Building Black Power & meaningful white allyship Presented by: Adam J. Jackson Chief Executive Officer www.lbsbaltimore.com
Mission Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle (LBS) is a grassroots think-tank which advances the public policy interest of Black people , in Baltimore , through: youth leadership development, political advocacy, and autonomous intellectual innovation.
Vision We seek to radically change the discourse around local and regional politics by injecting community voices into political conversations through policy research, advocacy, and community organizing from a grassroots perspective. We will remain unbeholden to any foundation, nonprofit, or political party; as an unapologetically Black independent group of concerned leaders engaging the public policy arena. As our knowledge, collaborations, and support grow our vision will evolve as well.
Key Considerations • How do Black people build, control and maintain the institutions that govern their lives? • How do white people become meaningful allies in the process of building Black power? • What practical methods can we use to accomplish these goals?
The Non-Profit Industrial Complex
“[ The non-profit industrial complex ] is a set of symbiotic relationships that link political and financial technologies of state and owning class control with surveillance over public political ideology, including and especially emergent progressive and leftist social movements. –Dylan Rodriguez @LBSBaltimore
Global White Supremac y
Symbolism > Substance • The white left will make symbolic concessions to appease people of color. • These concessions rarely translate into any meaningful transfer of power or resources. • In every arena of civil society, the NPIC makes this possible. @LBSBaltimore
Symbolism > Substance • White liberals will use Donald Trump as a talking point for structural racism, but will not make the necessary investment in Black people’s institutions to govern their own lives. • For most white liberals, talking is enough. • Will white liberals advocate for meaningful capacity building for Black people in community? @LBSBaltimore
MD Local Management Boards • The first Local Management Boards were established during the mid- 1990s in an effort to change the way services were provided to children and families in their communities. • The Boards were charged with identifying priorities and targeting resources for a jurisdiction’s communities. • The major focus was to increase local authority to plan, implement, and monitor children and family services. @LBSBaltimore
MD Local Management Boards • The core function of the Local Management Boards remains identifying priorities and targeting resources for a jurisdiction’s communities. • The Boards serve as the coordinator of collaboration for child and family services. • There is a Local Management Board in each County and in Baltimore City. @LBSBaltimore
“Quasi-Public Agency”
What is the Family League? • The local management board for Baltimore City. • Established as a non-profit entity in 1991 and is a quasi-public agency. • Accountability lies primary with the Mayor of Baltimore, instead of Baltimore residents. • Operationalizes the non-profit industrial complex in Baltimore. @LBSBaltimore
What is the Family League? • Mission Statement • Family League of Baltimore serves as an architect of change in Baltimore by promoting data- driven, collaborative initiatives and aligning resources to create lasting outcomes for children, families and communities • What qualifies the Family League to do any of this as the local management board for a majority Black city? @LBSBaltimore
Staff Breakdown (Race) 0% 57% 7% Part-Time Staff 0% 29% 7% 8% 48% 6% Full Time Staff 0% 37% 2% 0% 29% 7% Senior Staff 0% 64% 0% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
Revenue (2015) $25,261,014 @LBSBaltimore
Revenue Streams (2015) 94.5% Government Grants @LBSBaltimore
Why does this matter? • Baltimore is a majority Black city - 64%. • The Family League’s leadership and accountability do not reflect Baltimore’s demographics. • Residents do not have substantive ownership or accountability for an institution that governs the lives of their children. @LBSBaltimore
Baltimore City Children and Youth Fund Launched in 2015 by City Council • President Bernard “Jack” C. Young Ballot Question E approved by • voters November 2016 with more than 80 percent support $12 Million set aside annually • from property tax revenue specifically to aid Baltimore’s Youth @LBSBaltimore
Baltimore City Children and Youth Fund •Driven and led by youth voices • Advances equity and is welcoming and supporting of all races, classes and gender identities. • Accountable and has impact to local communities, neighborhoods and places where young people connect. • Not politically-driven and promotes confidence from the caring networks of Baltimore’s Young people. • Inspires new partnerships and new approaches to philanthropy to advance Baltimore’s young people. •Focused, expedient, and conducted with urgency. @LBSBaltimore
Baltimore City Children and Youth Fund •The task force recommended that that the $12 million be put in a new intermediary. •The organization will be a new type of intermediary with a different structure than most mainstream non-profit institutions. •Baltimore City residents will be directly involved with allocation of resources. @LBSBaltimore
Conclusion & Q&A • Contact Information: • Adam J. Jackson - Chief Executive Officer • Phone: (410) 374-7683 • Email: adam@lbsbaltimore.com • Facebook/Instagram/Twitter - @SmartBlackMan @LBSBaltimore
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