By Francesca Borges Gordon
COVID-19 laid bare and exacerbated longstanding inequities in our country, our state and our local communities. As we emerge from the pandemic, the numbers show only modest improvement because we as a community are only beginning to address the biggest underlying issue: systemic racism.
In a 2020 survey in Connecticut, nearly twice as many Black residents as white residents indicated that they lost a loved one or friend to the coronavirus. Twice as many Latinx residents as white residents in our state reported at least one adult in their household lost their job. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the number of small business owners declined sharply nationwide between February and April of 2020, and people of color were disproportionately impacted. Black business ownership declined by 41 percent, Latinx business ownership dropped 32 percent, Asian business ownership was down 26 percent, while white business ownership lost 17 percent.
Two years ago, the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving announced a strategic framework focused on addressing these disparities, based on race/ethnicity, ZIP code and income; the past year has both reinforced our commitment and challenged everything about the way we work. We are now being more explicit about naming the root cause of inequitable opportunity – systemic racism – and what role we should play in the region. Prioritizing our resources in the effort to dismantle systemic racism is how the Foundation can achieve its mission to put philanthropy into action to create lasting solutions that result in vibrant communities in the Greater Hartford region.
The Hartford Foundation recognizes that we cannot do this work alone. We are partnering with nonprofits, local residents, our donors, other community foundations, state and local government, and the business community to bring down barriers to education, health, housing, community safety, and employment.
While the arrival of vaccines has created a greater sense of normalcy with schools, businesses and in-person events coming back, we know there are challenges ahead to rebuild what was lost to COVID and address the inequities that have existed for generations. This is why the Foundation is supporting both short-term and long-term efforts to respond to the structural barriers that far too many of our neighbors face.
This work includes prioritizing housing investment in Hartford. The Foundation is working to develop and advocate for revitalization strategies to provide Black and Latinx residents of the Capital City with meaningful, affordable housing opportunities to allow them and future generations to benefit from neighborhood growth and vitality. This includes investment in rental and home ownership opportunities to build generational wealth in Hartford.
As the pandemic took hold and countless small businesses were forced to shut down, businesses owned by people of color had less cash on hand, weaker banking relationships and unequal access to social capital, the set of formal and informal networks that can make or break a business, especially during challenging times. Across the country, city leaders recognized that federal aid was largely inaccessible for Black and Latinx businesses in their communities. Here at home, the Hartford Foundation partnered with the City, Capital for Change, and HEDCO and other funders to quickly form the Hartford Small Business Emergency Micro-Grant program, with a focus on small neighborhood businesses owned by women and people of color. The program provided grants with streamlined application requirements, and an emphasis on outreach and technical assistance provided by trusted nonprofit providers.
The national reckoning on race that emerged last year has galvanized and unified people of all racial and ethnic backgrounds, ages and geographies around this effort. Last month, the Hartford Foundation launched the Action Fund for Racial Justice to engage our donors and other community residents to support local organizations on the front lines of advancing racial justice. A donation to the Action Fund will be deployed with urgency to help disrupt existing systemic racism and achieve equity in social and economic mobility in Greater Hartford.
We are asking members of our community to consider contributing to the Action Fund and partner with the Foundation to create equitable communities and systems that will allow all of our region’s residents to lead safe, secure and fulfilling lives.
To learn more about the Fund follow this link www.hfpg.org/donors/ways-to-give/action-fund-for-racial-justice or contact me, Francesca Borges Gordon, Director of Development – Outreach and External Relations at FBorgesgordon@hfpg.org.
Photo of Lebert Lester, It’s A Gee Thang, 2404 Main Street, followed guidelines to help ensure the safety of his clients while providing top quality styling. Mr. Lester participated in the Inner City Capital Connections program supported by the Hartford Foundation. Photo May 2021 by Defining Studios
