Black Innovation Alliance’s Post

TIME magazine defines a Closer as a Black leader dedicated to closing the racial wealth gap. Dr. Kelly Burton, PhD , CEO of BIA, embodies that definition. At last week's TIME Closers Impact Dinner, Kelly took to the stage and emphasized the importance of the Closers list, highlighted BIA's achievements, and outlined the ongoing work ahead. “What an honor. I am so, so, so proud. We are so proud at Black Innovation Alliance  to serve as a Knowledge Partner for the Closer’s list. It's been an honor to walk alongside the TIME team from the inception of this concept and to see it come to fruition in this room. Founded in 2020, Black Innovation Alliance is a national coalition of organizations dedicated to closing the racial wealth gap through entrepreneurship and ownership. We were formed by a small group of ecosystem leaders, and today, BIA is 175 organizations strong. Yes. And they support over a half million entrepreneurs and innovators of color. In just three years, we've covered a lot of ground. We partnered with Congress to launch the Congressional Caucus on Black Innovation. We've partnered with UBS, the eBay Foundation, and others, some of whom are in this room, to launch the Decade of Black Innovation, launched a partnership with the Bahamas to drive entrepreneurship and innovation in climate tech. We've collaborated with the White House to connect communities of color to opportunities coming out of the federal government, and we've conducted the first ever study on digital entrepreneurship.” -  Kelly Burton, PhD Video credit: TIME #BlackInnovationAlliance

Data is the new oil!  In America, oil has historically been a cornerstone of economic growth, wealth generation, and global influence. Similarly, data is now critical for innovation, shaping industries like finance, healthcare, and retail. Protecting and harnessing data, particularly for Black communities, is crucial for equity in this new digital age. Declaration '26 proposes three concrete ways to protect our data with innovative solutions: - Community-Driven Data Governance - Algorithmic Auditing and Bias Detection - Digital Literacy and Data Rights Education Protecting our data is just one part of the plan. Take action and learn more about Declaration '26 at declaration26.com #Declaration26 #Project2025 #BlackInnovationAlliance #blackentrepreneursmatter #blackinnovation #blackentrepreneurs #economicjustice #innovation #equityandinclusion

🌟 We're proud to reflect on an incredible summer of progress, driven by our partnership with the Nasdaq Foundation and their investment in our Ecosystem Builders as Advocates Initiative. This initiative focuses on empowering Black innovators by providing essential funding for marketing, technical resources, and digital communication tools. It also includes support for training, programming, Hill Days, and Field Hearings—gathering insights directly from local communities to tailor solutions for Black entrepreneurs. Thanks to this partnership, we were able to host two landmark events that aligned with our mission to close the racial wealth gap through public policy and technology: - Future of AI Policy Roundtable at Microsoft’s D.C. Office on June 25, 2024, where federal leaders and Black AI innovators discussed policies shaping the future of AI and its impact on underserved communities. -Black Mayors’ Tech Summit with AAMA on July 25-27, 2024, where we equipped Black mayors with the tools to leverage technology for economic development, particularly in underserved communities. These initiatives would not have been possible without the Nasdaq Foundation’s generous support. We’re grateful for their dedication to creating equitable opportunities for underserved entrepreneurs by promoting diversity and inclusion within the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Together, we’re fostering a more inclusive and innovative future! 💡🤝 #Innovation #Equity #Entrepreneurship #AI #TechPolicy #BlackInnovation #NasdaqFoundation #Leadership #Diversityandinclusion Kelly Burton, PhD Tammy Charles Wendi Dillard

Melinda Weekes-Laidlow, JD, MDiv is a social change architect, ordained minister, and social entrepreneur dedicated to reshaping narratives and disrupting systemic racism. As the Founder and CEO of Beautiful Ventures, a creative social enterprise, Melinda leverages the power of Black storytelling to influence popular culture, disrupt anti-Blackness, and elevate perceptions of Black humanity. "Beautiful Ventures was born as a way to leverage all of those things and to recognize that the dominant narrative that plays out and we can just look at our, our Twitter feeds, at news, at the stories of the day, so many instances at our politics that the dominant narrative persists as one of anti-Blackness, one that denies the humanity of Black folks...To shift that narrative, ..., we can both amplify and support black story-driven creatives and get their Black humanity-affirming stories out into popular culture, into ways that make a tipping point to create a new narrative, then we can surely shift this narrative," Melinda explained during an interview with aijcast. Amplify Melinda's work by reposting and sharing with your network. Discover how Melinda builds collective power through Beautiful Ventures and creates a new narrative for Black creatives and their communities at https://lnkd.in/gxVPTbep. #MemberMonday #BlackCreatives #SocialImpact #Storytelling #Entrepreneurship #RacialEquity #CulturalInnovation #DecadeofBlackInnovation #BlackInnovators #BlackInnovationAlliance #WomensSmallBusinessMonth #BlackInnovation

We, the (designers, visionaries, and believers of an abundant future and inclusive economy) People declare these rights to be evident and fight for them to be a reality for every innovator, entrepreneur, and creative! Innovation is a Right! We have the right to: - Access & Education - Equity, Ownership - A Prosperous Legacy - Sustainable Innovation - Community Support - and Data Integrity. To learn more about Declaration '26, visit https://lnkd.in/e6W8DWHH. #Declaration26 #Project2025 #BlackInnovationAlliance #blackentrepreneursmatter #blackinnovation #blackentrepreneurs #economicjustice #innovation #equityandinclusion

Join us in honoring the incredible Black women entrepreneurs shaping our communities. This week, we highlight Pastry Chef Jatee Kearsley, owner of Je T'aime Patisserie, who makes French pastries and quality food accessible to all. She also mentors aspiring pastry chefs. In this clip, Jatee shares her journey as a generational starter, building her business from the ground up. Let's celebrate these trailblazers by supporting local businesses and amplifying their stories. How will you champion women-owned small businesses this month? Video credit: Pix11 #DecadeofBlackInnovation #BlackInnovators #BlackInnovationAlliance #WomensSmallBusinessMonth #SupportBlackBusiness #Entrepreneurship #Inspiration #BlackWomenInnovators

We created Declaration '26, 'cause ain't nobody scared of Project 2025! BIA launched Declaration '26 last month as a counterplan to Project 2025. Your support in spreading the word about Declaration '26 is crucial. Please like and repost to share how our community can ensure we all have a right to innovate. To learn more about the simple ways we can create a more prosperous America, visit declaration26.com #Declaration26 #Project2025 #BlackInnovationAlliance