There are moments in life so dark that positivity is tone deaf. We planned to kick off the 2020 Champion Awards today. Instead, we pause. Because the need of the hour is a different kind of action.
We invite everyone in our community to practice active allyship, not just today but every day. The true work of allyship goes beyond making a statement; it’s about doing the work that makes a difference. The true work of allyship lies in the moments and the places where it’s most uncomfortable, not the ones where it’s easy. It’s better to act, however imperfectly, than to do nothing at all.
Our team and families mourn for the senseless casualties of racism, condemn the murder of George Floyd by the police, and the many black lives taken before and after his. We recommit to building a more just future.
In solidarity,
Leslie Feinzaig
Founder & CEO, FFA
RESOURCES FOR BLACK FOUNDERS
Grow your Startup:Actions speak louder than words. FFA will continue to prioritize supporting Black and Indigenous Founders of Color across all our programs. To add to the groundswell of support for Black founders this week, and do our part to make it sustainable over time, we have added office hours with members of our Investors Circle and the FFA Team exclusively for Black startup founders. These office hours can be used to pitch your startup, get help with any part of what you’re working on, or to build a relationship with a new investor that can unlock mentorship and investment opportunities going forward. We strongly encourage you to book as many mentoring sessions as would be helpful.
Take care of yourself:Moments of loss make us realize just how much we need each other. Connect with Nourish, an organization that hosts community-focused gatherings. They have begun hosting grief circles for members of the BIPOC community who are ready to have conversations about the cycles of grief, the impact of anti-black racism, and resilience. Therapy for Black Girls holds free group support sessions weekly on Thursday nights at 4 PT/ 7 ET. Black men can sign up for Change Catalyst’s Mental Health check in here. FFA will make a donation to these events for every click we see from this newsletter.
RESOURCES FOR ACTIONABLE ALLYSHIP
Invest: make an effort to diversify your deal flow. Need help? Email us.
Hire: For every job you post, ensure you’re interviewing black candidates and giving them a fair shot.Tech Inclusion and Black Tech Jobs are great places to start looking for talent. Once you hire, it’s equally important to create a culture that values your black employees. Experts such as Dr. Cheryl Ingram of Diverse City and La’Kita Williams of CoCreate Work can help you. Compensate them fairly.
Donate: Support Protesters during this time by donating towards Bail Funds. This Google document has city specific bail-funds if you are looking to support yours. Consider donating to the Black Lives Matter organization to support their fight against injustice against Black people across the globe. You can also donate to The Bail Project, which is a jail fund that fights racial and economic inequalities in the jail system at a national level.
Learn: If you are unable to donate money, there are still many other ways to make a difference. You can educate yourself, sign petitions, protest and write to Government officials to make your voice heard. This list extensively details resources for each. Watch this excellent video by Trevor Noah to understand the state of where we are and why.
Teach: Here is a great anti-racism resource especially for parents looking to raise a more socially conscious next generation.
Support local: It is a particularly hard time for small businesses. Find your local POC-owned by business and support them with your dollars.
