Mission
The Katz Amsterdam Foundation strives to be a catalyst for eliminating inequities, increasing access to opportunity, and improving outcomes for all. We know that everyone benefits from living in healthy and cohesive communities, but access to these benefits is unequal – a result of historical racial and social injustice. We work in partnership with communities to advance just and equitable approaches to accessing mental, behavioral and reproductive healthcare and protecting our civil rights by increasing civic engagement and participation in our multiracial democracy. We do this work by addressing systemic injustice, racial and social disparities in mental health, reproductive health and civic engagement. As a foundation, our priority is to support community-driven work that meaningfully improves the lives of all individuals and the social well-being of our communities.
Values
Community-Based Approaches
The Foundation understands that to create lasting change, we must draw on the collective strengths of our community partners. We believe that community-driven approaches are most likely to be sustained long-term. That’s why we strive to build authentic, long-term connections, with an emphasis on relationship building to gain proximity and to deepen our understanding of community needs and expertise. The Foundation works directly with our communities to support solutions driven by the lived experience of our non-profit partners.
Advancing Racial Equity
We are committed to creating more just and inclusive communities. We are driven by our concern for justice, our genuine respect for people, and our belief that communities do best when everyone is included. We believe that those with direct lived experiences have the best understanding and expertise to identify and implement needed solutions to issues within their own communities. We strive to utilize a racial equity lens in our work. As a Foundation we work to advance racial equity through our practices, relationships, and with our voice to ensure communities receive the resources they deserve.
Taking a Stand
We go where the fight is. This means taking risks, disrupting conventional thinking, and leveraging the foundation’s power and position to raise up key issues. That’s why the foundation is tackling challenges head-on such as access to abortion, voting rights, and ensuring mental and behavioral health have parity with physical health. By channeling our passions into action, the Foundation works to dismantle entrenched narratives, confront stigma, and take a stand on issues where disenfranchised communities have long been marginalized.