Special Gathering and the Horizon Foundation: A Partnership That Leads with Heart and Intent

An interview with Nikki Highsmith Vernick, Horizon Foundation President and CEO

1. Tell us about the Horizon Foundation and how your mission to partner with communities at entry level to deliver trust-centered philanthropy through the lens of racial equity is so important at this moment of time.

The Horizon Foundation believes that everyone in Howard County deserves to live abundant and healthy lives. But to achieve that, we first need to dismantle the hurdles standing in the way of some residents – particularly residents of color. This is why our commitment to health equity starts by recognizing and addressing racial inequity.

Right now, there are laws and practices that hold many of our friends and neighbors back and lead to poorer health outcomes and fewer opportunities for housing stability and social mobility. But we believe health is a fundamental right and that everyone deserves a fair opportunity to attain it at the highest level. As Howard County’s health foundation and the largest independent health foundation in Maryland, it is our responsibility to champion this work and co-create solutions with the community. It is important to deliver trust-centered philanthropy during this time because we believe the individuals most proximate to experiencing poor health outcomes should drive solutions that ultimately impact their bodies and their lives.

2. How/when did you know you wanted to work with Special Gathering?

[We] met in McAllen, Texas on a site visit with Grant Makers in Health. In the car, driving to visit La Union del Pueblo Entero (LUPE), a civic engagement and community power building organization in south Texas, we found out how many connections we had in common including both being from Maryland and working deeply in philanthropic and social change spaces. I had the honor of seeing Dani work with immigrant rights organizations with care, compassion and humility. I knew then how much I wanted Horizon to benefit from working with her and her team.

3. What do you enjoy most about working with Special Gathering?

Dani and her team are thought partners, deeply involved and committed to working side by side with our organization. They feel the work as deeply as we do, and they bring care and intentionality in everything they do. They profoundly understand that setting the places and spaces for people to gather, learn and grow creates community and social change.

4. Based on your experience with Special Gathering, could you share a specific story of impact or a memorable moment?

The Horizon Foundation worked with Special Gathering to visit the Equal Justice Initiative sites in Montgomery, Alabama with our board of trustees, staff and community members. The visit was an opportunity to have an “honest encounter with history that centers on the lives of enslaved people” and Special Gathering organized every minute of the site visit with care and intentionality. What particularly struck us was the dignity and support that they showed every person on our trip from our bus driver, to the museum docents, to the caterers, to each other, and to our staff and board. They knew this was an experience grounded in equity and inclusion and their actions reflected their values and approach.