As part of our two-day virtual leadership retreat for our 2020 Fellows, we held a panel on the subject of networking. This panel, moderated by Rachel Arfa (Equip for Equality and Disability Lead Member), featured four panelists: Geoffrey Banks (MacArthur Foundation), Andrés Gallegos (Robbins, Salomon & Patt, Ltd and Disability Lead Member), Emily Harris (Harris Strategies and Disability Lead Member and former Disability Lead Executive Director), and Hilesh Patel (The Field Foundation of Illinois). They shared a wealth of knowledge with our Fellows and we’d like to spread some of that wealth to you.
Honing Your Networking Strategy as a Person with a Disability
It’s tempting to declare, “Go forth and network!” and call it a day, but people with disabilities might employ a more specific approach.
As someone who is deaf, Rachel found that communication can be challenging at networking events, typically held in noisy restaurants and bars. As a result, she simplified her networking goals by “lowering [her] expectations.” Now, whenever there’s someone she’d like to meet, she pursues “a simple face-to-face connection” rather than expecting an in-depth conversation, and then follows up by email “to start building on that connection.”
Andrés uses a wheelchair and has a networking strategy of his own. Since wheelchair navigation is often difficult at networking events, with people mingling around with cocktails, he brings what he refers to as a “runner.” When Andrés wants to meet someone specific, he directs his runner to “grab that individual’s attention“ and bring them over.
Whatever your circumstances may be, develop a personal strategy that allows you to maximize your networking efforts.
Networking …While Social Distancing?
The irony of talking about networking during a pandemic where face-to-face interaction is not possible was not lost on the panel. As Rachel says, “We always talk about getting ourselves a seat at the table — but now there’s no more table!” Oof. What then?
Emily points out that social media provides a natural platform for connectivity. She says that disability activists relay valuable information and express rich opinions, particularly on pressing issues like healthcare rationing. She tries “to amplify [those voices] and let everybody know how important this is, and how the work that we do about inclusion has never been so important.”
Chiming in, Andrés implores “emerging leaders to talk about the things that you’re passionate about every opportunity that you can.” The more you speak out and get involved, the wider your circle grows.
Funding Inclusive and Informed Responses Through Networking
As the majority of the panelists are professionally linked to foundations, networking and power within philanthropy was a major theme of the hour.
Geoffrey is currently working with other foundations to coordinate a COVID-19 response fund for arts organizations. “As we’re seeing the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on communities of color, there’s also going to be a disproportionate impact on organizations that are by, for, and about historically marginalized communities. […] Right now the priority is trying to match the funding with where the need is greatest — that’s clearly on the historically marginalized communities.”
Emily consults for the Presidents’ Council on Disability Inclusion in Philanthropy, and they recently created the Disability Inclusion Fund, where “each foundation is putting in money over five years […] to support disability-led organizations working on disability justice initiatives.” This particular fund embodies the revolutionary concept of participatory grantmaking — the practice of engaging community members in the grantmaking process. She hopes this model of philanthropy will encourage “sharing in a way that’s honest and really continues to engage the voices of the community as a sort of continuing learning loop.”
Geoffrey agrees that participatory grantmaking is key for broadening a foundation’s scope. “Foundations are notorious for having kind of closed social networks. […] and it really behooves us to try to disrupt those pre-existing circles and get outside of our existing Rolodex and create social capital out further out into the community.”
Hilesh relates how pod mapping — a method termed and created by disability justice activist Mia Mingus for Bay Area Transformative Justice Collective — as a way to influence grant decision-making: “As I’m thinking about funding, I want to make sure I’m not just marketing or distributing information to people who I think need it, but I’m reaching out and asking questions about who else needs it. […] I need to be listening to the people who are saying, ‘You are not reaching enough people, you are not listening to these groups, you’re missing key aspects of the South Side, you’re missing these communities’.”
Building Power and Disruption in a Brave New Post-Pandemic World
“Because there’s a good population […] who are still at risk because of the virus, and in the absence of a cure, we won’t be able to go back to work immediately. We have to find a way to keep active and keep involved and keep in front of the people that we think matter.” — Andrés
“This is the time that you should be looking for all the cracks in the foundation because when we get back to quote/unquote normal, those are the things that we’re going to have to identify and remember so that we don’t fall back into traditional ways of thinking.” — Hilesh
“When we go back to work, let’s not forget that it’s feasible to work at home and that we can accommodate people to work differently than we ever have before.” — Emily
“I know that we might feel like there are more barriers now, but we should think about them as opportunities to figure out ways to connect and build our networks and figure out how we can disrupt power and get ourselves into spaces that we may not have been before.” — Rachel
All in a Day’s (Net)work
We hope this networking panel is one of the many “Go this way!” signs our Fellows will follow on their path to leadership. May what we shared with you guide you on your path as well. Go forth and network!
Disability Lead is looking for new leaders with disabilities to join our network of positive disruptors. To learn more about becoming a Member or Fellow, please head to our Apply page.