Okwera Academy’s Post

Community! The last session of our 2023-2024 VISION | POWER | SOLUTIONS (VPS) series is happening Thursday, August 22, and is open for registration! VPS is designed to build capacity for community-driven planning among facilitators, organizers, leaders, and educators who are accountable to Black, Brown, Indigenous, and Asian/Pacific Islander (API) communities. The fourth and final session, Cultivating Community Governance: The Power of Planning for the Collective Good, will explore the vision behind community-driven planning to re-member and re-activate our capacity as communities to build the world and to collectively govern what we need to live and thrive. The practices of community-driven planning are the building blocks to community governance: Shared vision, consensus-building, priority-setting, deep participation, and making decisions for the common good. This session will explore questions about what we can learn from communities that have been able to do this and what some of the different models of community governance in practice are within our network. We encourage you to register for this final installment and join us and Facilitating Power for what is sure to be a great event! You will not want to miss it! https://ow.ly/wq5o50SKueP

Mike Tekh Strode, Chicago-based community strategist, educator, and the founding coordinator of The Kola Nut Collaborative, is presenting at the 9th Annual Black Sustainability Summit! His presentation, Timebanking and Alternative Economies: Community Resilience Through an Afrikan-Centered and Afrofuturist Lens, will be an interactive virtual workshop exploring how timebanking reinforces an Afrikan-centered worldview, fostering community resilience and mutual aid. After his presentation, attendees will: 1. Understand the Role of Timebanking in Community Resilience: Attendees will learn how timebanking aligns with Afrikan-centered principles of reciprocity and mutual aid, and how it contributes to sustainable, resilient communities. 2. Explore Afrofuturist Applications of Timebanking: Attendees will explore how timebanking can support future-ready Black communities by embracing Afrofuturist principles of innovation, self-sufficiency, and collective prosperity. 3. Gain Practical Insights on Offers and Needs Markets: Attendees will discover the practical application of Offers and Needs Markets to build community strength and exchange resources in a way that reinforces mutual aid and sustainability. Get your tickets so you don't miss this session! bit.ly/BSISummit2024 #BSS2024 #BlackSustainability

In preparation for National Black Business Month, I wanted to share an article I wrote in 2021 addressing inequity in Atlanta’s philanthropic community; particularly during the pandemic. The data at the time revealed that 74% of funding went to white-led organizations, while only 10% went to organizations founded by Black women. We have made headway since I first wrote this piece; the conversation has expanded and informs how we support our black women executives through our Legacy Leadership program currently hosted at the Lola.  However, the data continues to illustrate the inequity in funding allocation towards Black women-led organizations. I am honored to have led this close examination of Atlanta’s giving practices. Collaborating with local powerhouses: Sagirah Jones, Kate Little, Wande Okunoren-Meadows, Cicely Garrett, Malaika Wells, and Yonina Gray, MBA to address these deep-rooted biases and broken processes was a dream come true. Check out our recommendations on the link below for better operational strategies as we move forward. 🙌 https://lnkd.in/g2ERE7nx

The first workshop has passed but for those who are transforming #funding check out the second

The collective prosperity of America depends on guaranteeing dignity, health, and economic security for all. This principle is inextricably linked to the economic well-being of members of multifaceted communities of color who compose the growing majority of our nation. Join our Founder and #TheHighlandProject Leader, Rhonda Broussard, on Wednesday, March 20 for a webinar on, "Innovative Models to Disrupt the Racial Wealth Gap and Invest in Black Women Leadership." Asset Funders Network’s Realizing Economic Justice (REJ) Funder Primer affirms that asset building philanthropy is at a critical inflection point. No longer willing to operate at the edges of the status quo, many philanthropic leaders and organizations seek to be part of transformational, systems-level change. We must continue to move from words to action and align financial investments to our commitments. Learn more and register here: https://bit.ly/3TGyPwl And read more on how The Highland Project is supporting Black founders by providing them with capital, and addressing the systemic underpinnings that prevent them from being able to generate wealth in the first place: https://lnkd.in/gXT7sJmb

Maintaining a positive mindset and believing in your ability to achieve great things can help you stay motivated and focused. What do you think are the key factors that contribute to achieving great things?

🌟 Happy Juneteenth from IAB7 Scribing & RCM! 🌟 Today, we honor Juneteenth, a monumental day in American history that marks the end of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, with the news that the Civil War had ended and enslaved people were free, over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom, resilience, and the incredible contributions of Black Americans to our society. At IAB7 Scribing & RCM, we believe in fostering a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion every day. Here are a few ways to honor Juneteenth: 1. Educate Yourself: Dive into the history of Juneteenth and learn more about Black history and culture. 2. Support Black-Owned Businesses: By supporting Black entrepreneurs and creators, we can contribute to economic empowerment and community growth. 3. Engage in Conversations: Discuss the significance of Juneteenth with colleagues, friends, and family. Sharing stories and resources helps spread awareness. 4. Advocate for Change: Get involved in policies and initiatives that promote racial equity and justice in your community and beyond. Let's use this day to reflect, educate, and celebrate the rich cultural heritage and achievements of Black Americans. Together, we can build a more inclusive and equitable future. Wishing everyone a joyful and reflective Juneteenth! 🎉✊🏾❤️🖤💚 #Juneteenth #FreedomDay #BlackHistory #Equality #Diversity #Inclusion #CelebrateFreedom #BlackExcellence #Empowerment #Justice #Community #Unity #Heritage #CulturalDiversity #Education #SupportBlackBusinesses #Resilience #Equity #TogetherWeRise #Advocacy #BlackCulture

Black-owned businesses are vital to our economy, driving growth, innovation, and community empowerment. They create jobs, reinvest in their communities, and offer unique products and services that enrich our market. Supporting Black-owned businesses helps build wealth, reduce economic disparities, and promote a more inclusive economy. Glad to work for an organization that champions Black-owned businesses every day! #SupportBlackBusiness #EconomicGrowth #BlackBusinessMonth #BuyBlack

We are pleased to announce the publication of our Toolkit ‘Empowering Inclusion: A Toolkit for Black and Racially Minoritised Led Social Enterprises’. The toolkit was co-created by Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), Oxford Community Action (OCA), and the University of Greenwich and offers guidance for establishing and managing social enterprises. We would like to thank Safe and Inclusive Communities, Anglia Ruskin University for funding the research. You can download the Toolkit using either of the links below: https://lnkd.in/egCR_QWf https://lnkd.in/eeh4pwjC The creation of the toolkit was further supported by: Anna Thorne, Emma Sarcol (University of Oxford), Ridwan Morohunranti (OCA), Councillor Imade Edosomwan (Oxfordshire County Councillor), Euton Daley (Unlock the Chains Collective), Simon Grove-White (Oxford City Council), and Clayton Lavallin (Oxford City Council). We would like to thank all the volunteers and key informants who contributed to the research and Aneeka Quraishi for the design of the toolkit. The toolkit highlights four core principles - Transitioning, Racial Justice, Legitimacy, and Sustainability – and provides strategies to advance social justice, economic empowerment, and sustainable community development. Toolkit authors: Dr Nigel Carter; Dr Anna Paraskevopoulou; Dr Leroi Henry; Hassan Sabriye; Mujahid Hamidi #arucise #aruproud

The Jane Bancroft Robinson Foundation was honored to participate in Thriving Together: An Employers’ Best Practice Convening, led by Black Women Thriving East of the River. This impactful event addressed the dual challenges of workforce development and cancer survival for Black women in Washington, D.C.’s Wards 7 & 8. Our shared mission is to create equitable health-related career opportunities and reduce cancer mortality among Black women who face significant barriers due to social determinants of health. At the Foundation, we remain committed to systemic change through initiatives that support Black women’s career growth and health journeys. Based on comprehensive research, the event showcased best practices that employers can adopt to improve recruitment, retention, and advancement for Black women in healthcare—such as mentorship programs, equitable workplace policies, and community-driven support. To read more, visit: www.thrivingeotr.org