Navigating Civic Engagement in a Changing Brooklyn

Brooklyn Org was honored to host a philanthropic advisory donor briefing that brought together remarkable leaders to discuss the evolving landscape of civic engagement in Brooklyn.

Our President and CEO, Dr. Jocelynne Rainey, opened the conversation: “We are assembled here this morning to engage in conversation about the real work that it takes to engage people. The work of the organizations represented here are part of the fabric of non-profits that are on the ground and in the grassroots working to connect voters with information, empower activists with voices and platforms to generate change, and help uphold the promise of democracy that is fundamental to our systems of government.”

The panel featured Jo-Ann Yoo, who recently concluded her 13-year tenure as Executive Director of the Asian American Federation; DeNora Getachew, the CEO of DoSomething.org; and Lurie Daniel Favors, Esq., the Executive Director at the Center for Law and Social Justice. The discussion was moderated by Neill Coleman, a leader in deploying philanthropy, partnerships, and persuasion to drive social change.

CHALLENGES

The panel emphasized that the current political climate highlights the need for strong civic engagement to counter misinformation. Jo-Ann Yoo shared the challenges of engaging the pan-Asian community, particularly due to language barriers, explaining, “civic engagement must be constant and relevant; different people respond differently.” She also highlighted the critical need for funding civic engagement that is vital for fostering community involvement and addressing systemic issues that often separate communities.

DeNora Getachew discussed the lack of pathways for young people to connect their voices to meaningful action, saying, “When young people know they have power, they can leverage that power for good… we need to get them off their phones and into the real world.”

Lurie Daniel Favors shared the pervasive impact of misinformation and the difficulty of having fact-based conversations. She highlighted the racial diversity of Brooklyn and the challenges in advocating for Black New Yorkers amidst a climate where DEIA and racial justice work feel threatened and watered down. Highlighting the context, Favors explained, “civic engagement has to navigate through 330 years of intentional exclusion.”

Favors emphasized the importance of using the law to advocate for marginalized communities and the need to adapt language and strategies to remain effective and safe from potential lawsuits. Together the panel expressed concerns about the dismantling of programs addressing institutional racism and the uncertainty of what will replace them, with Favors adding, “When you remove those programs, the problems persist but there is nothing to replace and confront them.”

OPPORTUNITIES & ACTION

Looking ahead, the panelists identified opportunities and solutions for strengthening civic engagement efforts over the next five years, from the 2025 mayoral race to the 2030 census. They underscored the need for sustained community involvement, advocacy, and support from both individuals and organizations to build a more engaged and united Brooklyn.

Favors encouraged donors to be ambassadors and advocates for the causes they support; to use their influence to host gatherings and bring others into the fold.

Yoo echoed this sentiment, explaining the challenges of traditional philanthropies’ blind spots and emphasizing the importance of utilizing civic engagement organizations’ expertise, “there seems to be an idea of what funders want us to do with the money, the hardest part is that we know what works, we must meet the community in the ways that we know work.”

CONNECTING OUR COMMUNITY OF EXPERTS & SUPPORTERS

Brooklyn Org extends heartfelt thanks to our partners at St. Francis College for graciously hosting the event. We deeply appreciate our panelists and moderator for sharing their expertise, and our community of donor advisors for joining us in an engaging and informative conversation.

Our team was honored to host this panel of nonprofit leaders who provided invaluable insights into civic engagement during challenging times. Together, we can support civic empowerment in the borough. Brooklyn Org is your partner in giving back — discover how you can maximize your community impact today by exploring a fund at Brooklyn Org.