Catalyst:Ed’s Post

It's Juneteenth and while the fight continues, many of us Black folks are exhausted. Tre Johnson, an incredible Board member of ours, wrote a critical piece making visible the current struggles of Black leaders and Black-led organizations. A few weeks back, I was talking to a prospective funder who didn't know how to respond after my share in a small group. His compassion showed and tears swelled in his eyes. 💔 I was thinking out loud, healing out loud, "If research shows that Black women led orgs receive significantly less funding, is my identity holding back The Teaching Well?" It's a devastating question, one that was painful for me to say out loud, much less write here. But I need to. So, we are not yet free. But we are a resilient people. 🖤 🗣 Say something. Leverage your privilege. Bring this conversation to anyone in your circle who has access to resources. 💸 "The sense of loss – as a community and as individuals – that people are experiencing is staggering. This is, in essence, a public sector crisis, an epidemic that threatens the health of organizations, leaders, team members, communities, just plain people." ♻ Please read and share Tre's piece and then call your friends to take action. #nonprofitleadership #Blackled #Juneteenth #freedom #philanthropy #solidarity #coconspirators #fundingaccess #collectiveliberation

Today's Juneteenth, and for the last several months I've been talking to friends and colleagues who're all mad, scared and exasperated with the state of funding and how it's impacting Black leadership and Black-led organizations. We're disappearing at a rapid, alarming rate now that the goodwill and urgency of 2020 has regressed to familiar levels. I wrote about it more in the latest Catalyst:Ed newsletter, and in our blog which I'm linking here. Share any thoughts and look out for more from us soon. https://lnkd.in/euUKzVZ4

Tre Johnson's article on the challenges facing Black-led nonprofit organizations resonates deeply. We are navigating these same headwinds at The Liber Institute. While disheartening, this moment calls for perseverance and adaptation. This is an opportunity to build resilience, diversify support, and amplify new voices in this space. At Liber, we are emphasizing fee-for-service models and exploring sustainable alternatives to traditional philanthropy. 📣 To my network: Your support in spreading the word about Liber's work is crucial! We are seeking partnerships with schools, districts, and mission-driven organizations committed to educational equity, and we get excited about leaders who are willing to lean into empathy building (engaging community), design thinking, and other people-first approaches. How can we collectively ensure the longevity of organizations working towards educational equity? #EducationalEquity #SustainableImpact #TheLiberInstitute

At times, it feels like there’s an invisible spotlight—constantly waiting, scrutinizing, and anticipating mistakes. Whether it’s from peers, staff, or even the broader community, there’s often a sense that my every move is being watched more closely, judged more harshly, and at times, unfairly. There’s pressure to succeed, not just for myself, but to defy the unspoken expectations that come with being one of the few Black leaders in this space. The gaze is constant, and the margin for error feels smaller. Despite that, I continue to press forward. I lead with integrity and remain committed to the work of uplifting communities, advocating for justice, and fostering real change. Because at the end of the day, my purpose is greater than the pressure. To my fellow leaders of color, I see you. We carry burdens that many will never understand, but we are here for a reason. Keep pushing, keep growing, and know that your impact reaches further than you may ever realize. #BlackLeadership #NonprofitLife #Resilience #EquityInLeadership #StayTheCourse

This report made me feel seen. "Black women and femmes, who face the double bind of resisting white supremacist and patriarchal work cultures, expressed frustration with being held to unrealistic standards of perfection and infallibility. Many are trying innovative ways to nourish and support their teams authentically and generously. But the high expectations that Black women and femmes in leadership will be able to reshape entrenched hierarchical structures and foster decentralized decision-making is often not realistic when their organizations are receiving declining philanthropic support, on top of deeply rooted power dynamics and resistance to Black women’s leadership. ...This tension points to a profound and deeper challenge for the progressive movement; honoring the humanity of Black leaders while asking them to take on increasingly demanding organizational and movement-building work." Thank you, Sean Thomas-Breitfeld and everyone who contributed to this report, for shedding light on such important trends. This is what we need to be talking about, together.

The Business Journal highlights 50 Twin Cities Black business and community leaders you should know in its second annual Black Leaders feature.

Today, I am grateful for awesome sisters in the work like Meredith Reitman, PhD! In Summer 2023 during another period of transition and deep morale-building at Mirror Group LLC, Dr. Reitman spoke our names in a "room" where we were not currently present. That invocation led to the opportunity to meet Sean Thomas-Breitfeld and share our Mirror Group posture in the work as an organization of passionate geniuses committed to making data and information meaningful, accessible, and actionable with learning organizations and the communities we love. We described our team-based consulting approach grounded in culturally responsive and racially equitable approaches, how we have been inspired by and tracking on Building Movement Project's work for some time, and the ways that it would be a joy to lock in arms to engage in collective sensemaking and lift up the joys and pains of Black leaders across the nation, centering their own words. This work feels deeply personal and resonant for me as a #BlackWomanFounder of an organization where everyday we strive to create the conditions for us to win! This is not easy work, nor for the faint of heart. This is long work, collective work, the work that generations build on. So I was over the moon to meet, share space, and bask in the "loving agitations" of Adaku Utah throughout the process. In short, we categorized this partnership as #quadruplewin where our MG colleagues Vanessa Segundo, PhD, Natalie J., and Eve C. showed up and showed out, locking arms in this work to amplify voice, mood, tone, depths and layers of the leaders we need for our collective liberation. The Result: "The report captures insights and wisdom from more than 50 Black movement leaders, including yourself. By centering the foresight of Black leaders, we hope this report will bolster advocacy efforts to sustain funding and investment in the capacity of Black-led organizing groups that are building power in communities across the country and critical to the broader struggle for Black liberation." https://lnkd.in/gxpqn7pp Read, Share, Re-Post, and Comment to come in agreement on how we all must reckon with sustainability and love on Black leaders and organizations navigating the funding cliff while organizing the infrastructure we all need to thrive!

Poll Alert! I need your input! Every room, table or space I'm invited to is an opportunity to center equity and the needs of the communities that intersect with my identity and those I care most about. Next week I will be moderating a learning session for Middle TN Donors Forum on the importance of trusting & investing in Black leaders. We recognize that this 90 minutes will only serve as an entry point for honest & candid understanding between funders and community leaders. What radical shift would you like to see between funders & impact organizations that directly impacts Black nonprofit leaders? A. Leaning into trust-based philanthropy B. Commitment to more multi-year funding  C. Additional feedback & upskilling for un(der) funded proposals D. Invest in collaboration/relationship building vs transactional engagement E. Flexible funds for professional development & planning

During Black History Month we'll highlight the quotes of some Black Business persons. Robert F. Smith is an African American businessman, investor, and philanthropist. As the founder, chairman, and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, he has made significant contributions to technology and philanthropy. He is known for his insightful perspectives on business and success. This quote is one that can be relevant for us all. It encourages us to be our complete selves. When we look at our life and business holistically, we can achieve much more than by separating the various parts of ourselves. If you're not on my email list and would like to receive my newsletters - which converge tips for business owners on Mind, Body, and Spirit, please let me know... send me a DM! #blackhistorymonth #blackbusinessowners #makingblackhistory

🙎🏿♀️In speaking with top Black women leaders, I've observed a troubling personal cost - the severity and guardedness they must adopt to protect themselves. Ascending to the top as the "one and only" in their role often leads to isolation. Black women leaders cannot afford to drop their guard after being burned or betrayed time and again. This causes those below them to see these women as unapproachable. It's a vicious cycle - the higher Black women climb, the more alone they become. Everyone seeks their guidance, but who can these leaders confide in? Even family may not understand the pressures they face. We must find ways to support Black women at the top where no one can relate to their unique challenges. Safe spaces for them to unburden without judgment. Connections who identify with their experiences. Opportunities to be vulnerable without risk. The toll of leadership is already high. But for Black women, it comes at an even greater personal cost. They deserve compassion, allies, and protection. Their wisdom and leadership are invaluable - they must be nurtured, not inhibited by isolation. Let's reflect on how we can lift these change-makers up.