Breylon A. Smith, MPA

...What MD is doing to support breaking cycles of poverty through housing and ownership: https://lnkd.in/ezeaMzsU

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Best wishes for these leaders of tomorrow: "Today, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) announced the 25 emerging leaders and entrepreneurs selected for the inaugural cohort of the CGI Fellowship. These Fellows will have access to resources and guidance as they each develop their own Commitments to Action — new, specific, and measurable projects that advance solutions to critical challenges. This class of Fellows is developing Commitments to Action within CGI’s focus areas – #climateresilience, #economicinclusion, #healthequity, #humanitarianresponse, and #womenandgirls’equality."

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Want to learn more about the HBCU Alumni Takeover, take a look at this video. https://lnkd.in/gax8xDUU

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A VC fund dedicated to funding businesses run by Black women is not discrimination. The reason is that data show businesses run by Black women currently garner a tiny share of funding globally. This is not equitable. Hence, we need funds focused solely on funding underfunded groups in order to move towards equitable funding for all. This is one of the few ways we can end the actual discrimination happening which is against Black women. #racialequity #genderequity #VCbias

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Excited to share that the 2023 impact report for LISC's Black Economic Development Fund (BEDF) is now live. Since 2020, with generous support from our investors, BEDF has committed a majority of its capital, investing $211.9 million to fuel Black-led financial institutions, Black-led businesses, and other organizations doing business in predominantly Black communities addressing economic challenges and contributing to closing the racial wealth gap. Through initiatives like BEDF, LISC remains at the forefront of efforts to enhance capital access for entrepreneurs serving communities of color. Here's the breakdown: https://lnkd.in/epq7mrN5 LISC Strategic Investments

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“Equity-centered design is the practice of involving diverse communities throughout planning and implementation, to allow their voices to impact solutions to the inequity at hand”. Too many leaders build programs without the input or perspectives of those for whom they are designing for. That’s okay if you want to build a stand alone program full of inequity, but when designing programs to advance equity, it requires that you build with people and not for people. Let’s normalize including employee voices, perspectives and ideas of all backgrounds, experiences, and levels at the “table”. It is a part of my practice and should be a part of yours too! https://lnkd.in/ehB7Dem5 #edi #programdesign #equity #equitydesign #inclusivedesign

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Incredible improvements! Yes! The true cost of the barriers around NOFO language is the highly technical language. However, something to think about... as these bureaucratic processes are removed or lowered, additional rules and regulations are piling up. Burdening institutions and organizations with a host of legal requirements to accept funds and proving they comply (Buy America Act, COI rules, countries of concern, etc etc) make the cost of grants even higher with respect to risk management and monitoring. Sure, reduce the barriers to entry but the cost of acceptance is too great. We must continue to educate professionals and researchers why these things matter and streamline the compliance so researchers can do the thing they asked to do in the first place! Be Better Do Better

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Check out my newest blog for Reframe Youth https://lnkd.in/eGUmbJSn

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In the spirit of Juneteenth, I’ve decided to share some of my research with the world. My project, "400-Year Nightmare," focuses on my family and surrounding Black American families post-Reconstruction. The central question is, "How did my family, and surrounding families, survive America during Reconstruction?" If you'd like to see more, consider checking out my Patreon. The link is below. It’s free to the public, but please consider contributing to this important research if you can. #Juneteenth #400YearNightmare #FamilyHistory #BlackHistory #SupportCreators #Patreon

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🦋 Elevate Your Career: "Building The Best Possible Personal Brand" This live event will feature author and AMA President of Boston Wednesday, May 22, 2024 ⌚ 1P ET/12P CT/11A MT/10A PT WESTERN GOVERNORS UNIVERSITY AMA Virtual Student Chapter presents 👱‍♂️ Bob Cargill will join us to talk about his new book, 20 Jobs, 20 Lessons, a Long Strange Career in Marketing, from Junk Mail to Social Media, and how the emergence of social media some 20 years ago changed his career so dramatically. 🤯 He will explain how anybody can take advantage of social media – 🐦Twitter, 🔗 LinkedIn, 📘Facebook, 📺 YouTube, 📸 Instagram, 📱TikTok, 👻 etc. – to get to the next level of success. 🤔 You will learn how to break through the clutter, rise above the cacophony of noise, stand out among the crowd, and differentiate yourself from the competition on social media. 💡 You will realize just how much social media can transform both your personal and professional lives for the better. 📣 You will be inspired to build the best possible personal brand for yourself! 📚 *Book Giveaways!* https://lnkd.in/eepqsj2g

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This article from Black Enterprise Magazine came at the right time! As the former Executive Director and now CEO of End Rape On Campus (EROC), I've had the privilege of working with various leadership coaches. Today, my needs as a leader have evolved, and I'm at a critical juncture in my journey of rebuilding EROC and honoring its legacy. Before any executive leadership coaches reach out to me, please note: I’ll reach out as I do my preliminary research. I know what I want and need, and I’m intentional about finding the right fit. Here’s a snippet of what I’m looking for: - A Black Executive Leadership Coach: My career journey has been shaped by having had at least 12 white supervisors, 95% of whom were women-identified. Only one has consistently supported and mentored me, exemplifying true allyship. I seek a Black Executive Leadership Coach who understands the challenges I’ve faced and has successfully navigated similar experiences. Their insights on how they found their strength, will, and motivation will be invaluable as I chart my path forward. - Coaching Style: I need a coach with an authentic, supportive, and direct approach. Someone who isn’t afraid to ask tough questions, respectfully challenge me, and guide me towards an authentic and appropriate direction. - Current Goal: My vision is ambitious: to lead EROC through a $1 Million+ transformation. I need a coach who can help translate my ideas and drafts into a strategic and realistic pathway. I aim to ensure EROC’s sustainability and empower future staff to carry forward its mission with drive and motivation. - Investment: While I deeply desire to invest in myself or have my organization support me, it’s not feasible at this moment. However, this is a need I am committed to fulfilling. QUESTION: I'm curious to learn from YOU, reader, who have had/currently have an executive leadership coach, what you have found to be rewarding in your journey? Thank you for your attention to my post and support as I embark on this exciting chapter. Sheena Collier | Enna Jimenez | Sabrina Saunders Mosby | Sabrina Hersi Issa | Diane Randolph Jones, MS, MFA | Fakisha Fabre | Bentina Terry | Sharisse Kimbro | Tiffany Dufu | Lynn Perry Wooten | Kimberly Bryant

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🎙️ Launching "Sit Down, Be Present" in TWO DAYS🎙️ I'm thrilled to announce the upcoming launch of my podcast, *Sit Down, Be Present*, designed to help leaders discover the transformative power of presence-driven leadership. We're kicking things off with a compelling 3-part mini-series: 1. There is Power in the P.A.U.S.E 2. There is Perspective in the P.A.U.S.E 3. There is Purpose in the P.A.U.S.E If you're a leader struggling to balance the demands of life, have you ever wondered how being truly present could transform your leadership and personal life? The pause is more than just a moment of rest—it's a gateway to power, perspective, and purpose. 🌟 We're so close to launching, and I can't wait to share this journey with you! Stay tuned for more updates. #SitDownBePresent #PresenceDrivenLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #PodcastLaunch

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I’m thrilled to be presenting at the ICMA - International City/County Management Association Equity Summit today alongside my colleagues from the City of Morgan Hill. Rebecca Garcia, Michelle Bigelow, and I will delve into the critical role of belonging in municipal DEI efforts. As many governments have discovered, inclusion alone isn't sufficient; a genuine sense of belonging is key to building community and sustaining long-term equity. When individuals feel they belong, they gain access to social capital and experience psychological safety, fostering a deeper commitment to their community and driving future DEI initiatives. Join us as we explore how both Morgan Hill and Sunnyvale, California, have successfully nurtured a culture of belonging among staff and residents by sharing individual stories to bridge gaps and strengthen relationships. We'll cover strategies for fostering belonging with limited resources, taking an asset-based approach, and ensuring these efforts are self-sustaining. Morgan Hill’s initiative, "Diverse Voices on Affordable Housing," brings together local residents to discuss the crucial link between affordable housing and community vitality. These discussions aim to address housing challenges, promote economic mobility, and ensure that all residents feel a sense of belonging. Sunnyvale's key initiatives—Allyship Learning Club, Unveiling Our Talent, and the Growing Forward Newsletter—are designed to enhance workplace belonging and allyship. Over the past 11 months, data has shown these programs to be effective, and our plan is to use these insights to refine our DEI Action Plan, continually advancing our commitment to an inclusive and supportive work environment. https://lnkd.in/gq5snXAB

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✨ Discover the Power of Storytelling for Innovation! ✨ On the first day of the Virginia Housing Alliance’s (Brian Koziol, Arley Bell) inaugural BIPOC Leadership Institute (BLI) cohort,  where I’m a co-facilitator along with Ebony Walden, we had the privilege of walking the historic streets of Jackson Ward in Richmond, VA, with a remarkable group of housing leaders (Justin Ferguson), as Gary Flowers a fifth-generation Jackson Ward resident shared powerful stories of this community, known as one of the Black Wall Streets of the South, and highlighted stories of vision, determination and resilience from leaders such as: 🌟 Maggie L. Walker: The first African American woman to charter a bank, breaking barriers and inspiring us to think beyond limitations. 🌟 William "Bojangles" Robinson: A philanthropist and entertainer who invested in the safety, education, and future of Black children, teaching us persistence in the face of challenges. 🌟 John Mitchell Jr.: The iconic editor of the Richmond Planet, using his words to inspire and influence the community towards advocacy and change. Their stories inspire and remind us of storytelling's profound impact on innovation. How can we use storytelling to inspire new ideas and grow as leaders?  Here are three ways in which I believe stories can influence innovation: 🚀 Inspiring Vision: Stories help us dream big and think creatively. 🚀 Learning from Challenges: Narratives of perseverance teach us resilience about overcoming challenges we will encounter. 🚀 Building Empathy: Shared experiences foster connection and collaboration. 🔗 Check out the full article, "A Lesson from Jackson Ward: How Our Stories Can Inspire Innovation", on Jordansydnor.com to explore how we can use storytelling to innovate and grow as leaders. Let's transform our communities by embracing the lessons from Jackson Ward. What stories from your past inspire your innovative thinking? Share in the comments below! 👇🏾 #Innovation #Leadership #Storytelling #JacksonWard #Inspiration #Community

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🔍 Get The Tools And Info You Need To Secure Your Funding This Year And Beyond 🔍 During this Lunch & Learn, GrantStation.com's Director of Online Education, David Gates, will guide you through maximizing GrantStation to streamline your grant research process and achieve top-notch results. What You'll Learn: 💼 How to navigate private, state, and national funding opportunities with GrantStation’s databases. 🎯 Techniques to refine your search terms for uncovering unexpected funding prospects. 🤝 Utilizing funder profiles and decision matrices to efficiently vet potential funders. 📝 Accessing comprehensive tutorials in the “Build Strategy” and “Write Proposals” sections for both novice and seasoned grant seekers. Don't miss out on this invaluable opportunity! Secure your spot now by registering now 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gCZq7jiz #GrantStation #LunchAndLearn #GrantFunding #CommunitySupport #NonprofitResources #GrantResearch #EducationEvent #FundingOpportunities

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I'm happy to share the culmination of a three-year project aimed at commemorating and activating the legacy of Ben Fletcher on multi-racial organizing and organized labor in the United States. In formerly co-chairing the Racial Justice Committee of the Philadelphia chapter of Democratic Socialists of America, a multi-part learning series centering led by Dr. Jasmine Noelle Yarish on Dr. Cedric Robinson's Black Marxism led to the successful procurement of a Pennsylvania State Marker at the site of the original IWW Local 8's headquarters in Philadelphia, along with the a city-wide mural project that is soon to be unveiled at a prominent Spruce St. Harbor Park near Philadelphia's Old City. This project centered the activism of DSA, IWW, Dr. Peter Cole, and endorsements from city council-members like Helen Gym and Mark Squilla, the Independence Seaport Museum, Dr. Keeanga Yamata-Taylor, Dr. Tukufu Zuberi and more. Why Fletcher? Why a mural? In the wake of George Floyd's murder, many protests targeted racist examples of public art, such as Confederate monuments. A related concern, as documented by Monument Lab, was that precious few monuments or other works of public art feature Black, working-class, and multiracial/multiethnic peoples. In a city uniquely defined by Black investment in urban social change, outlined in W.E.B. Du Bois’s Philadelphia Negro to Marcus Anthony Hunter’s Black Citymakers: How The Philadelphia Negro Changed Urban America, the absence of Black “city makers” in murals and monuments alike is experienced as erasure. The subject of this mural provides an important counter to that narrative; not attempting to wipe away the historic reality of racism but, rather, uplifting another part of Philadelphia's history. In the 1910s and 1920s, Local 8, which represented approximately 5,000 dockworkers, amassed tremendous power on the riverfront. When founded in 1913, Local 8’s members were approximately 1/3 African American, 1/3 Irish and Irish Americans, and 1/3 European (primarily Eastern European) immigrants. In an era of tremendous racism and xenophobia, Local 8 was the most powerful, Black-led, multiracial union (or arguably organization) in the country. The story of Local 8 and Ben Fletcher is almost entirely unknown. This mural hopes to recover this “lost” history and promote Fletcher as a Philadelphia son who became one of the most important Black unionists and radicals of his generation. In exploring the history of Local 8, we are also able to go back to the future and learn from legacies of inclusive and horizontal organizing unprecedented at the time. Mural Designed By: Johnathan Pinkett Mural Painted By: Efrain Herrera & Community Members

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