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Happy MLK Day! Don’t delay - Be part of the change✨

In his April 1967 speech at Stanford University entitled "The Other America," King said, "In a real sense, our nation’s summers of riots are caused by our nation’s winters of delay…..

Blurb from Opinion | I had a dream MLK visited Portland By Donovan Scribes - Read Full Article

Opinion | I had a dream MLK visited Portland Civil Rights icon calls the city a microcosm of nation’s greatest issues following protests, pandemic

Week 1 down 👇🏾💕

Orientation has been a blast, community engagements locked and loaded, team building on lock 🔐

Thank you 💕Just missing our fearless leader Lance in this picture but otherwise - One Band, One Sound ✨💕 Sommer & Kennedy

*tdone

Fueled by community ✨ Literally and coffee😅

Today was the end of a long week but we came together for our
Board training and these ladies .set.go (plus Jess and Jacob) gave me life. When you welcome lived experience, intentionality and purpose to the conversation amazing things happen.

Congratulations again on 30 years TPN🎉, cheers to 30+ more 💕 Check out their video library on TY 📺 Hear directly from individuals impacted by the work.

*Reminder to self that showing up in purpose doesn’t have to be perfect ✨

[TIME SENSITIVE - 2/28] MBDA is seeking proposals for its $93.5 million Capital Readiness Program grant competition to help minority and other underserved entrepreneurs launch and scale their businesses. This Program will provide funding to incubators, accelerators, and other eligible organizations across the country with expertise to support underserved entrepreneurs by providing training and other critical resources, tools, and technical assistance to access capital.

Jumpstarting the next generation of entrepreneurs is essential, not only to spurring innovation, but also to building a more resilient economy that’s reflective of all Americans. That’s why this competition seeks proposals from applicants who will:

serve minority, women, and other underserved populations;
help entrepreneurs build capacity;
attract and provide access to capital opportunities;
provide access to networks.

MBDA Grant Competition FAQs:

MBDA Capital Readiness Program Grant Competition Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

"Oregon African American Incarceration Far Exceeds National Average"

Oregon ranks seventh in the nation in the disproportionate number of incarcerated African Americans, far outpacing the national average according to a recently released report of The Sentencing Project, in Washington, D.C.

Less than 2 percent of Oregonians are African American, but more than 9 percent of the state's prison population is black, according to the report, which analyzed data from the United States Census and the United States Bureau of Justice Statistics.

Oregon imprisons 2,061 African Americans per 100,000 black residents, researchers found. The national average is much lower, at 1,408 incarcerated blacks for every 100,000 black residents. Oklahoma leads the nation with 2,625 incarcerated African Americans per 100,000 black residents.

SOURCE: https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2016/aug/19/oregon-african-american-incarceration-far-exceeds-national-average/

This is tough to share but definitely not off the mark from what Black Portlanders have been facing since before I was born. While growing up families like mine would have benefited from programs, resources and wraparound services that support both the individuals incarcerated and families on the outside. I am excited to share that I have joined The Pathfinder Network Board of Directors this year If you haven't heard of them already, be sure to check them out. They are an organization that provides justice system-impacted individuals and families the tools and support they need to be safe and thrive in our communities. They have provided programs and services for over 40,000 incarcerated individuals through the Oregon Department of Corrections and for parents, children, and families in the community. As well as employ almost 100 staff within the state of Oregon. Stay tuned for the year ahead and be sure to sign up to find out how you can get involved.

Black Futures Month has begun✊🏾

I was introduced to this term by the younger generation a few years ago and I so appreciate the new spin. It is a “visionary, forward-looking spin on celebrations of Blackness in February. Black Futures Month is a time to uplift the ongoing movement for racial justice, celebrate the achievements and contributions of Black individuals, and remember and learn from Black history.

May you find time to celebrate black culture, history, futures, joy, and prosperity in the month of February and beyond 🖤❤️💚💛🤎

Virtual coworking most Mondays! A virtual environment that's designed to accommodate people from different industries who come to cowork solo or with peers.

[1/9] Coworking + Office Hours Checkout this event on Airmeet

Hanging out in here today if you feel like joining.

I have a few meetings but coworking here until 11am.

MJ's Virtual Office Now Playing YouTube