December 5, 2025

Grantee Partner Spotlight: Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center

by Dr. Inderjit “Vicky” Kaur Basra, DSW

Ms. Foundation is proud to support our grantee partners, who are at the forefront of organizing and creating solutions that improve people’s lives and bring us closer to achieving a true democracy. The insight and perspective they provide is invaluable. The Q&A below was generated by Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center President and CEO Dr. Inderjit “Vicky” Kaur Basra, DSW.

Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center opened in 2013, with the mission to engage communities, organizations, and individuals through quality research, advocacy, training, and model programming to advance the rights of girls, young women and gender-expansive youth, especially those impacted by the justice system. The Policy Center now drives large-scale, research-based reform, and its programming, training and reform models have been replicated nationwide. The Policy Center is a Girls of Color Initiative grantee partner.

What brought you to this work?

My first experience with a social worker, as a result of experiencing trauma and violence as a young girl, was truly transformational. From that connection, I knew when I grew up I wanted to make a difference in the way that she made a difference in my life.

How do you connect/collaborate in your community? Who are your key partners?

I challenge the concept that nonprofits are in competition with each other and honor that each of us has an expertise to bring to the table that elevates those we are honored to serve.

What are you learning or what are you teaching?

I’m learning to be a leader who trusts my inner voice while simultaneously listening to the voices of those who are the experts in their areas around me. From there I can find the common ground to make effective, impactful decisions.

Tell us about a recent victory or something you’re proud of.

Something I am proud of is that no matter what we face as an organization, we continue to focus on the needs of the girls, keeping them at the center of the work. We are trying to navigate through these complex times in a way that has the least negative impact on the girls and I am proud to say we are doing that, in spite of the pressing challenges at both the state and federal levels.

What can philanthropy do better and/or how can individuals be helpful allies?

Philanthropists can make the process to access dollars less complex. The same goes for reporting requirements. They can commit to trusting how individual organizations uniquely define success in their individual arenas and not put such rigid parameters around that definition.

What gives you hope?

Girls! (laugh) Their resilience, their beauty, their smiles, yeah, it’s always the girls.