Damien Wilson is the Senior Director of the HBCU Brilliance Initiative at Reinvestment Fund, where he leads efforts to provide technical and financial support to Historically Black Colleges and Universities. 

In this episode, Damien discusses how his career on Wall Street, his love for his hometown, and his own HBCU experience all inform his approach as a financial advisor working to ensure these institutions become strong community anchors. 

This discussion explores the financial challenges and opportunities facing HBCUs in this moment and highlights the importance of debt as leverage in securing the futures of these schools. This conversation also explores the need for innovative and business-minded leadership and the ways HBCUs can holistically serve their communities. 

Learn more about Damien and the HBCU Brilliance Initiative

Favianna Rodriguez is an interdisciplinary artist, cultural strategist, and entrepreneur based in Oakland, California. She is the co-founder of The Center for Cultural Power.

In this conversation, Favianna shares her journey as an artist and activist, discussing the influence of her immigrant parents, the challenges she faced in pursuing art, and the importance of cultural narratives in shaping political policies. 

Favianna reflects on her journey with the Center for Cultural Power and her transition into new artistic endeavors, focusing on storytelling in film and television. The discussion also highlights the role of philanthropy in supporting cultural narratives and the necessity of investing in artists to create meaningful change. 

LEARN MORE about Favianna, her work and the Center for Cultural Power

• https://favianna.com/

• https://www.culturalpower.org/

• https://pathbreakers.flywheelsites.com/story/favianna-rodriguez/

Elizabeth Birr Moje is dean, George Herbert Mead Collegiate Professor of Education, and an Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Literacy, Language, and Culture in the Marsal Family School of Education at the University of Michigan.

On this episode she describes the transformative arc of the Marygrove Learning Community in Northwest Detroit.

The dialogue emphasizes the significance of purpose-driven learning and the commitment to nurturing both students and educators in a supportive environment. Moje highlights the critical intersection of innovation and justice in education, advocating for equitable access to resources and opportunities for all students. 

First, hosts Jamie Bennet and Tracey Pearson check in with Kresge Foundcation President and CEO, Rip Rapson

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LEARN MORE about Dean Moje and the Marygrove Learning Community

• https://mlcdetroit.org/

• https://kresge.org/our-work/detroit/transformative-project-marygrove-cradle-to-career-campus/

Welcome to PathBreakers, a show from The Kresge Foundation all about the people who break through the noise, red tape, and all of the other obstacles to progress.

In each episode, you’ll meet a different Pathbreaker, people working in cities to forge new ways forward and discover the possibilities, sometimes hidden in plain sight.