Building Belonging, Healing Democracy Funder Convening

Last week, we won a historic $1.4 billion for housing solutions to homelessness in Alameda County alongside our allies at the Care First Coalition. This win is the  largest investment towards addressing homelessness Alameda County has ever made. This victory highlights what’s possible when we invest in sustained healing and powerbuilding in times of collapse.

We invite you to a dialogue with our staff and members on Monday, September 22nd from 2:00- 4:00pm at Understory. Join us to hear about our on the basebuilding learnings, sharpen our strategies for advancing abolitionist economic sovereignty, and explore philanthropy’s role in resourcing community resilience and the essential work of healing our democracy.

We are iterating new economic models to replace the extractive and exclusionary institutions of the current economic order. We are doing this while simultaneously decarcerating our jails and scaling community-centered infrastructures of care for our neighbors with behavioral health needs. Our historic wins are made possible when healing justice is centered not just as an approach for individuals, but as a foundational method for building enduring grassroots governing power.

Together we will:

• Share how we practice politicized healing → building long-term governing power in times of collapse
• Reevaluate what’s politically possible when we are skilled and courageous enough to lean into conflict in our community governance structures
• Unpack what it takes to democratize abundance through local budget advocacy and building a base of careworkers, coops, and small businesses.
• Explore the roles funders can play alongside the organizations, coalitions, and strategies that heal our neighborhoods and strengthen our democracy.

When: September 22, 2025 from 2:00pm-4:00pm, in-person

Where: Understory, Ohlone Territory, 3340 International Blvd, Oakland, CA 94601

Accessibility: This is an in-person event. Our space is wheelchair accessible and there are all gender, single-stall restrooms available. Food and drinks will be provided. We encourage attendees to take a covid test before arriving. Masking is encouraged, but not required. We are located a block away from Fruitvale BART, there will be street parking available. If you have accessibility requests, please email Zoe Parsigian at [email protected] by September 12, 2025.

Childcare: Childcare will be provided by request. If you have childcare requests or questions, please email Zoe Parsigian at [email protected] by September 12, 2025.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

understory oakland, 3340 International Boulevard, Oakland, United States