In his new position, he wants philanthropy to join the chorus of voices voicing the importance of multiracial democracy and its practices and institutions.
One of the biggest grant-making foundations in the United States, the JPB Foundation, recently elected its president Deepak Bhargava, wants philanthropy to join the chorus of voices advocating for the importance of multiracial democracy and its institutions and practices.
Co-founder of Leadership for Democracy and Social Justice, an organisation that trains and supports early- and mid-career activists for social change, particularly women, people of color, LGBTQ individuals, and those from working-class backgrounds, he is an expert on social justice movements. Since 2019, he has taught at the CUNY School of Labour and Urban Studies.
According to a JBP press release, “the threat to democracy is the single greatest challenge facing our nation.” “For democracy to survive, wide coalitions must be formed throughout civil society, bringing together people with different perspectives who share fundamental beliefs like voting rights and the necessity of responsive and representative institutions. We must work to meet those short-term threats to our formal democratic institutions while also addressing the long-term drivers of our crisis of democracy.”
The foundation said it plans to spend up to $100 million in additional funds in 2024 to strengthen democracy. Under an expanded mission, it will “help people who have been denied power to build it, so they can change unjust systems and create a more democratic, inclusive, and sustainable society.”
He spent 16 years leading Community Change before coming to CUNY. During that time, he formed coalitions to advance significant federal policy reforms on matters like immigration, health care, and poverty, and he worked to develop the field of community organising. Hundreds of leaders who have played important roles in progressive organisations and social justice movements have benefited from his training and mentoring.
In addition to co-editing “Immigration Matters: Movements, Visions, and Strategies for a Progressive Future” with Ruth Milkman and Penny Lewis (New Press, 2023) and co-authoring “Practical Radicals: Seven Strategies to Change the World” with Stephanie Luce (New Press, 2023), he has served on the boards of several organisations.
He co-authored “The Statue of Liberty Plan: A Progressive Vision for Migration in the Age of Climate Change” with Rich Stolz and “The Death of ‘Deliverism'” in Democracy Journal with Shahrzad Shams and Harry Hanbury, which examines the connection between political allegiances and economic policy, while serving as a Senior Fellow at the Roosevelt Institute from 2020 to 2023. Among many other subjects, he has written extensively for various publications on community organising, progressive strategy, racial justice, civic engagement, and public policy pertaining to poverty and economic justice.
He was raised in New York City, where he currently resides, having been born in Bangalore. He is married to documentary filmmaker Harry W. Hanbury.
