoundation.org (336) 607-5123