American democracy is fragile. With fragile things you must be careful to protect them. You don’t leave a glass vase teetering on a pedestal in Grand Central Station. To protect it, you reinforce it; you secure it; you shelter it from threat.
Recently, the threats to our democracy, our rights and freedoms as Americans, have grown increasingly clear. Long fought victories to have all Americans participate in the promise of our country have been challenged in ways we thought we would never see again. And for some, those challenges have never gone away. A promise too long denied.
What history has taught us is that any time a government limits freedoms, rights, and choices we know that lives are in peril. Now more than ever, we want to reaffirm that as an organization E Pluribus Unum is committed to equity and justice in all its forms. We will take a moment to reflect, to feel, and then we begin again the work we all know must happen with more focus and urgency.
EPU is creating tools, a community of leaders, and harnessing collective power to compel action and change. We ask you to join us as we double-down on our responsibility to protect, reinforce, and secure our fragile democracy and create a more equitable country.
Scott Hutcheson
Managing Director, E Pluribus Unum
E Pluribus Unum welcomed our Unum Fellows to New Orleans for three days of learning, networking, and inspiration. We kicked off our time together with celebrated scholar Imani Perry, author of the 2022 New York Times bestseller “South to America: A Journey Below the Mason-Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation” Perry celebrated and inspired our Unum Fellows. The energy and inspiration among the attendees was phenomenal!
Throughout the convening, our Fellows shared their equity-based work, addressed challenges, and built important connections across the South to better their communities. EPU continues supporting these incredible changemakers and are honored to be a part of their ongoing work for a better, more equitable South.
Supporting courageous leaders and advancing work to address inequities across the South is a fundamental aspect of E Pluribus Unum’s mission. As our inaugural Unum Fellows approach alumni status, we are heartened by the breadth and thoughtfulness of their sustainable work for a better South. As we often say, if we can do it in the South, then we can do it anywhere. Onward, together!
E Pluribus Unum continues impacting communities throughout the South. Through the first half of the year, we’ve traveled across the region and below are snapshots of our work, on-the-ground, promoting equity in your backyard.
The Unum Academy aims to support the growth and development of young people who have a desire to change their communities through educational workshops, mentorship, and entry-level professional experience in order to cultivate youth leaders that can confidently advance equity on their campuses and in their communities.
Applications are due September 30th. To learn more and apply click HERE.
Taking the story of white supremacy in America back to 1493, and examining contemporary communities in Mississippi, Minnesota, and Oklahoma for models of racial repair, The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy helps chart a new course toward a genuinely pluralistic democracy.
Pre-order the book here.
WE FEED PEOPLE, from OscarⓇ-winning director Ron Howard, spotlights renowned chef José Andrés and his nonprofit World Central Kitchen’s incredible mission and evolution over 12 years, from being a scrappy group of grassroots volunteers to becoming one of the most highly regarded humanitarian aid organizations in the disaster relief sector.
"She sees racial reconciliation as a fundamental way to express her Christian faith, referencing Matthew 18:15. “It’s not a chore to do this,” she said. “It feels like all these sermons and Scriptures living inside of me is all for this moment. This is how I can walk out my Christian faith tangibly.”"
Read the full article here.
Questions? Contact us at info@unumfund.org.
