United Way Committees and Coalitions

Fund for Racial Justice and Equity

United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley is committed to being anti-racist and promoting anti-racism work across our community. We cannot serve our communities without directly confronting racial injustice within them.

The Fund for Racial Justice and Equity (FRJE), powered by United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley and led by five leaders immersed in this fight, seeks to transform people and communities by investing in Black and Brown leaders and organizations. It is guided by a team of seven Black and Brown community leaders who are experts in their fields with decades of collective lived experience. Together, they developed the Fund’s strategic framework and investment process that expands opportunity and access to equitable funding. By removing barriers currently faced by leaders of color, we ensure that resources are available to support the programs, people and services centered around the voices and experiences of those most affected by racism. This investment process is committed to equitable funding practices throughout the application, review and distribution processes.

We have the following intentions:

  • Support Black and Brown leadership
  • Invest in people
  • Support risk-taking and innovation
  • Promote trust and integrity

To learn more about the Fund, contact Marci Martinez-Howey at 610-807-5755.

Building a greater lehigh valley where every person belongs
and every person thrives.

The FRJE recognizes it is a catalyst and can maximize its usefulness through alignment and integration with other regional racial equity efforts; such as Project Equity, ColorOutside The Lines and more. Key strategies to advance racial equity have already emerged along the continuum of what is needed to achieve this goal. While the FRJE works within a larger equity agenda, it has specific work it will create and invest in to enhance Black and Brown leadership in the Lehigh Valley community.

In its inaugural year, the FRJE focused on two key goals: building executive BIPOC leadership and building capacity with BIPOC-led nonprofit organizations.

FRJE will provide targeted and intentional investment into liberatory Black and Brown leaders, community members, organizations, and community infrastructure to support the aspirations and increase the contributions of the people served by the fund.

“United Way is open for people like us to come in and have a part in the process of funding. We challenge more people who look like us to step up and participate.”

Tyrone Russell
CEO of Faces International

fund partners and leadership

Headshot of Batts

Hasshan Batts, DHSC, MSW

Executive Director
Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley

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Scott Blair

Senior Director, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
B. Braun Medical Inc.

Headshot of Ghafoor-Davis

Kumari Ghafoor-Davis, MSW

Director, Campaign for Racial and Ethnic Justice
Community Action Lehigh Valley

Headshot of Greene

Kevin Greene

Chief Operating Officer
Faces International

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Marci Martinez-Howey

Associate Vice President, Diversity Equity and Inclusion
United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley

Dra. Vivian Robledo

Executive Director
The Next Step Public Charter School

Tyrone Russell

Chief Executive Officer
Faces International

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