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This past Wednesday, the Kapor Foundation hosted “The Word on Election R.A.P.: Why It Matters and How We Can Engage,” a briefing about the importance of election reform, administration, and protection (RAP) issues on low-income communities of color in California.

Held at the Public Policy Institute of California, the event included the perspectives of leaders from community-based organizing, civil rights and “good government” groups, as well as elections administration officials. Panelists and moderators included:

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I know you are asking today, ‘How long will it take?’…Somebody’s asking, ‘When will the radiant star of hope be plunged against the nocturnal bosom of this lonely night…How long will justice be crucified, and truth bear it?’

I come to say to you this afternoon, however difficult the moment, however frustrating the hour, it will not be long, because ‘truth crushed to earth will rise again.’ How long? Not long, because ‘no lie can live forever.’

How long? Not long, because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Speech from the steps of the state capitol
Montgomery, Alabama
March 26, 1965

This week we’re gearing up for and looking forward to our upcoming briefing, The Word on Election R.A.P. (election reform, administration and protection): Why it Matters and how we can Engage, happening this Wednesday in San Francisco.

The Word on Election RAP: Why It Matters and How We Can Engage will be an opportunity to define and discuss the impact and importance of election reform, administration and protection issues on low-income communities of color, particularly in California. This briefing brings together community-based organizing leaders with leaders from civil rights and “good government” groups as well as election officials to explore the possibilities, challenges and needs of communities of color to monitor, influence, and provide leadership around how elections are run.

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Like many, I’ve looked at the arrival of 2012 with a sense of unease, knowing that the turbulence of a potentially nasty election season will soon begin in earnest. Then I had the good fortune to read a blog post by author and ideas man Seth Godin, The Chance of a Lifetime (thanks for the tip, Shawn Dove!):

A friend asked me the other day, “…given the sorry state of so much in the world, what’s possible to look forward to?” The state isn’t sorry. It’s wide open. Interest rates are super low, violence is close to an all time low, industries are being remade and there’s more leverage for the insurgent outsider than ever before in history. The status quo is taking a beating, there’s no question about it. That’s what makes it a revolution...

So stop thinking about how crazy the times are, and start thinking about what the crazy times demand. There has never been a worse time for business as usual. Business as usual is sure to fail, sure to disappoint, sure to numb our dreams. That’s why there has never been a better time for the new. (Read more here).

I’m excited by “the new” in 2012 here at the Kapor Foundation! We’re shifting some of our program priorities to better align with other areas of work underway at the Kapor Center; namely, we’re exploring how to better support information technology that will “accelerate or positively disrupt” mission-driven social change work. And riding off of the heels of Mitch’s appearance on CNN’s Black in America IV last November, we’re also getting positioned to play a role in diversifying the startup industry. Read more about our goals and 2012 priorities here.

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Since we keep getting inquiries about whether or not we’ve moved, I wanted to clarify – it’s coming! At this time last year; we had a mural unveiling at the new Kapor Center building in Oakland, which features the always-dazzling work of Favianna Rodriguez. We wanted to mark our presence on the corner of 22nd and Broadway and share our excitement about moving to Oakland. But we haven’t moved yet. The building will first undergo a complete and thorough renovation. We hope to move in June 2013.

Relax; you didn’t miss your invitation to the Open House.

Yes, that was “our” Mitch Kapor on last night’s Black in America 4: The New Promised Land – Silicon Valley on CNN. Mitch and Kapor Capital were major supporters of the NewMe Accelerator featured in the documentary.

The pre-screenings of BIA4 set off a controversy in the blog/Twittersphere about diversity in the information technology industry, especially regarding the distribution of startup capital to entrepreneurs of color and women founders. CNN posted a response here, and Mitch wrote a compelling post here.

Regardless of the illusions of meritocracy in Silicon Valley – that anyone can get financed, one just has to be smart and work hard – those of us who have an expansive vision for a functioning USA must press to ensure that underrepresented people of color and women are in the game, and that their brilliant ideas for job-and-services-generating business ventures are also capitalized and supported. Not only is this a matter of fairness, but it’s a smart business decision – we need all hands on deck to get this economy moving again.

Based in part on the experiences over the summer with NewMe, our board has charged the Foundation with beginning to explore how we can support the diversification of info tech and how tech tools can be used to further the impact of social justice work. Please stay tuned for more information about how this will unfold in 2012.

(And yes, we did get to meet Soledad O’Brien when the crew was in our offices taping! I’m a fan!)

We’re happy to announce that Justin Davis, our program coordinator for the College Bound Brotherhood, has been selected to participate in the 2012 Connecting Leaders Fellowship program of the Association of Black Foundation Executives (ABFE). He’s one of ten African Americans foundation professionals throughout the nation to be inlcuded in this cohort. The fellows program is designed to “promote the professional mobility and visibility” of blacks in the philanthropic sector through personalized executive coaching, mentoring, and learning community discussions. This is a fantastic opportunity for Justin to take his leadership skills to the next level. Believe me, I know – I was a 2007 fellow, and it was a defining experience in my professional development. Please join us in congratulating Justin!

What Works! is the Mitchell Kapor Foundation’s annual convening that highlights successful approaches used by our grant partner organizations and provides a forum for practitioners to network and strategize.

This year’s convening focuses on the College Bound Brotherhood.  What Works! participants will learn from selected youth-serving practitioners and local educators about effective college-readiness strategies for young black men.  Presentations will be conducted by leaders from current College Bound Brotherhood grant recipients.

CONVENING OUTLINE
(a final agenda will be posted by October 10)

8:00am – Check-in & Continental Breakfast
9:00am – Opening Plenary, Welcome and Purpose, Introductions
9:30am – College Bound Brotherhood Overview
10:00am – Benefits of Corporate Sponsorship
11:00am – Recruiting and Retaining African American Males
12:00pm – Lunch (provided)
1:00pm – Parental Involvement
2:00pm – Striking a Balance between Academic Programs and Sports
3:00pm – Fundraising and Establishing a Network
4:00pm – Closing

There is a small registration fee of $20, paid online or at the door (cash only).

The David Brower Center is easily accessible from the Downtown Berkeley BART.  Parking is available at the Oxford Garage just below the David Brower Center. Enter on 2161 Kittredge St. between Shattuck and Oxford.

Click here to register!

We’re proud to share that Mitch was just inducted into/onto the Entrepreneurs Walk of Fame at MIT last Friday. Check out his blog post here. Congrats, Mitch! (Love his serene look and peace symbol socks!)