An internal task force leads the Avalon process for continuous improvement in DEI. The group is staff-led, receiving guidance from DEI consultants. You can read about Avalon’s commitment to DEI here. We assert that a substantive DEI commitment is not static, and we are committed to taking a harder look at how we do business, […]

Dear friends, Last week I got to see my mom and stepfather and my favorite uncle and aunt for the first time in over a year. Cheers to my entire family being fully vaccinated. It was incredible to gather with them again. Speaking of which, Happy Mother’s Day to all the fundraising families out there! […]

  Dear friends, Last week was quite something. I felt a wash of relief when I heard the news of Derek Chauvin’s conviction. I continue to think of George Floyd’s family, and I hope this helps them find some peace. There is also a sobering awareness of institutional racism, and an opportunity for us all […]

  Dear friends, Hello again, and happy spring! I had a great vacation, but I have also missed connecting with you here. It’s good to be back. Avalon has been busy… First and foremost, congratulations to Mary Meredith, Avalon’s new Director of Digital Innovation! Mary is leading the charge to advance Avalon’s work at the […]

  Dear Friends, The past week has been full of nostalgic “one year ago today” reminiscences, mostly to underscore how naïve we were about what was ahead of us. I’m trying to continue to look forward, grasping the small indications of hope that we are starting to come out of this pandemic. I anticipate a […]

  Dear friends, Happy Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day! To mark the occasion yesterday, President Biden established a Gender Policy Council within the White House and named Jennifer Klein and Julissa Reynoso co-chairs. I am particularly excited to hear that their vision is LGBTQ+ inclusive and will “advance equity for Black, Indigenous and Latina women and girls […]

To approach thinking about creative in a different way, Avalon developed a Thinking Creatively: Streaming Series. This group participates in sessions curated by our former Chief Strategy Officer and frequent collaborator, Jenny Phillips. We meet quarterly and review content ahead of time like short videos, documentaries, brief articles, and thought pieces. The group comes ready […]

  Dear friends, We made it to March. This is the month that many of us will mark as the anniversary of COVID—the early wave of cancellations, the transition to remote work, the first stories of loss, and many other previously unimagined changes. I hope this month offers you opportunities to reflect on the past […]

  Dear friends, I hope those of you experiencing tough winter weather – especially in Texas and other areas where infrastructure has been inadequate – are safe and warm. It is sad to see these challenges laid bare, causing more suffering in an already difficult time. I am reminded yet again of the high stakes of government […]

  Dear friends, First and foremost, thank you to everyone who responded to TNPA’s call to action by signing their donor privacy amicus brief last week. Your donors will thank you, and so do we. In other news, the second impeachment trial is behind us. The outcome was frustrating and sadly predictable, and the process was a […]