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Insights

The Gambrell Foundation Insights

Insights

In an effort to provide inspiration and resources to the community, our team likes to share books Sally is reading, stories from our community, and articles, papers, and videos that help shape our views and inform the way we work. We hope these insights spark creativity and increase effectiveness for fellow difference makers.

On Sally's Desk

The New Jim Crow

A stunning account of the rebirth of a caste-like system in the United States, one that has resulted in millions of African Americans locked behind bars and then relegated to a permanent second-class status—denied the very rights supposedly won in the Civil Rights Movement. 

by Michelle Alexander

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Change by Design

Change By Design

How Design Thinking Transforms Organizations and Inspires Innovation

by Tim Brown

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Mindset

World-renowned Stanford University psychologist Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D., discovered a simple but groundbreaking idea: the power of mindset. In this brilliant book, she shows how success in school, work, sports, the arts, and almost every area of human endeavor can be dramatically influenced by how we think about our talents and abilities. 

by Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D.

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American Dream

Three women, ten kids, and a nation’s drive to end welfare. At the heart of the story are three cousins whose different lives follow similar trajectories.

by Jason DeParle

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The Tipping Point

The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire. 

by Malcolm Gladwell

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Where Do We Go From Here

In this prophetic work, Martin Luther King, Jr. lays out his thoughts, plans, and dreams for America's future, including the need for better jobs, higher wages, decent housing, and quality education.

by Martin Luther King, Jr.

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The Nordic Theory of Everything

A Finnish journalist, now a naturalized American citizen, asks Americans to draw on elements of the Nordic way of life to nurture a fairer, happier, more secure, and less stressful society for themselves and their children.

by Anu Partanen

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Acts of Faith

A remarkable account of growing up Muslim in America and coming to believe in religious pluralism, from one of the most prominent faith leaders in the United States. Eboo Patel’s story is a hopeful and moving testament to the power and passion of young people—and of the world-changing potential of an interfaith youth movement.

by Eboo Patel

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Dream Hoarders

Dream Hoarders

How the American Upper Middle Class Is Leaving Everyone Else in the Dust, Why That Is a Problem, and What to Do About It


by Richard V. Reeves

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Just Mercy

A powerful true story about the potential for mercy to redeem us, and a clarion call to fix our broken system of justice—from one of the most brilliant and influential lawyers of our time.

by Bryan Stevenson

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The Warmth of Other Suns

In this epic, beautifully written masterwork, Pulitzer Prize–winning author Isabel Wilkerson chronicles one of the great untold stories of American history: the decades-long migration of black citizens who fled the South for northern and western cities, in search of a better life.

by Isabel Wilkerson

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Thought Leadership from Other Foundations

Hollingsworth Funds

ENSURING A VIBRANT & SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY 

Where Everyone Has a Meaningful Opportunity to Achieve Their Highest Potential 

We admire their values:

    • Accountability – “We hold themselves and our community stakeholders accountable for the actions we all take, and we aim to actively monitor, evaluate, and learn from the results.”
    • Empathy – “We aim to listen first and understand the experiences of those we seek to support.”
    • Equity – “We believe in fair access to opportunities for all.”
    • Excellence – “We strive to surpass ordinary standards in everything we do.”
    • Integrity – “We do what we say we are going to do and acknowledge our mistakes when we make them.”
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Mission Investors Exchange

Mission Investors Exchange is the leading impact investing network for foundations dedicated to deploying capital for social and environmental change. They provide resources, inspiration, and connections to help members increase the scale and impact of their impact investing practice. Members come to Mission Investors Exchange and each other for best practices, new investment opportunities, deal partnerships, and innovations in impact investing around the world. The Gambrell Foundation is proud to be a member.

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North Carolina Network of Grantmakers

NCNG is North Carolina’s only statewide forum for sharing information and promoting cooperation among grantmakers. We admire the way they have stepped up to be leaders connecting funders across North Carolina to knowledge, resources and one another.

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Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

We admire their mission to achieve their vision:

  • Ensure more children and young people survive and thrive
  • Empower the poorest – Especially women and girls, to transform their lives
  • Combat infectious diseases that particularly affect the poorest
  • Inspire people to take action to change the world
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The Aspen Institute

The Aspen Institute has earned a reputation for gathering diverse, nonpartisan thought leaders, creatives, scholars and members of the public to address some of the world’s most complex problems. But the goal of these convenings is to have an impact beyond the conference room. They are designed to provoke, further and improve actions taken in the real world.

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Things That Make Us think

Supporting Community Colleges: Emergency aid helps keep students in college

Many schools, even if they do not have specific funds set up to provide emergency aid to students, will offer small sums of money – typically a few hundred dollars – in the form of either a loan or a grant, which can often be used for things like paying an electric bill, buying food or helping out with rent. Programs vary by school.

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College and University Basic Needs Insecurity: A National #RealCollege Survey Report

The #RealCollege survey is the nation’s largest annual assessment of basic needs security among college students. The survey, created by the Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice (Hope Center), specifically evaluates access to affordable food and housing. This report describes the results of the #RealCollege survey administered in the fall of 2018 at 123 two- and four-year institutions across the United States.

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Is America Dreaming?

Understanding Social Mobility – Richard Reeves and Brookings Institution

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The Saguaro Seminar

The Saguaro Seminar

The Saguaro Seminar is a research initiative that brings together leading thinkers and practitioners to develop actionable ideas for civic renewal. In 2015, the Seminar launched the Closing the Opportunity Gap initiative. The initiative convened five working groups of roughly a dozen of the country’s leading experts in each of five areas: family and parenting, early childhood, K-12 education, community institutions, and “on-ramps,” like community college or apprenticeships. These non-partisan white papers distill the best evidence-based ideas for narrowing the opportunity gap.

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The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Opportunity Task Force Report

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Opportunity Task Force Report

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