Converge for Change: The Business of Social Justice

00:00 Introduction and Catching Up 

04:50 Creating an Economy that Serves the Many 

14:27 Reparative Capital: Addressing Historical Marginalization 

19:10 Reimagining the Financial System for Inclusivity 

36:00 The Power of Black Imagination 

40:39 Finding Joy in the Pursuit of Justice 

41:55 Centering Joy and Healing in Justice 

44:01 Investing in Black Businesses as a Form of Healing 

45:53 The Interconnection of Joy, Justice, and the Environment 

46:35 5 Takeaways 

Host, Takema Robinson, explores the topic of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) and the backlash happening in this space.

Episode 3 guest, Kristi Henderson, shares her personal journey and how she became involved in DE&I work. Kristi discusses the importance of advocating for Black people and communities of color in various industries and the role of black women in creating opportunities for others.

Tune in for more:

- The intersection of PR, marketing, and social impact, as well as the need for joy and self-care in the face of injustice.

-Explore the current state of DE&I efforts, the challenges faced, and the future of DE&I.

- The importance of true organizers and activists in driving change and suggested strategies for fortifying advances in DE&I.

-The need to redefine joy and find hope in the midst of injustice.

Follow the Conversation

00:00

The Importance of DEI and the Backlash

08:48

Black Women as Advocates and Opportunity Creators

15:41

The Intersection of PR, Marketing, and Social Impact

25:29

The Challenges and Setbacks in DE&I Efforts

36:25

Recognizing the Intersections of DE&I with Other Movements

41:27

Strategies for Fortifying Advances in DE&I

45:40

Finding Joy in the Midst of Injustice

47:38

Redefining Joy and Personal Fulfillment

52:16

Legacy Work: Using Skills and Platform for Positive Impact

Watch the full video here

This episode of Converge for Change the Business of Social Justice Podcast includes a special guest segment with Lauren Maddox, Co-founder of Due East Partners. Takema and Lauren discuss some of the major pain points experienced today in non-profit and social justice work including one of the most salient, language barriers.

The conversation continues live with Nia Davis (Converge College Dean) and Dr. Jennifer Sandoval (Language Expert & Assoc. Professor at the Nicholson School of Communication and Media at the University of Central Florida.) for a deep dive into the power of language and communication from colonial practices, resistance & the culture of fear, to education & understanding.

Find out how practitioners are challenging themselves to evolve in our current environment in order to continue moving the needle forward.

Converge for Change: The Business of Social Justice returns for Season 3, LIVE with Sevetri Wilson, Founder & CEO of Resilia and Wall Street Journal Best-selling author of Resilient. Tune in for a great conversation about the historical context of the non-profit sector, how companies like Resilia have used technology to help organizations scale-up, and the role non-profits play in racial equity. 

71 days into Biden's administration, Takema sits down, LIVE, with Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson to discuss the first 100 days in office and the role the South has played in saving the US. 

Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson is a 35-year-old Affrilachian (Black Appalachian), woman from the working class, born and raised in Southeast Tennessee. She is the first Black woman to serve as Co-Executive Director of the Highlander Research & Education Center in New Market, TN. As a member of multiple leadership teams in the Movement for Black Lives (M4BL), Ash-Lee has thrown down on the Vision for Black Lives and the BREATHE Act. Ash-Lee has served on the governance council of the Southern Movement Assembly, the advisory committee of the National Bailout Collective, and is an active leader of The Frontline. She is a long-time activist who has done work in movements fighting for workers, for reproductive justice, for LGBTQUIA+ folks, for environmental justice, and more.

Less than two months in and New Orleans’s new district attorney is making waves. Takema sits down with her dear friend, Flozell Daniels Jr., Transition Co-Chair for the new New Orleans District Attorney's office (and President of Foundation for Louisiana )to talk about the history of the criminal legal system in nola and how this new administration plans to impact real and necessary change for our community.

Takema sits down with Lucecita Castille, Associate Consultant at Converge to discuss White Supremacy Organizational Culture. Through the company's latest initiative, Converge College, this topic is broken down through historical references and timelines dating back to slavery and brought present-day.

Join the conversation and get a sneak-peek into the 10-week College module that takes a deeper dive into the steps necessary to restructure and re-create a real anti-racist organization through racial and intersectional equity.

How do you radically change a system? Ask a Black Woman to Lead.

Host Takema Robinson, Founder & CEO of Converge, is joined by LaTosha Brown, Co-Founder of Black Voters Matter for a real and personal account of her life, her progression, and lessons learned as a leader and organizer. Hear first-hand stories of what life on the road looks like as a grassroots organization committed to flipping Senate seats and turning Red states Blue, and what philanthropy should understand as they enter new communities. 

Converge Facebook for full LIVE video

Kicking off 2021, host Takema Robinson returns with the next episode of Converge for Change: The Business of Social Justice.

In this show Takema formally introduces Converge, the social-justice consulting firm she founded in 2014, that is committed to creating a radically just new world through its values: Radical Imagination, Agency, & Collective Action.

Tune in as Takema sets the scene for the next few months on the podcast and premieres Converge’s newest initiatives to address racism and systemic oppression including Converge College a 12-week course and its monthly introductory workshop, R.I.S.E.

TIME JUMP