BFCF ListeningReport2024 r201 - Flipbook - Page 12
BLACK FUTURE CO-OP FUND
LISTENING TOUR REPORT 2023 - 2024
Community-identi昀椀ed approaches are enhancing civic engagement,
education, economic mobility, public safety, and health with Black
Washingtonians. Building on the Black Well-being study, we surveyed
listening tour participants and discussed regional and local activities
around the 昀椀ve topic areas.
•
Civic engagement. Across Washington, communities are leading
efforts to center the arts in civics, interrogating harmful narratives,
and funding communities to plan and lead.
•
Education. Regional and organizational approaches to making
education work for Black communities include rede昀椀ning academic
standards to recognize and cultivate Black brilliance; creating
accountability and transparency practices; revisiting job descriptions
and organizational structures; and funding communities to design the
education systems we want.
•
Economic mobility. To bolster economic opportunity, Blackled organizations are investing in Black entrepreneurship and
businesses; increasing affordable housing and homeownership; and
partnering with Black youth to create the jobs of tomorrow.
•
Health. In endeavors to create the necessary conditions for health,
both regional and organizational approaches include rede昀椀ning
what care means, while recognizing both family and community;
addressing ableism and racism in health care; creating responsive,
coordinated care models; and restructuring the way insurance works.
•
Public safety. Community members a昀케rmed that public safety isn’t
just physical, it starts with mental, emotional, and psychological
safety. Regional and locally led efforts are using art and creativity in
systems change work; holding systems accountable; and engaging
Black brilliance, especially youth, in ideating and implementing public
safety solutions.
There are even more Black Washingtonians who can be engaged in this
collective work. Church and faith groups, as well as youth were often cited
as missing from the listening tour conversations. In addition, farmers and
more business leaders were mentioned as leading important liberatory
work. In future travels and conversations, we are planning speci昀椀c
outreach to expand our cooperative.
12
