Rhode Island: Initiating Equity Work Program

Newport Sings, a community based organization and beneficiary of Rhode Island’s Initiating Equity Work Program, showcases its vibrant youth chorus. Photo courtesy of Newport Sings

A collaboration of the Rhode Island Foundation and Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA), the Initiating Equity Work for Small and Volunteer-Led Organizations Program is a capacity building initiative tailored for organizations committed to equity. Designed to address the unique challenges faced by small and volunteer-led organizations, the program aims to create and sustain diverse, equitable and inclusive environments among community based organizations.

Facilitated by equity consultant Dr. Brea Heidelberg of ISO Arts Consulting, the program prioritizes the organizational context of volunteer-led entities, offering guidance on ways to engage in organizational equity work within their resource limitations. The program will assist participating organizations in developing the foundations for equity work plans and undertaking the preliminary internal and external work necessary to actualize these plans. This free program is open to all nonprofit organizations, with priority registration for volunteer-led organizations, those with budgets under $100,000, and arts and culture organizations. Recognizing that organizations may be in the early stages of their equity work journey and/or may lack the capacity to fully engage in the program, participants can select the level of involvement that aligns with their available time and resources: introductory, moderate or deep.

The program is structured around three integral components. First, the hour-long recorded Initiating Equity Work Workshop is accessible to registrants. Second, two Guided Work Sessions, each lasting two hours, involve participants at the moderate and deep engagement levels in thoughtful exercises and discussions, guided by worksheets, addressing internal and external equity work. Third, two Technical Assistance Sessions, each lasting one hour and open only to registrants at the deep engagement level, follow each Guided Work Session, offering one-on-one time with Dr. Heidelberg after completing associated worksheets. For more information, contact Rhode Island State Council on the Arts Deputy Director Todd Trebour.