By Justin Laing | February 12, 2025 | Non reformist reforms, Racial Capitalism
A recent article on the front page of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette (PG) headlined that the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (PSO) was facing a $7M deficit along with a 12% increase in its costs and a drop in overall revenue of 8% when compared to the pre-pandemic 2018-19 season. Still, the… Read More >
By Justin Laing | December 9, 2022 | Antiracism, Program Summary, Racial Capitalism, Research
Really excited to see Gathering Ground (GG) publishing this “compendium of learning and action” about Elevating Equity (EE)! I was privileged to serve as their partner on EE from July 2021 to July 2022 and a big shout out to the GG team of Elizabeth Murphy, Kacy O’Brien, Jeanette Mitchell,… Read More >
By Justin Laing | November 8, 2022 | Antiracism, Critical Philanthropy, Evaluation, Program Summary
In August of 2020, Hillombo, LLC was invited to lead a Utilization-Focused Evaluation (UFE) of a funding strategy for youth arts programs and to do so using the Equitable Evaluation Initiative Framework (EEIF) created by the Equitable Evaluation Initiative. At the provocation of a participant to use “revolutionary pedagogy” and… Read More >
By Justin Laing | September 21, 2021 | Antiracism, Diversity Inclusion Equity, Research
Not too long ago, I led an evaluation of an arts diversity initiative in which a funder was evaluating the impact of a multi-year initiative intended to help arts organizations increase their level of diversity, equity, and inclusion. All but one of the organizations was predominantly White American led. I… Read More >
By Justin Laing | March 7, 2021 | Antiracism, Book/Media Review
Dr. Ibram Kendi’s “How to Be an Antiracist” is intended to be a relatively simple and straightforward book, which is both its strength and weakness. The book begins with a number of definitions: “antiracism”: ideas, policies, and practices that counteract racist ideas, policies, and practices; and racism: ideas, policies, and… Read More >