A Letter from D’Lynn Jacobs on Open Horizon’s Conversations About Race and Belonging: Fall 2023 Parents Program

Happy Pride, Friends and Cousins of Open Horizon!

I hope you and your families enjoyed connecting and barbecuing on Memorial Day, if that is a way you honor the holiday.  I post this letter with reflections about connections that I’ve made over the past few weeks and with musings that are informing Open Horizon’s emergent strategy.

Fostering connection and making explicit the implicit are through lines for our Parent Program, a signature offering for our Conversations about Race and Belonging programming. I had the opportunity to experience an informational intro session (a “Taste” per se) that was open to the Arlington and Alexandria communities in VA, where I was quickly brought back to past lives (experiences both as an underrepresented student and also as an administrative school leader) that inform my practice.

Last week, our Parents Program Facilitator, Michele Chang, and Community Liaison, Tara Casagrande, coordinated an introduction to the Parent’s Program for folx to learn about the upcoming fall cohorts; the event was facilitated similarly to how the weekly sessions are sequenced and we shared stories and personal experiences in break out pairs based on prompts from the facilitators.

While I was engaging, I tried to resist sharing too much because my role was simply to represent as the Executive Director of Open Horizon, the funding partner for the program. But, my friends, I was compelled! Not only because of my background as a Director of Diversity who used to love to manage these dialogues for my school community at the time, but also because of my background as a student who matriculated through predominantly white educational institutions from grades 1-12.

Stories can help foster connection and personal sharing can be a tool used to unearth similarities through which we can see each other’s humanity.  I believe that, when facilitated appropriately, our sharing stories can cultivate space for learning and growth that can strengthen communities by ensuring more inclusive eco-systems. After the pair share, I was compelled to share a story about one of the most important things to some six-year-olds… sleepovers. I remember when I first learned about this thing called a sleepover, and it sounded awesome.  It sounded like a trip to a sacred and secret country and place that could offer more information about these people who were so different from me. Not only racially different, but they were also part of this new religion that I learned about, Judaism. It also intrigued me that they lived in the community where my school was in Newton, MA, and their houses looked very different from my apartment building; I was very eager to get inside for further comparison.

 Oh the intrigue!  Years later, I am able to make many connections to this being one of the origin stories for my commitment to being a global citizen and lover of many cultures. I would be able to see my friend’s room. Set my eyes on my friend’s actual house with a backyard and maybe a pet.  I could share my room and my toys; we didn’t have a backyard but I could show off the courtyard in our apartment building.  I would be able to taste the food that my friends described that was clearly so different from mine. I brought fried chicken and boiled eggs to school sometimes! These were all visions of how it could have gone in my six-year-old mind. Dreams across differences with no value judgment assigned…yet.

As I’ve posted about before, mine was a blessing of a Mama to have, and her stance on sleepovers was one of reciprocity. If you were allowed to come to my apartment in Dorchester, in urban Boston, which many people from Newton believed was “dangerous”, then I would be allowed to go over your house in suburban Newton, for which we had different affluent stereotypes. Initially, it was difficult to find a friend who was allowed to come over to where we lived, and so I wasn’t allowed to go over to where a lot of friends lived; and sleepovers were out of the question. Not only was my mom’s justified system of equity a barrier for me but the logistics were also a complicating factor as Newton was an hour drive away and the school bus accommodated the school schedule only for the METCO bussing program between the city and the suburbs. I was a METCO student, a voluntary school integration program in Boston, which defined clear boundaries for me (and us all).

I remember the day that after much back and forth with my mom and peers in my first grade class, one student’s parents finally recognized the importance of cultural exchange, Dana.  I was able to go over to her house after she was allowed to come over and sleep on our pull-out sofa bed. I was so proud!

The point of our Parent Program is to ensure that parents have the opportunity to practice language around race, identity, and things like nuances of sleepovers across race and historical redlines. It was only because some families were able to stretch beyond the stereotypes that they believed about Dorchester or Newton and share dynamic truths that we could deepen relationships across cultures.  The Parents Program orients families toward courageous unlearning and intentional growth through deepening self awareness.

As I continue to learn about our signature programs and engage in site visits with multiple organizations with whom we partner, I continue to be remarkably impressed with the determination, commitment, curiosity, and interest that not only the organizations, but each leader of them guides toward ultimate liberation.  I’m affirmed to believe that we are just trying to live in a better world, and I see our partners working toward that goal in innovative ways.  If you are interested in signing up for our parents program, you can find the registration link for the upcoming taste here and the link to register for the program here.

Please continue to follow us and like our posts highlighting recent successes for partners and announcing upcoming events.

Resistance & Resilience
Ignite the South Holds Second In-Person Retreat in Jackson, Mississippi

A couple of weeks ago, April 12 -14, Ignite the South held its second in-person Retreat, this time in Jackson, Mississippi.

The theme of this Retreat was “Resistance & Resilience” and the cohort spent three days reflecting on organizing principles within historical lineages and sharing current experiences with each other and their coaches. They were hosted by leaders in the community and shown the places where history – of oppression and resistance and joy – happened.

As said by Naima Savage, one of Ignite the South’s inspiring faculty, this kind of space is rare and yet so valuable. The participants have a shared commitment to personal transformation and igniting change toward racial and economic justice in the region. They said they felt a sense of belonging, safety, and power just by being together.

Ignite the South, coordinated and facilitated by Imagine Us LLC and funded by Open Horizon, is a development program for emerging leaders in Southern social justice organizations. It is designed for staff and elected leaders on the front arc of their careers who have substantial responsibility in social, racial, and economic justice organizations in the South. Ignite the South is an opportunity to learn, reflect, and conspire together, and combines in-person immersive experiences, individual coaching, and online learning. The first Retreat was held in January in New Orleans, and its theme was Community & Legacy. The third and last Retreat for this inaugural cohort, themed Building Power & Building on Ignite the South, will be held this July in Atlanta, Georgia.

A Letter From Our New Executive Director, D’Lynn Jacobs: Philanthropy is Love in Action

April 7, 2023

Spring Greetings, Friends of Open Horizon,

May this post find you all well on this holy week for many. I joined Open Horizon as Executive Director on March 20, equinox. A moment of transition of seasons, for my career, and for the growing foundation. I think most folx desire purpose driven lives and in major moments of transition, it’s powerful to reflect on the truest nature of our gifts and how we share them with ourselves, our communities, and our world. When I was a little girl, I was a social justice advocate at an early age. I wanted to change the world and make it “fair” for Black people, and especially girls. I reflect that this was fed by my love for my mother and my realizing her struggle.

My mom was the church secretary for the oldest Black Baptist church in all of New England, a fact she was proud to tell people. She made less than the poverty level when I was growing up, and yet consistently found creative ways to access resources to expand opportunities available to my sister and me. She would share that she wanted us to have what she didn’t have. Many of us may have similar stories. Our parents talked about what they didn’t have to be sure we were grateful and aware of our privilege. My mom also had joy in her ability to give us the things she didn’t have. And even more joy when she saw my sister and I multiply those things and affirm their abundance.

My mom was the first philanthropist I knew. I’ve heard this mirrored by peer leaders who I’ve asked what led them to this work- specifically sisters, fellow BIPOC women who are Executive Directors of nonprofit organizations. She would say she didn’t have much, but nonetheless, she gave faithfully. Malinda was a woman of God; she was a humble servant as a church secretary who earned just enough to get by. She was that church lady who drove seniors to the grocery store or appointments if they needed. She helped in the pantry and other ministries, and she stayed late on the 3rd Sunday to help count the offerings. She was consistent in giving her tithes and offerings, even when times were the hardest at home. She had faith and was grateful that she could give.

Reading through my mom‘s gratitude journals, where she noted at least 5 things daily, she was most grateful for the kindness and generosity of the people that surrounded us, our church family, and having our basic needs met. We lived “paycheck to paycheck,” terminology I knew at a very young age and she noted we could not have made it without the blessing of the surprise $50 here, $20 there from church friends and elders. My mom also wrote gratitude for the many organizations that intervened and offered opportunities for my sister and myself. My mother always had to contribute something, and this was above and beyond affording our basic needs that she always calculated so diligently to manage. I reflect with gratitude for her consistency. This was love in action. Philanthropy can be love in action. So since my mother was the first philanthropist I knew, I want to do it like her, adding lessons of healing justice lineages infused in my practice.

My purpose, while informed by her and molded in relationship with her, is distinct from hers, but grows from the same core values of interdependence and interconnectivity. She gave and was humble enough to receive. She practiced reciprocity. Her struggle is the origin of my experience, but her struggle is not my struggle; the world has changed and I have a different assignment than she did. My mom gave from her open heart and opened her heart to receive, acknowledging that we are responsible for each other and our survival is inextricably linked. I trust that Philanthropy can and should be about relationships.

My mother showed me how to both live interdependently and also maintain my independence as a Black woman in the US America. I look forward to honoring her by using my gifts to align with communities committed to healing pain, separation, and intergenerational trauma. I come with the vibrant memory of my mother. I come to this with the wisdom of ancestors known and unknown that inform the steps I take. And I come to this with compassion, love and a beginner’s mind.

Open Horizon Names D’Lynn Jacobs Inaugural Executive Director

We are delighted to announce the hiring of D’Lynn Jacobs as Open Horizon’s inaugural Executive Director!

Open Horizon is an Alexandria, VA-based family foundation. We are committed to improving communities and individual lives through expanding opportunities, experiential learning, capacity building, and policy change. In the role of Executive Director, D’Lynn will work to ensure the fulfillment of Open Horizon’s mission during our next phase of growth.

As we embark on our next chapter as a foundation, the hiring of an Executive Director with D’Lynn’s experience and expertise is a pivotal move for us. D’Lynn comes to us from the Peace Corps, where she most recently served as Chief of Projects, Training, and Evaluation. Prior to that, she served as Director of Programming and Training, as well as Acting Country Director, for Peace Corps Vanuatu in the South Pacific where she supported program participants, managed local staff, and guided intergovernmental relations.

D’Lynn’s diverse range of experience includes consulting, curriculum design, coaching and facilitation, school administration, and service on nonprofit boards including Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN) and currently Friends of Malawi.

D’Lynn is a proud graduate of Spelman College, a Historical Black College (HBCU) in Atlanta, with a BA in Women and Gender Studies. She also holds an MA in Gender and Cultural Studies and an MS in Communications Management from Simmons University in Boston.

Open Horizon co-founder Hershel Kleinberg says, “In our mission to provide individuals opportunities to excel where they may not otherwise have them, we are thrilled to bring on a leader as creative, responsive, and people-centered as D’Lynn Jacobs.”

Co-founder Lisa Cohen adds, “With Open Horizon starting to define itself, not only by funding nonprofit partners but by convening and supporting leaders in unique ways, as well as offering leading-edge programming and fellowships, the foundation needs a leader who is both visionary and able to deliver. We are confident that having an Executive Director like D’Lynn, with expertise in capacity building, transformational learning, and change management, we have found the leader who can bring Open Horizon into its next phase of work.”

D’Lynn Jacobs, Open Horizon’s new leader, shares, “The hope that all individuals and communities have access to an open horizon, where they can imagine endless opportunities, is consistently woven into my work. Open Horizon’s practices and principles, as well as its commitment to focusing on the wants and needs of community partners, being explicitly anti-racist, identity-affirming, and pro-choice, align beautifully with my core values and leadership philosophy and inform my embracing the role of Executive Director.”

The power of addressing issues at their intersections is clear in the approach Open Horizon has taken in directing funding to the people and communities that need it the most. I am most excited to connect with partners to learn about the areas we have effectively supported, as well as opportunities for emerging visions. Part of my innate purpose in life has been to help others see, achieve, and evolve their gifts by accessing a deeper understanding of themselves in their relationship with others. To do this with Open Horizon, leading the foundation into the next phase, will be an honor.”

Please join us in welcoming D’Lynn to Open Horizon.

A Letter From Our Founders: Open Horizon Enters Its Fourth Year

As we enter our fourth year of operation, there is much to celebrate at Open Horizon. During our first two years as a foundation, since December 2019, we focused on granting funds to mission-aligned nonprofit partner organizations. Our initial aim was to expand opportunities and increase equity. Getting to know the individuals and communities who are doing this good work has been meaningful and inspiring.

As a relatively small foundation, and a very young one, just starting to walk as a three-year-old, you could say, we’ve been curious about how to have more impact than our limited granting allows. Last year, during our third year, we launched not one but three unique programs: Ignite the South, Open Horizon Leaders Retreat, and Parent Conversations about Race and Belonging. We are grateful to our partner, Imagine Us consulting, whose talented team has lived up to their mission of supporting us in pursuing our boldest dreams. With their vision and talent leading the way, we supported them in the January launch of Ignite the South, a six-month, multi-faceted leadership development program for emerging leaders in Southern social justice organizations. Also, in January they helped us deliver our inaugural two-day Leaders Retreat, focusing on reflection, connection, and renewal for our partner leaders.

Our third programmatic endeavor has been a collaboration with Conversations about Race & Belonging. Our Parents Program is the result of their skillful development and customization of a top-quality, interactive curriculum for Parents in Northern Virginia which focuses on storytelling and lays the groundwork for productive and honest discussions about racism and race, identity, equity, and belonging. We’re excited to support the expansion of this program from one to three cohorts this fall.

With this growth and new approaches, we are also seeing changes in our staffing. Early in 2022, we brought on our first staff member, Maia Falconi-Sachs, who spearheads our communications work, manages finance and administration and serves as our legal advisor. On March 20th we’ll be welcoming Open Horizon’s first executive director, D’Lynn Jacobs. D’Lynn comes to us after holding multiple leadership roles at the US Peace Corps, both in Washington, DC and abroad. We are excited for Open Horizon to benefit from her expertise in capacity building, organizational development, and equity and inclusion work. Please stay tuned to learn more about D’Lynn and her vision for leading the foundation into its next chapter.

Currently, we are preparing for a strategic planning process this spring and the opportunity to further define Open Horizon’s niche as not just a funder, but also as a convener and uplifter of leaders doing meaningful work.

We welcome you to join us on this journey and to stay tuned for what’s next.

The Safe Sisters Circle Wins Prestigious Award

We are proud to announce that The Safe Sisters Circle, one of Open Horizon’s nonprofit partners, has been awarded the Nannie Helen Burroughs Humanitarian Award during the District of Columbia Courts’ Black History Month’s Fourth Annual African American Impact Awards Ceremony. The Nannie Helen Burroughs Humanitarian Award is given to an individual or organization/agency in recognition of exemplary and sustained commitment to serving the people of the District of Columbia.

Alana Brown founded the Safe Sisters Circle in 2018, to provide free, culturally specific, and trauma-­informed representation to survivors of sexual and domestic violence in the majority-Black communities of Wards 7 and 8—where women face the highest rates of domestic violence in the District.

The Safe Sisters Circle provides legal support through victim advocacy, representing survivors in divorce, custody, and child support matters, and obtaining orders of protection against abusers. Because the Safe Sisters Circles believes in helping the survivor as a whole person and understands the need for assistance beyond the legal system to help survivors get to a safe space, they also offer holistic services to their legal clients by helping clients find emergency/temporary housing (and paying for hotel stays if necessary), assisting with the Crime Victims Compensation Application, connecting clients with therapy services, and providing grocery store gift cards to clients who are having issues with benefits.

Learn more about The Safe Sisters Circle’s vital work at their website https://safesisterscircle.org/.