Accion Opportunity Fund’s Post

🚀🌱 Rediscovering Black Business: Building Community Wealth and Economic Equality 🌱🚀 #BlackBusinessMatters #EconomicEquality Uncover challenges, opportunities, and interventions supporting Black entrepreneurship. Let's rewrite the narrative. Read & join the conversation: http://rb.gy/j9fhm3 ✊🏿💼

🚀🌱 Rediscovering Black Business: Building Community Wealth and Economic Equality 🌱🚀 #thedsgway #BlackBusinessMatters #CommunityEmpowerment #EconomicEquality #ChangeStartsWithUs In a world where economic disparities persist, Black-owned businesses stand as beacons of hope for building community wealth and bridging the racial wealth gap. Our latest blog dives deep into the challenges, opportunities, and necessary interventions to support Black entrepreneurship and pave the way for a more equitable future. 💼💰 From systemic barriers to the disproportionate impact of crises like COVID-19, Black entrepreneurs face uphill battles. But with the right support, we can rewrite the narrative. Let's talk policies for equity, access to capital, building capabilities, and expanding mentorship opportunities. It's time to level the playing field and unleash the full potential of Black-owned businesses. ✊🏿💡 Read the full article and join the conversation: http://rb.gy/j9fhm3 📝✨ Let's champion entrepreneurship as a pathway to prosperity and collective advancement. Together, we can make a difference. #BlackBusiness #EconomicEmpowerment #CommunityResilience 🌟

We were never meant to build generational wealth. All these barriers, the discriminatory lending practices, limited access to quality education etc. were intentionally put in place to keep us from fully participating in and benefiting from wealth creation opportunities like entrepreneurship. Which is why we need programs that address the disparities and create pathways that truly work for us all. Tomorrow I'm leading a panel for The White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Black Americans and we're going to be talking about entrepreneurship and innovation - one of my favorite topics! So I wrote about it! I wrote about how at Buy From A Black Woman we leverage the power of commerce, innovation and community support to create generational wealth for Black Women and Black Communities. You can read my note here: https://lnkd.in/dVeHww-2 And if you want to join me in Charleston, SC for the panel tomorrow, I'll share the link in the comments. #generationalwealth #entrepreneurship #innovation

🔥 Join the Movement: Leave a Legacy for Your Beautiful Black Children 🔥 In the wake of George Floyd's murder in 2020, our founder, James Oliver, Jr., ignited a flame of empowerment by establishing the ParentPreneur Foundation. Our mission? To empower Black ParentPreneurs like you to shape a legacy for your children, a legacy of resilience, purpose, and prosperity. At the ParentPreneur Foundation, we're not just a community; we're a catalyst for transformation. We envision Black ParentPreneurs not just as entrepreneurs, but as pillars of strength, as mentors, and as the architects of a brighter future for their families. 🌟 Our Impact Speaks Volumes 🌟 Since our inception, we've injected over $200,000 in grants and provided invaluable free mental health therapy for our community. But our impact goes beyond dollars and cents. We leveraged our network to propel our members forward, helping them secure funding and amplify their voices. 🎥 Meet Ruby "SunShine" Taylor, MSW: Our Inspiring Hero 🎥 In the video below, you'll meet Ruby Taylor, a beacon of resilience in our community. Despite facing a traumatic brain injury, Ruby refused to be defined by her circumstances. Instead, she channeled her passion into closing the racial wealth gap through innovative financial education products. We proudly supported Ruby's endeavors, from being early customers of her Financial Joy School's Legacy card game, to facilitating connections that helped her secure $250,000 in funding through the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center. 🌟 Ready to Make a Difference? 🌟 If you're driven by the desire to leave a lasting legacy for your beautiful Black children, the ParentPreneur Foundation is where you belong. Join forces with the world's most dynamic and impactful community of Black ParentPreneurs, where we don't just dream of change – we make it happen. Let's grow together and shape a future of boundless opportunity for generations to come. 🌱 Join us 👇🏾 https://lnkd.in/di36bzhT #ParentPreneurFoundation #BlackExcellence #LegacyBuilders #CommunityImpact #Empowerment #JoinTheMovement 🚀

As a nonprofit leader dedicated to empowering young Black males in tech/STEM through Mission Fulfilled 2030 , it's crucial to address systemic challenges in education and beyond. Recent discussions highlight the importance of representation in teaching, suggesting that Black educators are less likely to hold biased views towards Black students. This underscores the need for our work outside traditional school systems, where we can create inclusive environments that nurture potential without bias. Join us in fostering a future where every young Black male in tech/STEM can thrive, supported by a community that believes in their unlimited potential. THE WORK CAN'T WAIT Together, we can make a difference! ➡️https://lnkd.in/eDMXRdqY #nonprofitleadership #missionfulfilled2030

Linkers, "Jim Crow” laws—first enacted in the 1880s by angry and resentful Southern whites against freed African Americans—separated blacks from whites in all aspects of daily life. Favoring whites and repressing blacks, these became an institutionalized form of inequality. Out of the demeaning environment of Jim Crow arose the opportunity for some African Americans to establish their own businesses. The more cut off that black communities became from white communities and the more that white businessmen refused to cater to black customers, the more possible it became for enterprising black entrepreneurs to create viable businesses of their own. Most of these businesses were local, small-scale, and family-run. Many black entrepreneurs followed the tenets of Booker T. Washington, who had established the National Business League in 1900 to promote economic self-help. Washington advocated economic development as the best path to racial advancement and the means to eventually challenge the racial prejudice of Jim Crow. The Jim Crow Era provided the impetus for a number of black businesses to grow and flourish, instilling a sense of pride within black communities, serving as symbols of racial progress, and promising safe places to do business and socialize. The conversation and ideas that flowed freely in black business establishments also helped raise consciousness and establish a sense of solidarity within black neighborhoods. When the Civil Rights movement gained momentum—offering an end to the indignities and disenfranchisement of Jim Crow—many black entrepreneurs did what they could to support the movement. After the Civil Rights Act passed in 1964, and segregation was declared illegal, black entrepreneurs could take pride in the role they had played in the Civil Rights movement despite the fact that the future viability of their segregated businesses were now in jeopardy. As we think about the impact that Martin Luther King Jr. has had on the civil rights movement in America, it is clear that the embers of that movement have not burned out. There is awareness around the disparities that exist, particularly in the business community, and efforts are being made to improve the environment for those affected most. Happy birthday and Thank you Dr MLK Jr for standing in your purpose and pushing for the black community even in difficulties of today and tomorrow. #MLK #happybirthdaytoyou #business #blackbusiness

As an entrepreneur, I give discounts often. But Juneteenth won't be one of those times... And here's why... ✔️Since America's founding in 1776, Black Americans were enslaved. ✔️ The acknowledgment of the freedom of enslaved Black Texans wasn't observed as a federal holiday until 2021, a mere 3 years ago. ✔️Today, in 2024, Black Americans are STILL fighting for economic, intellectual, emotional, and political freedom. ✔️ Black women have long been cited as the fastest growing group of entrepreneurs in the US, but only 3% of their businesses last more than 5 years AND they receive LESS THAN 1% of venture capital funding. ✔️ Discounting my services, fundamentally, doesn't help support my entrepreneurial success. In corporate spaces, my love language is #PayMe. So... I don't give discounts on Juneteenth.🤷🏾 👉🏾 Because the Juneteenth holiday, while a momentous occasion, finds it's origin in enslaving innocent men, women, and children. 👉🏾 Because true allyship requires action. Technically, Juneteenth should be a time when Black creators and entrepreneurs are paid MORE not LESS. 👉🏾 Because the attacks on the Black community aren't waning, they are just of a different sort (case study: Fearless Fund). 👉🏾 Because until we are ALL free, NONE of us are free. If you want to honor Juneteenth, support a Black entrepreneur. Hire me as an Allyship Keynote Speaker here: https://lnkd.in/e_KZf5eH or Support my work here:https://lnkd.in/gw8rWS_F. Alternative options include, making a donation to Fearless Fund, Buffalo Soldiers National Museum, Texas Southern University, Prairie View A&M University, Blacks In Technology, BIT Houston Signed, #YourNeighborhoodHopeDealer #inclusiveexcellence #Juneteenth #BlackCreator #BlackEntrepreneur #allyship

When your lived experience in the realm of philanthropy regarding middle management reflects the data, which suggests a lack of diversity, there are key perspectives lost, such as: leaders maintaining silence to preserve the integrity of an organization. A network of support can help to dismantle the notion of diverse populations being part of an extractive process; recruitment can be redefined to address the burden of representation. Mindful that not all skin-folk are kin-folk is key as we center the notion that Black is not a monolith. We can work on qualifying grassroots collectives/initiatives (potential donees) that are agile and ingrained in communities to expedite the process of building capacity. Re-imagining granting/donations for unconventional networks will help to continue incredible work. Observing the micro impact the macro is amazing. Youth advocacy and the resources mobilized to shift social change across locales represents a move toward inclusion in mainstream organizations. Embracing the present witth urgency centers the power of now and highlights that leadership is dynamic; youth advocacy by youth is a strategy that accelerates productivity. As a gentle reminder, ask what someone's plan is. Inter-generational collaboration is fascinating. Values from the community determine brand positioning of an organization. Having a conversation about wealth transfer is a real-life, active, and transparent process. Traditional organizations have an opportunity to engage in this conversation. How are you measuring impact?

The state of black businesses in Indiana 📢 Hey there, Secure the Bag community! 🎉 We've got some exciting news to share with you today! Secure the Bag is pumped up and ready to announce our unwavering commitment to empowering and uplifting Black-owned businesses in the great state of Indiana. We see the incredible potential and talent within the Black community, and we're all about supporting their growth and ultimate success. Let's make it happen! Now, hold on to your hats because we stumbled upon an eye-opening article from the Indianapolis Recorder that shines a bright light on the state of Black business in Indiana. Brace yourselves for this shocker: despite Black Americans making up around 10% of the state's population, only a measly 3% of businesses are Black-owned. Can you believe it? This jaw-dropping disparity serves as a wake-up call, reminding us of the challenges faced by Black entrepreneurs and the urgent need for change. But fear not, dear friends! The article takes us on a journey through history, revealing the devastating impact of events like the Tulsa Race Massacre and the decline of the once-thriving Black business district on Indiana Avenue. It's a tale of resilience and determination. But here's the good news: there are positive developments and initiatives on the horizon! These game-changers are providing crucial resources, education, and much-needed visibility for Black entrepreneurs in the Hoosier state. At Secure the Bag, we firmly believe that supporting Black-owned businesses is more than just an act of charity. It's a matter of economic justice, my friends! By empowering Black entrepreneurs, we can create a vibrant and inclusive economy that benefits each and every member of our community. It's a win-win situation, folks! So, here's the deal: we want you to join us in celebrating the sheer resilience and mind-blowing innovation of Black-owned businesses in Indiana. Together, let's level that playing field and create a society that's fair and equitable for all. Your support, my friends, can make a world of difference! Get ready to rock those hashtags and spread the word: #SecureTheBag #BlackOwnedBusinesses #EconomicJustice #Empowerment #Inclusion #Indiana #Community #SupportLocalBusinesses. Let's make some noise and show our love for Black-owned businesses in the Hoosier state! Remember, folks, it's not just about securing the bag—it's about securing a brighter future for all. Let's do this! Ps: if you want to read more about the article, here is the link: https://lnkd.in/eUy_usPA

Today, as we commemorate Juneteenth, we reflect on the journey toward freedom and equity. Bernard Johnson, Senior Director of Programs and Partnerships at Interise, captures the significance of #Juneteenth in advancing economic justice: "As we celebrate Juneteenth, we honor the fearlessness and tenacity of those who fought for freedom and acknowledge the ongoing struggle of the Black community for economic and social equity. At Interise, our history is profoundly linked with empowering minority-owned businesses to overcome systemic blockages to success. Founded in 2004, Interise has since transformed the economic landscape for over 10,000 businesses through our #StreetWiseMBA and #StrongBusinessSTRONGER programs, which equip historically disadvantaged entrepreneurs with the knowledge, networks, and timely resources necessary for growth and sustainability. Juneteenth marks the end of chattel slavery but also continues to spotlight the persistent disparities that Black entrepreneurs face. It powers our continued commitment to advancing economic justice and building a future where entrepreneurs can thrive without barriers." - Bernard Johnson Together let’s celebrate Juneteenth with the launch of our newest Small Business STRONGER Procurement program. Register today and share with your network: https://lnkd.in/gCuh39h8 #InteriseStrong #EconomicEquity #InclusiveEconomy