The Black Fairness Collective (BEC) is a community-focused, public-private partnership with Black fairness as its central, driving drive. BEC’s focus is to strengthen the long-term capability and infrastructure of Black-led social justice organizations in Southern California.
Born out of two organizations – the Social Good Options Agency and the Black Fairness Initiative — BEC’s mission is centered on the assumption that progress on Black fairness and racial justice have to be a part of any credible social justice motion in the USA. Moreover, the collective believes fairness is barely achieved when philanthropic investments, public insurance policies, and institutional practices converge to boldly confront racial injustice.
Kaci Peterson, the founder and Chief Architect of Social Good Options and the Black Fairness Collective, has over 18 years of expertise within the non-profit and philanthropy sectors, managing a number of multi-million greenback grant-making portfolios.
California Black Media (CBM) spoke with Peterson lately. She mentioned the group’s successes, disappointments, and classes from 2024 as they proceed their initiatives into the brand new yr.
Responses have been edited for size and readability.
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Trying again at 2024, what stands out to you as your most essential achievement and why?
This yr, we celebrated our 10-year anniversary as a agency. For the reason that agency’ s inception we’re proud to announce that cumulatively we’ve been capable of increase and leverage over $55.5 million for Black-led organizations in California.
One of many issues that we now have completed — and we’re very happy with — is our expanded membership. We had an preliminary purpose of 30 to 40 organizations. We’ve a present membership of 54 organizations and a ready listing of over 120.
How did your management and investments contribute to bettering the lives of Black Californians?
We launched a survey involving 200 Black-led organizations to review the financial affect of Black-led organizations on California’ s GDP. The outcomes of that survey will likely be launched in early 2025. One of many causes that survey is essential is that it develops a story round why there may be extreme underinvestment in Black-led organizations.
What annoyed you essentially the most during the last yr?
The decline in philanthropic funding after the peak of commitments following the homicide of George Floyd, following COVID. There was actually this chance for philanthropy to completely shift course and take a unique method in terms of Black-led organizations.
Whereas some have, for essentially the most half, philanthropy has retreated to a spot of familiarity, which is pulling again on their funding.
What impressed you essentially the most during the last yr?
I’m all the time impressed by the leaders on the bottom who simply proceed to do monumental work. The truth that right here in Los Angeles, we’ve been capable of arise a doula hub in response to the coverage advocacy work that so a lot of our leaders, our Black ladies specifically, actually pushed and received state laws handed a few years in the past in order that doulas might be an accredited and reimbursable expense by way of Medi-Cal. There was an actual push to make the implementation of that regulation actual.
I’ m happy with the collaboration that we’ve been capable of do with different Black-led networks throughout the state.
What’s one lesson you discovered in 2024 that may inform your decision-making subsequent yr?
I began an 11-week sabbatical on Nov. 1. I feel oftentimes as Black leaders, we’re burning the candle at each ends. And I don’ t assume Black individuals are even conscious of the social, emotional, and bodily toll that taken on us — even subconsciously. We should actually see, relaxation, retreat and take respite as a part of our journey to justice.
In a single phrase, what’s the largest problem Black Californians face?
Erasure. We’ve actually leaned right into a narrative of Black permanence and what it means to protect our neighborhood, our tradition, our contributions, our language, our historical past, our leaders, our establishments. There’s a lot effort to erase us by way of burnout and fatigue, by way of underfunding of our organizations. To erase our historical past by banning books and never permitting sure issues to be talked about. We should have a counter battle.
What’s the purpose you need to obtain most in 2025?
I actually need to begin up an endowment for the collective. I feel it’s actually essential to have the ability to protect the entire issues that the collective has contributed to the ecosystem thus far — the philanthropic ecosystem specifically. To have the ability to create and set up an endowment for the collective that enables that work to occur in perpetuity is basically essential.
