Feel Good Friday - BlaqOut

We’re closing out Black History Month by highlighting BlaqOut, an organization working to improve health and social outcomes for Kansas City's Black LGBTQ+ community.

Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, BlaqOut's mission is “to create a community where Black people of queer and trans experience are connected and supported, have access to safe spaces, and enjoy sufficient resources to help them thrive.” They achieve this through a variety of programs and easily accessible, no-cost services.

Programs include: Let’s PrEP, designed to reduce HIV incidence and prevalence; the LEAD Fellowship Program, an immersive 12-month program designed to cultivate and empower the next generation of Black LGBTQ+ leaders; Level Up, which uses peer-driven recruitment to connect to populations at high risk for contracting HIV; Mpox, providing education and vaccination resources for this infection formerly known as monkeypox; SWAG (Sexual Wellness and Growth), providing holistic sexual education; and VEAP (Vaccine Equity and Awareness Program), promoting vaccinations, boosters and encouraging good health practices for all. Whew!

Examples of the no-cost services BlaqOut provides include primary care, health insurance navigation, HIV testing, medication delivery, transportation and supportive services such as emergency housing, food and clothing. To access any of these services, fill out this request form. Their website also has links to numerous resources specific to housing, mental health, substance abuse and more.

Finally, BlaqOut recently launched a community-based pubic awareness campaign called "Give A F_ck", which is designed to spark conversations, bridge gaps, and inspire action to protect the lives, health, safety, and acceptance of the Black LGBTQ+ community.”

If you’d like to support BlaqOut’s vision of “a world where all Black people of queer and trans experience live with dignity and are free from racial injustice and health inequity” there are many ways you can do so. Volunteer your time, donate your money, and spread the word on social media. Follow BlaqOut on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn and subscribe to the BlaqOut YouTube channel.

Feel Good Friday - Akonadi Foundation

As the celebration for Black History Month continues, let’s learn about an organization working towards a racially just Oakland, Akonadi Foundation.

Founded in 2000 and headquartered in Oakland, California, the mission of  Akonadi Foundation is “to support the development of powerful social change movements to eliminate structural racism.” They do this by investing in racial justice organizing and policy advocacy that will lead to enduring systems change. 

A majority of grants awarded by Akonadi Foundation are focused on ending the criminalization of Black youth and youth of color in Oakland and Alameda County. Currently, there are two funds the Foundation supports.

The So Love Can Win Fund provides general support grants of $10,000 to Oakland’s “organizers, storytellers, culture bearers, and healers who seek to ignite and implement a radical collective vision of freedom and racial justice.” In 2024, the Foundation awarded $500,000 to 49 initiatives and organizations. Examples of recipients include Arab Resource and Organizing Center, West Oakland Mural Project and the Lakeshore LGBTQ Cultural District.

The goal of the  All in for Oakland fund is to end the criminalization of Black youth and youth of color. Over the next five years, Akonadi Foundation will invest $12.5 million in partners who prioritize movement building and organizing, research, organizational capacity and policy advocacy.

Since they began, the Foundation has given over 1,900 grants totaling $43 million to nonprofit organizations that have centered power-building and organizing to fuel a racial justice movement. 

In addition to these funds, Akonadi Foundation runs a program called We Love Oakland which celebrates the vibrant and joyful culture, relationships, and activism that can be found in The Town. There are short videos you can watch where residents explain how Oakland’s history and culture inspires their work. You can also read letters from community leaders and post your own story of why you love Oakland.

If you’d like to see a community where young people of color have the support systems they need to thrive, spread the word about Akonadi Foundation. Read their blog, follow them on Facebook or Instagram, and subscribe to their YouTube channel.

Feel Good Friday - The Valentine Foundation

Today is Valentine’s Day so let’s spend a moment learning about the Valentine Foundation.

Well, the first thing I learned is it has nothing to do with the holiday and is named after founder, Phoebe Valentine, but we’re sticking with it. Headquartered in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, the Valentine Foundation has been funding social change for women and girls since 1985.

As they explain on their website, “we fund nonprofits in the Philadelphia region focused on racial and gender justice, prioritize leadership in organizations serving women and girls, and align our investments with these goals.” In a world where DEI initiatives are getting cut by many companies, the Valentine Foundation prioritizes organizations led by or focused on BIPOC, women, trans, and gender-expansive people.

Their grants are divided into two areas. Foundation grants support efforts that redefine issues, enhance community engagement, shift policies, or preserve past gains in gender equality. The amount of these grants ranges between $7,000 and $15,000 and can be single, or multi-year. The money can be used for either general operations or project-specific funding. Examples of 2024 recipients include Maternity Care Coalition, Gender Justice Fund and the Women’s Community Revitalization Project.

The second set of grants comes from the Visionary Leadership Fund which was established in 2005. These are targeted to support leadership development for women executives and aspiring leaders in organizations that uplift women and girls in the Greater Philadelphia region. Amounts for these grants average at or around $3,000 per applicant. Examples of 2024 recipients include leaders from the Education Law Center, Girls Inc., and Women Against Abuse.

In 2024, the Valentine Foundation awarded $201,332 to recipients in both categories. You can review the grantee page for details on recipients and grant amounts each year going back to 2000.

Finally, the Valentine Foundation allocates 20% of their endowment to mission aligned investing and provides low interest loans to nonprofits that support community projects.

If you’d like to help the Valentine Foundation achieve their vision of a society where all women and girls can thrive, you can make a donation and amplify their message on social media. Like their Facebook page and follow them on Instagram and LinkedIn. Happy Valentine’s Day! 

Feel Good Friday - Black Women's Health Imperative

February is Black History Month. Let’s kick it off by highlighting an organization dedicated to the health and wellness of Black women and girls, Black Women’s Health Imperative.

Founded in 1984 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., the mission of Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI) is “To lead the effort to solve the most pressing health issues that affect Black women and girls globally.” They do this by making investments in evidence-based strategies, delivering bold new programs, and advocating health-promoting policies. Watch this 3-minute video or keep reading for details.

BWHI has seven signature programs designed to address the most pressing health issues currently impacting 21 million Black women and girls across the United States. They are: lifestyle change, reproductive health, HBCU advisory, rare diseases, menstrual equity, maternal health and HIV awareness. The focus of most of these programs is self-explanatory. For the other, lifestyle change is a support system to help Black women prevent, or manage, type 2 diabetes. The HBCU advisory is an advocacy and leadership-building initiative for women on Historically Black College and University (HBCU) campuses that provides training, skills, and strategies to advocate for wellness, education, and policy related to Black women.

There is also a policy and advocacy team that evaluates and develops national and state policies to hold elected officials accountable for addressing issues most critical to Black women’s health, especially regarding: maternal health, reproductive health, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, breast and cervical cancers, intimate partner violence and sexual assault.

In addition to all the actives above, BWHI has special initiatives which focus on specific topics such as periods, uterine fibroids and menopause. They also train lifestyle coaches to support the lifestyle change program and publish a variety of reports, including the 2024 Health Policy Voters Guide.

If you’d like to support these programs and help the Black Women’s Health Initiative achieve their vision where “all Black women will enjoy optimal health in a society that promotes health equity and social justice”, there are many ways to do so. Start with a donation or shop for merch, then amplify their message on social media. Follow BWHI on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn and subscribe to their YouTube channel.