Ford Foundation’s Post

We're marching forward "together" on "our" 2024 journey, and I am trying to ask, as politely as possible, IS THIS WHERE WE WANT TO GO? (I didn't put "WE" in quotes, in the above, CAPS LOCK, for good reason.) If "we" even have any idea where "we" want to go. Okay, "we" don't have any idea where "we" want to go, and that's OBVIOUS. No, it is NOT OKAY. I'm not stating the obvious when I say if "we" don't know what "we" want, how can "we" set "our" course? They say the business of America is business, but right at the moments when this could be a useful, gratifying, and virtuous insight, "it" all goes blank-- like an unruly screen saver throwing a temper tantrum. At every level of business, we understand goals need to be set. We set our goals and then strive to achieve them. We do not intentionally, or consciously, "strive and strive and strive", thrashing about, and then realize, "Hey, this is stupid-- there's no goal." This situation is reminiscent of FIGHT CLUB, the mainly Brad Pitt movie, (though Edward Norton, Jr. and David Fincher, among many others were remarkable) or, Liar Liar, the mainly Jim Carey movie, (not John Kerry, but there were included so many startlingly perfect supporting actors, and whatever happened to that kid?) We're in the parking lot behind a bar OR a courthouse bathroom, when court is in recess, mercilessly beating the crap out of ourselves... voluntarily? I return to the preamble of the U.S. Constitution, which, in the spirit of the business of America being business, I will for this moment call a MISSION STATEMENT, "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of ..."

By ending organisations’ false narratives, and the harm they cause, we can focus on getting everyone a Fair Start in life. Read more here: https://bit.ly/3TFUTar #FairStart #narrative #everyone

Did you know that Mississippi Black Pages (MBP) has a fantastic blog? We're thrilled to share valuable insights, inspiring stories, and resources to support Black-owned businesses in Mississippi and beyond. https://lnkd.in/gzh2AKGK From success stories to industry trends, our blog covers it all! Whether you're an entrepreneur, business owner, or just passionate about community empowerment, there's something for everyone. Stay informed, inspired, and connected with MBP's blog. Follow us for regular updates and be part of the conversation! 💬 Check out our latest articles and join the journey toward economic empowerment and success. Let's thrive together! #MississippiBlackPages #MBPBlog #BlackBusinessCommunity #EconomicEmpowerment #BusinessSuccess #StayInformed #StayConnected

Thanks so much for posting this, Claudia! It seems to me that the following sentence communicates a great deal about why participants of deliberative minipublics tend to have such transformative experiences: "For anyone who's been part of an experience of collective action — of coming together with a group of people, of putting your whole hearts into the process of trying to imagine a different world, and then working with each other to realize it — once you have that experience, you can't unhave it."

“We should become the firemen,” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once confided to Harry Belafonte during the civil rights movement. He spoke of his realization that the battle for equality wasn’t just about civil rights but about economic empowerment—about addressing the deeper fires of economic inequality and injustice. Today, that call to action is more relevant than ever. As we navigate through our daily lives, every purchase we make, every dollar we spend, can either fuel the fires of inequality or help extinguish them. How do we become modern-day firemen? 1. Register to Vote: Your vote is your voice. Make it heard not just in elections but in every economic choice you make. 2. Use the Black Wall Street Ticker: Keep an eye on this powerful tool that tracks the real-time impact of our collective spending. It’s not just about where we spend our money, but also about supporting businesses and initiatives that align with our values. 3. Vote with Your Wallet: Every day, you have the power to vote economically. Choose brands and companies that promote fairness, equality, and sustainability. Let’s channel our economic power into creating a society that Dr. King would be proud of—a society that no longer tolerates the flames of injustice but instead uses every available tool to put them out. Join us in this pivotal movement. Be the fireman. Make your spending count. Watch the Black Wall Street Ticker to see how our collective action makes a difference. Stand up, spend wisely, and drive the swift economic change we need to see in the world. Register to a Vote Today @ FotMGlobal.com #VoteWithYourWallet #BlackWallStreetTicker #EconomicEmpowerment #MLKLegacy #BeTheFireman #FiremenRewards

Following a call to action for #FinancialInclusion from our dynamic luncheon speaker, Dr. Leroy D. Nunery II, NACD.DC, the American Academy of Actuaries ' #EnvisionTomorrow is kicking off the final round of breakouts. Discussions will include the future of #SocialSecurity, the long #HotSummer of 2024, the impact of #reforms on the P/C market, and what to expect in 2025 for the #ACA. #PublicPolicy #Professionalism #Actuaries2024 #VolunteerLeadership #EngagingWithStakeholders

We're proud that Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is one of our sponsors. Here's a message from them: The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation's strategic priorities play a role in helping individuals gain control over their economic freedom. These priorities reflect the heart of our mission, uplifting access to opportunities that help people achieve financial stability, upward mobility, and economic prosperity regardless of race, gender, or geography. Our connection to Mr. Kauffman's intent and his commitment to the community – to remove barriers and champion innovative solutions – is stronger than ever. By learning, convening, and growing, together, we can remove systemic barriers, create solutions, and share our successes – and failures – with others, so we can ground ourselves in what’s really working and ensure the biggest impact. Explore our updated strategic plan. Learn more about the process, our 2035 vision, strategic priorities, how we work, and how to connect with us. https://bit.ly/4ckiQuf #KauffmanFDN #KansasCity #KC #EconomicMobility #EconomicProsperity #EconomicEquity #Entrepreneurship #CollectiveImpact #CommunityEngagement #Philanthropy

Some important words from this 2022 piece that we're reflecting on this summer from Joseph Phelan and Jung Hee Choi. "Understandably, election campaigns focus on the short-term. But narrative change is a long-term project. Building narrative power for our movements requires a healthy ecosystem that combines leadership development, relevant tools and technology, substantial and sustained financial resources, and containers for collaboration and coordination. Our opposition has had decades to build their organizing and narrative infrastructure; our strategy needs to be similarly long-term and similarly wide-ranging." At BLIS, we are deeply committed to the arduous yet essential task of uprooting narratives that were planted over 400 years ago, narratives that allowed for millions of acres of land to be stolen, narratives that allowed for Black people to be enslaved for over 240 years and narratives that have allowed for a continuous and violent cycle of domination. Dismantling them is life-long work. https://lnkd.in/eYFdFA5H