Kerry Washington joins leaders to launch $10 million racial justice initiative

By Blue Telusma

·October 1, 2020

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 17: Kerry Washington of "Little Fires Everywhere" speaks during the Hulu segment of the 2020 Winter TCA Press Tour at The Langham Huntington, Pasadena on January 17, 2020 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images)

When it comes to supporting the current social justice movements sweeping the nation, Hollywood heavyweight Kerry Washington is part of a collective putting their influence and resources towards causes that directly address the systemic racial injustice that led to the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.

According to Forbes, Thursday, it was announced that the Black Voices for Black Justice Fund had been launched. It is an initiative created to help support Black leaders and Black-owned businesses eradicate racism in America through their efforts around voting rights, criminal justice reform, and COVID-19 recovery.

(Photo by Rachel Luna/Getty Images)

Washington is one of the co-chairs of the new $10 million racial justice fund, backed by organizations including the Joe and Clara Tsai Foundation and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.

Brittany Packnett Cunningham, cofounder of the anti-police brutality project Campaign Zero, theGrio‘s Senior Correspondent Natasha S. Alford, the Black Resilience Fund cofounder Cameron Whitten and 28 other recipients make up the inaugural cohort of fund recipients selected from a pool of public nominations.

So proud to announce that the BRF has been selected as a grant recipient from the Black Voices for Black Justice Fund—created, in part, to support Black-led efforts with building meaningful economic power in their communities.

Read more in @Forbes: https://t.co/cDWUrKxSOw
— Black Resilience Fund (program of Brown Hope) (@blackresiliency) September 30, 2020

“After the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, we felt like we had to do something and something big,” Robin Hood CEO and fund co-chair Wes Moore, explained via email. “There seems to be more understanding in this moment about racial injustice, particularly among white Americans, and we want to see that increased interest work for real change.”

“The Black Voices for Black Justice Fund recognizes incredible leaders who have been on the frontlines working to dismantle the deep-rooted, racist systems that have plagued our country for centuries,” Washington said in her own statement. “Amplifying their voices and providing resources to these inspiring advocates is critical as we strive towards equity and racial justice in this country.”

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