mia.ibarra@trellisfoundation.org

As we close the values blog series sharing Trellis Foundation staff reflections on our values, it’s fitting that we end where our social sector begins: collaboration. In Kristin’s introductory post, she pointed to the etymology of the word “philanthropy: love of humanity,” and in this blog, we’d like to elevate the origin of collaboration, [...]

In highlighting data-informed decisions as a core value, the Trellis Foundation is elevating just one element of our greater commitment as a learning organization. For over a decade, the philanthropic sector has explored “What is a Learning Organization?” And in my year with the Foundation, I have seen us explore this idea deeply and [...]

It’s never easy to say “no.” There are power dynamics in philanthropy that need to shift, and processes that favor funders and waste applicants' time need to be changed. There are myriad examples of needed reflection points and systems change in philanthropy. But at the end of the day, foundation program officers are generally [...]

As a Black male educator and equity advocate, I stand at a unique intersection of identity and purpose, driven by the belief that all students deserve equal educational opportunities. This belief is rooted in a deep understanding of the systemic barriers that have historically marginalized students of color, and our responsibility to dismantle these [...]

Reflecting on the transformative power of education, I think about it through the lens of my family journey. I’ll start with the stories told by my maternal grandmother about the hardships of her childhood. She was born in a rural area in northern Mexico, and the only toys she had were stick and stone [...]

Our team has been actively engaging in a robust discussion sparked by a recent Stanford Social Innovation Review article. The article delves into the origins and impact of what the authors term “strategic philanthropy” to critique traditional models that assume philanthropists, by virtue of their wealth and power, are inherently capable of developing and [...]

At Trellis Foundation, we believe in making the promise of higher education a reality for all students. We also recognize the over-representation of Black and Hispanic students in the justice system, and supporting educational opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals is critical to our equity goals. Higher ed in prison is a space that many [...]

When I was learning to knit during the pandemic, it took me about two months to finish my first scarf. As part of an innovative strategy to improve enrollment and retention, students at several Texas community colleges completed courses in 2022 and 2023 in about the same amount of time it took me to [...]