even those we may want to compost and not have to feel again — pulls us into “presence” and reminds us that we are here… now.

At OH, we ask ourselves: Have we shown up in service of our partners’ needs in 2024 while listening with an open heart, curiosity and driven by our organizational values of Innovation, Integrity, Community and Equity? And how can we build on lessons we learned this year?

In January, we learned that we offer a pretty dope Leaders Retreat and that connection cultivates deeper community care. We witnessed partner organizations connect across different levels of leadership and deepen their understanding of each other’s work. They also shared back ways that they had contributed to each other’s work — both formally in supporting each other with trainings, sharing resources, and informally by checking on each other with love notes and calls. We witnessed partners visit each other and we supported an inaugural capacity building exchange between two organizations providing transitional housing for similar communities in different states — Community Lodgings Inc and New Orleans Women & Children’s Shelter.

We attended what felt like all the conferences and have a better understanding of the philanthropic communities that we want to engage in and those that are less aligned with our approach. In 2025 we will continue to learn in community with conveners like Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO) and affinity groups like ABFE. A Philanthropic Partnership for Black Communities, Native Americans in Philanthropy and the eagerly anticipated CHANGE Philanthropy ’s Unity Summit, a biennial convening of all the affinity squads.

Open Horizon expanded to support 36 partners in 2024 and clarified its definition of partners based on the benefits that are offered to them — including and especially community and relationships of reciprocity.  Our leaders were invited to attend leaders’ network calls based on topics that they requested and a major highlight includes a discussion with the author of “White Women Cry and Call Me Angry” that was followed by affinity break out groups for attendees. We heard requests for fundraising workshops and offered sequenced learning events from English Hudson Consulting followed by each partner having access to a micro grant for a one on one session with the consultant group.

Our commitment to affinity programming has brought Black and BIPOC leaders in the DMV together for events to connect and bond over our identities as leaders in the social justice movement. With an appreciation for this experience and valuable feedback, our 2025 leaders retreat will have a focus on affinity and identity.

As summer concluded, we celebrated 5 scholars traveling overseas with our Richard S. and Doris M. Cohen scholars program with AFS Intercultural Programs and announced the expansion of our offer to new partner organizations with aspirations to send up to 14 scholars to study abroad in 2025. Open Horizon then hosted its first internal team retreat. We reviewed partner missions together and considered the ways that our flowers create a brilliant bouquet. The leadership team rested together by visiting two gardens and engaging in playful team building including cooking a meal together (recipes available upon request).

It’s incredible to reflect and realize that this post could be even longer if we actually included all that we tried, learned from and are integrating into our movement as we plan for 2025. We didn’t even highlight the launch of our pilot Stargazer Sabbatical Program or the expansion of our fellowship and internship program!

We hope you have a restful transition to the new year! We are eager to see you on the other side, cousins.

Please note: Open Horizon offices will be closed from Monday, December 23, 2024 through January 2, 2025 and will return on January 6. We will retain a 4 day work week in 2025 with a commitment to closing offices on Fridays to rest.

By D’Lynn Jacobs, Open Horizon Executive Director