the dream
imagining new possibilities for how we can invest in each other within the African diaspora
The Black Ideas Collaborative invests in the everyday brilliance of the African Diaspora as we work to envision, design and build democratic community systems.
We support and nurture individuals/collectives who are exploring ideas that could advance social justice, community wellbeing, and participatory democracy for Black communities. Through our people-powered Guaranteed Income pilot, we seek to create a community safety net around grassroots visionaries who are in the vulnerable pre-seed stage of their innovative work.
We provide opportunities for emerging visionaries in the African Diaspora to build networks in ways that help us re-member ourselves: spaces for us to truly practice beloved community and to experience the restorative energy that community care fosters. We believe in the importance of Black communities building radically democratic infrastructures that could serve as vessels for future reparations and community wealth-building.
Areas of Focus
We are focused are supporting emerging visionaries who are in the pre-seed stage of their new idea. The pre-seed stage is the moment when ideators are asking questions, exploring concepts, conducting research, and experimenting with models. It is the inquiry that informs the action, prior to the seed stage of implementation planning and launching a new idea. It’s also the stage that is the hardest to get funding, mentorship and support.
We provide support and funding for Black visionaries whose ideas are focused on advancing social justice and building democratic community systems through one of the areas below:
solidarity economy
From community land trusts to food cooperatives to worker-owned businesses, Black people have a long and rich history of building systems to distribute resources equitably throughout their community in order to ensure collective well-being.
Diaspora Bridge
This area particularly supports Africans pursuing innovative ideas for building stronger, more creative, interconnected, Pan-African networks independently or via academic institutions.
democratic technologies & Scientific innovations
Technology and scientific innovations can be tools to disrupt oppressive structures and empower the African Diaspora. There is no limit to the possibilities of science & technology and therefore we need to actively harness its power for our collective good. This area includes ideas that foster radical transparency, collaboration, equitable circulation of resources, and democratical ownership.
participatory creativity & public Art
Art and creative practice has long been a source of power for Black people. Ideators in this area are creating projects that actively engage everyday people in creative production, identity exploration, elevate community voice, and foster deep connection within Black communities.
democratic education
Each one teach one has been the guiding light for so many. This saying reflects a deep knowing that transformative education doesn’t only happen in classrooms with students sitting in rows, but it happens everyday and can happen through every person - we all have something to share. In this area, visionaries are exploring democratic models for educating the Black community including but not limited to popular education, participatory action research, student-centered learning, culturally sustaining pedagogy, and whole-child approaches.
community systems for health & wellness
Ideators in this area are exploring how we can democratize our approaches to health & wellness and create systems for community care. Health & wellness includes physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and environmental health.