In just a few months, the progress our country has made toward equity and justice over the last 70 years has been disrupted. The rules and laws that shape our daily lives are in flux, and the path forward feels uncertain. This is a pivotal moment—our actions today will define the history of tomorrow.
Now more than ever, our strength lies in our connection to one another and to the communities we serve. As we navigate the challenges ahead, we must lead with purpose while ensuring that stability and wellness remain at the heart of our vision for the future. Here’s what that means for EBCF.
Staying the Course in Times of Crisis
In moments of uncertainty, it is tempting to shift focus with each emerging challenge. When we are distracted or dismayed, we might even forget the “why” behind our work. But our long-term vision demands that we stay rooted in our mission.
At EBCF, we know that real change requires sustained commitment, and we remain steadfast in our dedication to racial justice and economic freedom. Our work is grounded in a deep love for the East Bay and the knowledge that, when we act together, we can significantly improve our neighbors’ lives.
Strengthening Community Ties
With the addition of Autumn McDonald as VP of Community Investments and Partnerships, we have expanded our capacity to be engaged in the community. We celebrated East Bay communities at recent events, including the 3rd Annual Lunar New Year Parade and the Annual Black Joy Parade. And we kicked off a new partnership with Contra Costa County to advance wellness in the region.
We are also deepening donor engagement through service, helping donors take action in response to community needs. EBCF staff and donors recently volunteered with Dandelion Kitchen in Berkeley, preparing meals for residents. It was a powerful day of action and resulted in a generous donation to support their work. We hope to do more of these events in the year ahead.
Deepening our Impact
As we prepare for the future, being proximate to East Bay communities will be more important than ever before. This month, we are embarking on an Impact Planning process that will serve as a blueprint for deepening and expanding our work.
Over the next year, we will reach out to community partners, donors and fund advisors, elected officials, and peer foundations for insights and feedback. We will refine our strategies for contributing to broader systemic change. And we will strengthen our data and evaluation infrastructure to track our impact.
With economic freedom as our north star, we are focused on strategies that increase self-determination, foster ownership, and deepen our shared sense of belonging in the East Bay. Together we will build a future in which justice, equity, and economic freedom are not just aspirations but realities.
Leading with Love and Purpose
Amid all of this, I am incredibly proud and privileged to lead EBCF. The dedication and resilience of my EBCF team members inspire me every day. And love for the East Bay community motivates me to bring my best to this work.
When I joined EBCF just over two years ago, I committed to leading with love—because love liberates. This moment calls for love in action, for liberation as a way of life. I am reminded of the words of playwright Tennessee Williams:
“The world is violent and mercurial—it will have its way with you. We are saved only by love—love for each other and the love that we pour into the art we feel compelled to share: being a parent; being a writer; being a painter; being a friend. We live in a perpetually burning building, and what we must save from it, all the time, is love.”
Thank you for your commitment, collaboration, and partnership.
Onward,
Brandi Howard,
President & CEO East Bay Community Foundation
Photo credit: Black Joy Parade