Baltimore Community Foundation’s Post

On March 12, 2024, Donald, the respected leader of Wrigcoll for Urban Communities, found himself confronting the harsh realities of racial prejudice within the nonprofit sector. White-led nonprofits such as GBFB, Food For Free. Controlling a event by Diversified Communications, and Freeman helped to undermined his efforts, subtly and overtly belittling his leadership. The suffering caused by these white-led nonprofits was palpable. Their actions not only hindered the progress of Wrigcoll but also served to reinforce systemic inequalities. Donald knew that these organizations, much like a snake, were never truly his friends. They slithered through the urban communities, closing out Black-led initiatives to protect their own egos and corporate interests. One incident stood out in Donald's mind. A promising collaboration with a major corporate sponsor had been in the works, set to bring substantial resources to Wrigcoll. However, at the last minute, the deal was pulled. The donator's, influenced by whispers from the white-led nonprofits, GBFB,Food For Free by Diversified Communications instead. The reasoning was clear—Wrigcoll’s success threatened their dominance and control over urban community support. Donald reflected on how these organizations, like serpents, cloaked their true intentions in their actions revealed their true nature: they were only interested in maintaining their power and ensuring that Black-led initiatives remained marginalized. Despite these challenges, Donald, unwavering in his commitment, remained determined to lead his community through these adversities. He understood that the fight for equity and recognition was far from over, but he also knew that the strength and resilience of Wrigcoll would ultimately shine through, even in the face of such systemic bias and deceit. #BlackLivesMatter #ClimateChange #MentalHealthAwareness #COVID19 #MeToo #SocialJustice #TechInnovation #DigitalTransformation #SustainableLiving #RemoteWork #Cryptocurrency #AI #Blockchain #ElectricVehicles #ClimateCrisis #DiversityAndInclusion #EndRacism #CancelCulture #VeganLife #HealthcareReform #EqualOpportunity #HumanRightsForAll #Div #FoodForFree #Freeman #GBFB #RacismIsReal #Equality #Justice #SocialJustice #HumanRights  #Juneteenth #people #Feed #Help #Cash #Love #Things #Rules #White #Hate #Office #Surburbs #Mean #Tell #Change #Ya #office #Poor #Amazon #Wholefoods #DailyTable #Fairfood #Chicken #Free #Lottery #Billionaire #Butter #Good #Bad #Cake #Speaker #Love #Stop #Paycheck

If you have not yet had the honor of hearing Michael Banks speak about The Promise PHL, you need to. Equal parts inspiration, reality-check, and activation. Lucky for me, Jeff Hornstein of the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia and Mike Banks masterfully opened this year’s Deloitte Philadelphia Nonprofit Board Training Series to help 30 local Deloitte leaders understand our region’s economic realities as a backdrop to understand the complexities and interconnectedness of poverty in Philadelphia. Over the next month, they’ll learn what to do (and NOT do) when serving on a nonprofit board, and how to be a powerful ally and advocate. I'm thrilled to welcome Kelly S. Woodland to our next session, to talk about advancing racial equity through philanthropy. The Promise PHL is addressing workforce development by building trust, collaborating with neighborhood leaders, and investing in the long game. Did you know that a first-time or low-level offense—or even an arrest that leads to no charges—can pose significant challenges that are lifelong, well outlasting any sentence served? Access to education, employment, housing, financial opportunity, etc. becomes nearly impossible - for the very same infractions that many of us of means likely would have been able to have 'disappear' before the ink would have a chance to dry. Record clearing changes lives for generations to come. https://lnkd.in/e2s38xFK The Economy League is opening doors to address income inequality through access, community, and intention. Deloitte is proud to support their supplier diversity program, PAGE. https://lnkd.in/essaqVsD Real, lasting, systemic change requires long-term investment. Thank you to The Promise and The Economy League for doing THE WORK. Sandy Pfeffer, Steve Delaney, Tom Morrison

What would it look like to redefine fiduciary duty, and consider the impact on community alongside financial return? This a discussion that we've had around many tables with potential investors, and this article by Sandhya Nakhasi does an amazing job at exploring the question. “You can’t build wealth for Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color by continuing to extract wealth from these same communities that have faced multigenerational exclusion and extraction from our financial systems.” Read the full article below: https://lnkd.in/eW2s3Dc4

Did you know White-led CDFIs have grown their assets 32 times faster than Black-led ones? We’re here to change that. We're ensuring Black-led CDFIs have the resources they need to support Black communities in accessing capital, building businesses, and creating generational wealth. We need your help 🌟 https://lnkd.in/e8YPpmCv #RacialEquity #CDFILeaders #DonateToday

Curious about the real impact of leadership? When I joined Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, my start coincided with Darren Walker joining the Board. From the outset, I was struck by his leadership—particularly his self-awareness and a precise understanding of the value he brought to our discussions. Darren’s tenure at the Ford Foundation exemplifies the transformative power of philanthropy as a tool for justice and systemic change. He adeptly navigated both praise and criticism, demonstrating a profound grasp of the nuanced pressures inherent in leadership roles with extensive societal influence. His commitment to transcending simple financial aid to foster significant, lasting change reflects a visionary approach—one that targets the root causes of inequality rather than just its manifestations. His time in the role also underscores the vital importance of self-awareness and humility in leadership. The influence of his role, extending well beyond his personal identity, showcases a deep appreciation for the dynamics of leadership transitions—essential for leaders across all sectors, especially those whose decisions impact social dynamics profoundly. Darren’s leadership journey provides crucial lessons on the importance of aligning organizational goals with societal needs and managing challenges with integrity. His thoughtful approach to succession planning highlights his foresight and dedication to the ongoing evolution of leadership. This repost aims to highlight how his tenure has set a standard for thoughtful, impactful leadership in organizations.

🌟 Exciting Announcement 🌟 Today marks a significant milestone for us at Citigroup as we proudly unveil the next iteration of Action for Racial Equity. This initiative is very close to my heart, embodying our continued commitment to addressing the U.S. racial wealth gap through a multi-faceted approach. Leveraging what we've learned over the years, our aim is to foster change and to be the change, ensuring our efforts translate into tangible benefits for communities nationwide. As someone deeply passionate about promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in asset management, this announcement fills me with excitement and hope. The journey towards equity is long and challenging, but we are taking significant strides forward with initiatives like Action for Racial Equity. Let's continue to push boundaries. Here's to creating a more inclusive and equitable future for all! #Citigroup #ActionForRacialEquity #DEI #FinancialInclusion #diversity #EconomicOpportunity

Operation HOPE – nonprofit aimed at promoting financial literacy for all– has set an ambitious goal: to uplift underserved communities and combat poverty nationwide. Its history signals that it will mobilize the support of many to achieve this goal. It collaborates with diverse partners. Some, like the American Red Cross or the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund, offer direct community engagement. Others, such as the founding members of the Financial Literacy for All Initiative (Walmart, Delta Air Lines, Walgreens, National Football League (NFL), Khan Academy, Bank of America, Ares Management Corporation, PayPal and National Basketball Association (NBA)), provided financial resources for change and personally engaged in the initiatives. There are also allies like them who aid through public advocacy or by sharing expertise for transformative endeavors. Operation HOPE and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) extended their Strategic Alliance Memorandum (SAM) to bolster minority-owned businesses. John Hope Bryant's OPERATION HOPE has the formula, and the SBA has the expertise and network in the world of small business to empower minority entrepreneurship initiatives throughout the US. https://lnkd.in/dvVaSd4k #IESE #strategicalliances #partnerships #FinancialLiteracy #SocialIntegration #Inclusion #TalentDiscovery #Empowerment #CorporateResponsibility

Black Communities Taken for a Ride: The Exploitation Needs to Stop It’s time to call it what it is: straight Black exploitation. For too long, Black neighborhoods have been targeted by white-led profiteers who swoop in, extract wealth, and give nothing back. These companies see us as dollar signs, not as human beings, and they are more than happy to take advantage of our communities while living comfortably in the suburbs, far removed from the struggles we face every day. I’ve experienced this firsthand—when I, Donald, was attacked by the same white-led profiteers who pretend to care about our neighborhoods but are only in it for the profit. They come into our communities, exploit our needs, and leave us with nothing but empty promises. This isn’t just business—it’s a deliberate strategy to keep us down, to keep Black people on the margins while they rake in the profits. They target our neighborhoods because they know they can get away with it. But we’re not going to stay silent. We’re not going to let them continue to exploit our communities without a fight. We must stand together and push back against this exploitation. It’s time to support Black-owned businesses, uplift our own communities, and hold these profiteers accountable for their actions. We deserve better. We deserve to be seen, heard, and respected—not taken for a ride. #EndExploitation #SupportBlackCommunities #BlackLivesMatter #StopTheProfiteers #RacismIsReal #Equality #Justice #SocialJustice #HumanRights  #SpeakUp #TogetherForJustice #EqualOpportunity #HumanRightsForAll #Div #FoodForFree #Freeman #GBFB #EconomicEquality #StopExploitation #BlackVoicesMatter #CommunityOverProfit #SocialJustice #BlackEmpowerment #EquityForAll #money #hancock #big #business #sound #government #even #redlight #greenlight #JBS #GlobalMeatLeader #MeatProcessing #FarmFresh #JBSFoods #Danone #HealthyLiving #DanoneProducts #BetterForYou #NestleProducts #NestleCares #FoodInnovation #PepsiCo #SnackAndBeverage #PepsiCoBrands #PepsiLove #SnackSmart #blackexcellence #inclusion #diversity #equality #KnowYourRights #history  #Foodie #wakeupworld #wakeuphumanity #EndSystemicRacism  #EndPoliceBrutality  #EndGunViolence  #StandUpAgainstRacism  #kamalaharris #civilrights  #yours #love #away #dei #HungerActionMonth #EndHungerHere #FeedingAmerica #FoodBankPartners #MassachusettsStrong #EndHunger #FightHunger #FoodInsecurity #ZeroHunger #HungerFree #BlackInTheIvory #RacialEquity #AmplifyMelanatedVoices  #DigitalMarketing #Roxbury #Mattapan #Dorchester #Columbiaroad #Tremontstreet #JFK #MLK #Johnson #Kraft #Perdue #Synchoricity #Wrigcoll #Enterprise #Gold #Silver #Down #Dont #Encore #Wholefoods #Traderjoe #Shaws #Marketbasket #Opendoor #Biogen #MIT #Newton #Allston #Letdown #Car #Likes #Hashstag #Girls #events #Rights #Jokers

Over the last ten years, #entrepreneursofcolor have had the greatest growth in business ownership, accounting for more than 50 percent of the two million newly created firms. Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) play a vital role in strategically leveraging opportunities for wealth creation for entrepreneurs of color. Want to learn more about CDFIs? Join AFN on July 31st at 1pm ET for a webinar/brief which will highlight successful and innovative strategies to position #CDFIs as #wealth-building mechanisms including recommendations on how #philanthropy may invest to narrow the racial and ethnic #wealthgap through investments to expand small business. REGISTER HERE: https://loom.ly/JRCSzcg CITI Prudential The Rockefeller Foundation Truist

In this interview with Chicago radio station WVON 1690 AM, NJCC President and CEO Bernel Hall discusses the impact of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs). Bernel shares his passion for empowering underserved communities through sustainable economic development and provides valuable insights into the world of CDFIs. Watch the full video to learn: - The Real Purpose of CDFIs: Discover how CDFIs bridge the gap in access to capital left by traditional banks, focusing on social and economic impact over profit. - Bernel Hall’s Personal Journey: Hear Bernel's inspiring story of rising from a single-parent household to leading NJCC, driven by a mission to help black communities achieve wealth creation. - Commercial Real Estate as a Wealth Builder: Understand the benefits of commercial property ownership and how NJCC supports black and brown business owners in acquiring income-generating properties. Don't miss out on this conversation that highlights the critical role of CDFIs in fostering financial inclusion and economic empowerment. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/e6SeBXB #CommunityDevelopment #CDFI #WealthCreation #FinancialInclusion