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.
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
How Design Thinking Transforms Organizations and Inspires Innovation
by Tim Brown
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.
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
ENSURING A VIBRANT & SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY
Where Everyone Has a Meaningful Opportunity to Achieve Their Highest Potential
We admire their values:
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.
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.
We admire their mission to achieve their vision:
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.
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.
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.
Understanding Social Mobility – Richard Reeves and Brookings Institution
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.
