Black leaders who hit the pavement on a daily basis to create change are often overlooked but a new podcast is working to change that.
Season two of Blackstage recently kicked off and what makes the podcast stand out is its dedication to supporting everyday leaders who are striving toward social change across their respective fields. This season, and just in time for Black History Month, the program has upped the ante by creating a leadership fund for Black-run organizations.
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“We understand that to successfully end injustices that plague the Black community in this country it depends on investing in proximate leaders who are on the frontlines of justice across sectors,” per a press release provided by the show’s host, Brennan DuBose.
“That’s why we’ve launched this ambitious fund to support leaders in their efforts. Grantees will be announced in Spring 2021!”
DuBose knows what it takes to lead an organization. He currently drives the social and community impact at a global social innovation fund that discovers and invests in emerging social entrepreneurs.
“I would have never imagined launching a podcast during a global pandemic,” DuBose said during his inaugural episode on May 25. “I’m excited to have conversations that are not only apart of the African diaspora but apart of people’s everyday lives.”
To kick off season two of the podcast, DuBose spoke to theGrio’s own vice president of digital content and CNN analyst Natasha S. Alford. The two dished on an array of topics but honed in on the importance of Black-owned-and-led media in the current political landscape.
“There is a difference between Black-targeted media, meaning you have Black hosts and you talk about Black culture, but the owners are not Black and the power doesn’t necessarily translate,” says Alford, who oversees content at theGrio. “The priority in not having to serve a corporate interest makes a difference in the content. We need to be in positions of ownership.”
Alford adds that Black-led companies are important not only because they can tell our stories authentically, but because our children are watching.
“Media shapes how our kids see themselves, how we see ourselves and the information that we are exposed to and the conversations that we have. There is power in media, that is why it’s called the fourth estate. If we are just working, if we are just the talent, then again it’s that analogy of the plantation, who is really owning us?”
To donate to the Black History Month Leadership Fund click here.
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