“I hope Poder Capital will transform the way BIPOC communities access capital and build wealth in the present and generations to come. I hope we play a role in undoing centuries of exclusion from the financial system.”
“At Abloom, we're bridging the mental health gap and making schools better for students. We achieve this by leveraging machine learning and AI to provide personalized student check-ins, real-time analytics, and proactive support to educators and students. It's about creating positive change through technology, and that's what I love most about being a founder.”
![Elevating My Psychology In Pursuit of Equity, Impact and Joy Through Philanthropy [Part One]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e2d6ab440243c69eb9cb95/1695856731054-0U51N4MDV87FP4PU50F9/GivingCompassPhoto_Sept2023.png)
“As human beings, we are all hard-wired through millions of years of adaptation for a fear-based fight or flight mental operating system. In my experience, it’s especially important to pay more attention to my own wiring when I am involved in philanthropy that’s operating across lines of difference. It’s only when I am able to break out of these default psychological settings that I am able to elevate my perspective and truly see the bigger systems of which I am a part—and to help those I am working with to do the same. “
Read More“I hope [GACHEP] will be the start of a transformation in the way that we approach people who have committed crimes. Education is essential in this world and I believe that if this fact is supported the most, we can create interventions at different points of peoples’ lives and create pathways to success for all.”
“[Black Girls Film Camp] is cultivating the next generation of Black girl storytellers who will shift the narratives that have been culturally and historically limited.”
“The legacy I hope to leave behind is to see Black men have opportunities to lead in the transformation of our public school system while also owning homes in the neighborhoods where these schools exist so that they are not impacted by gentrification when it shows up in their communities, but can instead tell a story of "re-intrification" and how they decided to return to the places where they came from after college to transform it from the inside out.”
“Many thought this was an unattainable task, while others had concerns over my safety ‘if/when’ we succeeded. What they didn't know was that we (including those that joined the cause along the way) decided early on that accepting this lack of transparency and colonial governance that fed corruption and mismanagement of public funds was out of the question. We were and are willing to die for this, and thus, determined to find a path. And we did. And we are just getting started.”
“In a time characterized by youth-led global political movements advocating for issues that directly impact their future, such as gun control and climate change, the need to include youth voices in decision-making has become more pressing than ever. Recognizing this imperative, the Search & Align team at Camelback Ventures embarked on an experiment to integrate youth perspectives into our Fellowship selection process through the creation of the Youth Leadership Award (YLA).”
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“As a founder, what I enjoy most is the ability to bring my vision to life freely and in collaboration with young people and educators. It's about having the autonomy to directly challenge and transform the systemic issues I encountered during my time as a teacher and administrator, and co-create solutions with those most impacted by inequity in schools.”
“I ultimately pursued entrepreneurship to control my time and working conditions, and to have the potential for unlimited wealth. I want this freedom not only for myself, but for others as well. That’s why the businesses I’m building will help employers, employees, and stakeholders prosper together.”
“‘White foundation staff often have difficulty discerning between helping and controlling the work of Black leaders.’ This statement precisely encapsulated the issue at hand, bringing clarity to what we have been seeking from funders. We need your help in supporting the solutions that we, in collaboration with our communities, are uniquely positioned to create and implement.”
Read More“This is hard work. It is uncomfortable. The fact that we can ‘step away’ from this is a sign/type of privilege. The important thing is to commit, engage and sincerely work toward improving. White people have a responsibility to be a part of dismantling systemic racism, as we certainly created it.”
“Yes, the work of ending racial injustice is hard and complicated, but it is also okay to allow for creativity, laughter, futuristic visioning, and idealism.”
“Having a group of professionals who share our values and work in a similar space allowed opportunities for collective problem-solving, exposure to new ideas and practices, and brainstorming solutions by harnessing the collective wisdom of such a great group. Just as importantly, we emboldened each other to take risks. We pushed each other to take the bolder step, have the difficult conversations, and be honest about our insecurities and vulnerabilities. This compels us to do more.”
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“In philanthropy, so often we fund organizations that parachute into communities to help solve problems with their programming. Going one step further, folks in philanthropy who are often far removed from issues try to solve the problems themselves. We need to be moving more dollars to community organizations that are closest to the issues.”
Camelback Ventures is proud to welcome our second cohort of 2023 education and conscious tech innovators to the #CamelbackFam!
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“As a White person, I need to live in the racial discomfort. That is not to say I tolerate racial harm or trauma, but instead recognize I need to be in ‘disequilibrium.’ It is only then that I, as a White person, can see and experience with clarity what racial justice is.”
“I was drawn to the Capital Collaborative Cohort because of the space it provided to be with other White-identifying funders as we learned about and processed our roles and responsibilities in the movement for racial justice.”
“I have spent the better part of the last three years, since the murder of George Floyd, immersed in trainings filled with folks representing many different races. In many of these settings, I have felt it is best to listen and absorb other people's journeys and points of view. Having done this work, I felt that it was time to really be able to focus on sharpening my own narrative and point of view.”
“Funders who choose to dream big know that the examples for “good” philanthropy are the starting points of changing the landscape. We need those funders who are willing to go beyond those starting points to reimagine the system of funding–building power to cede power.”
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