KEY ELEMENTS OF HOW LEEWAY DOES ITS WORK Building community “So, it’s been really powerful for me to have a community that is just so multiple, so complex and such an ecosystem that is different creative mediums, different neighborhoods, different racial and ethnic groups, different generations. So, it’s one of those things that it’s a rare place that has so much of Philadelphia be part of it.” (grantee) Social change happens through building relationships — Leeway believes that building relationships and community are necessary to achieving social change, and that centering relationships is a way to amplify the impact of limited grantmaking resources. They see it as a form of movement building. Leeway has built strong, vibrant relationships with artists and cultural producers working on social change in the wider Philadelphia area, and with local and national partners — relationships that are binding, and full of trust. In the impact assessment interviews, grantees and local partners said that they felt part of a community that Leeway had built. Grantees know and love the staff at Leeway, and feel like they have strong relationships with them, and that those relationships are a source of support. Almost everyone we spoke to loved the fact that getting a grant or being involved, say, as a panelist meant that you became and stayed a member of the Leeway community. “They give funding, but they leverage so much more than an exchange of dollars. They are creating and growing community and appreciation, opportunities for new ideas, which they incorporate as they go along. I find it unique.” (grantee and panelist) “They’re super smart, creative, generous. When I’d see them around, they’re super friendly. They were so excited about my Pew grant and wrote me to say so. That was really kind.” (grantee and panelist) “There are so many ways I’ve seen Leeway support other people. ... They try to support someone even if they don’t have a current grant. I emailed Leeway to ask for teaching artist recommendations because I manage teaching artists. They sent me a list of 20 artists. It included an artist who hadn’t had a grant in 20 years, but they were still considered a member of the Leeway community.” (panel facilitator) “Radical hospitality” — Leeway takes care of people when they’re in Leeway spaces in a thoughtful way, purposefully offering comfort and sustenance so that artists and cultural producers feel valued and respected. One artist, who had been both a grantee and a panelist, called this “radical hospitality.”4 Leeway staff go out of their way to make sure there’s good food to eat, and that people are comfortable and feel at home whenever they come to events, workshops and meetings. They’re thoughtful about and responsive to people’s needs. When panelists come to Philadelphia to take part in a grantmaking panel, Leeway makes sure Amplifying a cultural community: Leeway’s impact | What you need to know about Leeway
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