I am so excited to announce that as part of the course Philanthropy and Social Difference taught by NYU Gallatin's Dean Victoria Rosner, my group had the incredible opportunity to award $29,800 to the environmental and social justice advocacy organization WE ACT for Environmental Justice. I would also like to express my gratitude to The Philanthropy Lab for providing the funding that makes this class possible and to NYU President Linda Mills for making an appearance at our giving ceremony today, securing the class an additional $10,000 in funding.
I would also like to extend my thanks to Dean Victoria Rosner for leading our class through thoughtful class discussions and exposing us to diverse perspectives. The unique hands-on experience of evaluating real organizations and managing significant sums of money makes this class one of the most transformative experiences I have had at NYU.
I would also like to thank my group members—Eugene Fisher, Lamis Idris, Olivia Garcia-Atance Arimont, and Lucia-Hope McCarthy—for their extraordinary research and clear communication throughout this process. This achievement would not have been possible without their dedication and teamwork.
Additionally, I am grateful to Rachel Wissner and Christopher Dobens for generously taking the time to meet with our group and provide transparent answers to all our questions. It was wonderful getting to meet the team, and I have great faith in WE ACT's leadership.
One of the readings that has stuck with me from this course was Darren Walker's Generosity To Justice. Walker writes: "In short, charity might be writing a check for a cause you believe in, or finding ways to help individuals who have been affected by the scourge of inequality. But justice goes beyond individuals—it’s investing your money, time, resources, knowledge, and networks to change the root causes that create the need for charity in the first place."
WE ACT for Environmental Justice embodies these principles of justice, tirelessly advocating for legislation that addresses systemic issues at their source. I am eager to see the incredible changes their organization will achieve next!
