Change Agents in the American South

Atanta Gathering

Saturday, April 28, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm.

United Way in Cobb County

Marietta, GA

Directions for April 28th

Pre-Gathering Reading Materials

ChangingGuard_Kunreuther.pdf

State_of_the_South_2006__mizelll_1_.pdf

Project Staff:

• Omisade Burney-Scott, Project Co-Director, CAAS/Ananse Consulting, Durham, NC
• C. Milano Harden, Project Co-Director, CAAS/The Genius Group, Inc., Atlanta, GA
• Dwayne Patterson, Sixth Group, Atlanta, GA

Project Purpose:

The Change Agents in the American South (CAAS) project is a multi-phase effort to accelerate racial and social equity outcomes in the American South by better understanding and then serving the leadership development, career support and mentorship needs of early and mid-career change agents of color (ages 25-40) working in southern grassroots communities, organized philanthropy and philanthropic support organizations. 

AGENDA

Key Learning Questions for Atlanta

1. What priorities do change agents (of color) working the American South have regarding leadership development, personal agency building, mentorship and career support?
2. What supportive practices matter most to enhance the quality of work relationships between change agents of color and their supervisors (particularly when these are cross-race relationships)?  What features are essential in an organizational environment to nurture change agents’ leadership and career growth?  What leadership and institutional practices accelerate and support social justice, racial equity and community change?
3. What challenges and opportunities do change agents of color experience working on social change, social justice and equity themes in the American South?  How could these barriers be minimized and bridges be built or strengthened?
4. How might change agents’ supervisors and home organizations better support their leadership development and career growth?  How to take type of organization into account (i.e. grassroots/community organizations, private foundations, technical assistance providers/intermediaries or philanthropic support organizations).

Convening Agenda