Ifeoma Ike, Esq.

Important read - #MidwiferyMatters

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Estate planners play a pivotal role in intergeneration wealth transfer. Let’s hear what they have to say.

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Join me in conversation with Meme Styles (Taliaferro), MPA and Dwayne Wharton on Thursday, May 23rd at 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM EST for a webinar on CURE's new research brief: Fighting for Justice and Ourselves: Black Changemakers’ Pursuit of Equity and Well-Being. From a series of listening sessions hosted by CURE in January 2024, Black changemakers shared a vision for collective care, Black well-being and liberation experienced in all its forms. Community building and connection are at the heart of Black changemakers’ well-being. Black well-being is not just something to experience in the present moment, but a way to reimagine and reshape the future as a world where all people can truly thrive. Part of CURE’s new Embodied Justice program, the webinar will include discussion on: - How racial equity and justice work impacts the health and well-being of Black changemakers - The importance of Black-centered spaces to support trauma healing, burnout recovery, well-being and joy - Afro-futuristic visions of liberation and Black well-being that inspire Black changemakers  - What nonprofits and funders can do to support the sustainability and health of Black changemakers Check out the brief and register for the webinar at: https://lnkd.in/gT9NuUyu #RacialEquity #RacialJustice #EmbodiedJustice #CollectiveHealing #CommunityCare #CollectiveWellbeing #RacialJusticeJourney #Healing #Somatics #Mindfulness #Nonprofits

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As Black women assume more leadership positions across industries they are coming under attack in a variety of ways. The goalpost for success and credibility is constantly being moved backward or redefined. Therefore, the way attacks are crafted and deployed is also changing. We are ready to Clapback and Get the Facts.   #SistersLead #SistersVote @SistersLead    https://lnkd.in/eMJGY8dj

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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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I’m SO excited to host Network While Black’s second event BLOOM: Separting Your Career From Your Identity on May 14th in NYC. Our inaugural event Network With Intention, was held in January. We brought so many amazing WOC (some men) together, and networked with people from all different fields. Bloom will be a little different. Although we are still emphasizing networking, on May 14th we will be discussing the importance of separating your career from your identity. This topic is very dear to me because as a Stylist in an unsure job market I’ve had to constantly ask myself what am I doing if I’m not working? I didn’t realize that because I’ve spent so much of my 20s chasing my career, that I didn’t know who I was when I wasn’t on set. This past year has been a whirlwind of emotions. Having a slow season in the industry forced me to think of myself as more than just a Stylist, and explore other interests of mine. Network While Black has been an amazinggggg venture for me, and I’m so thankful for this downtime because I was able to BLOOM. I now understand I am not my job, I am not my salary, and I am not just another Stylist. With that being said, be on the lookout for event details!!! It’ll be very intimate, because I want attendees to really get comfortable. 🫶🏾 #networking #networkwhileblack #events #blackbusiness #linkedincreator

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According to available data, women in the US get access to less than 3% of all venture capital awarded in the US with Black women getting an even smaller portion of that pittance at somewhere less than a full percentage point of all dollars invested. So, what do we have to do to pursue any level of parity, equity or justice in this situation? The most direct way; get more money into the hands of Black women. Full STOP. There are a lot of other interventions at play, like the improved policy frameworks that CAE are working on as shared below, but this is the fastest way. Give Black women the money to build their businesses and get out of the way. Let's be clear, the only thing being pursued here is a balancing of opportunity and access to resources. That requires an acknowledgment that all humans are worthy of safety, economic security, agency, autonomy, vibrancy and joy. Anti-racism isn't anti-white. Feminism isn't anti-male. Inclusion doesn't seek to exclude those who already have access or belonging. Equity doesn't seek to set anyone with built advantages further behind, only allow everyone a chance to catch up. We can do better, y'all. We simply have to choose to do so.

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Sharing some data points about wealth disparity, and precedent for organizing and policy proposals that drive economic transformation. Forthcoming research from the Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy further highlights the realities of wealth disparity in U.S. cities like Chicago, Boston and elsewhere. For now, check out this Nonprofit Quarterly / M4BL webinar clip where I break down some facts and figures. #economicjustice #economicpolicy #wealthgap #wealthdisparity #publicpolicy

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My published doctoral research on "The Lived Leadership Experiences of Black Women Professionals: A Phenomenological Qualitative Study of the Intersectionality of Race and Gender" challenges the "Strong Black Woman" schema. While this narrative celebrates the resilience seen in historical and contemporary Black women leaders, it often masks the complex challenges they face. In today's political climate, understanding the impact of racial and gender stereotypes on leadership is invaluable. My findings highlight the need to acknowledge the full humanity of Black women leaders - their strengths, vulnerabilities, and experiences of intersectionality in professional settings. How can we honor the Black women leaders while creating space for vulnerability and support? How can organizations move beyond stereotypes to truly empower Black women in leadership roles? #BlackWomenInLeadership #IntersectionalityAtWork #Inclusion #Leadership

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Must read article! 👇Unpacking equality and equity, spotlighting the ramifications of public policy on creating a #justeconomy

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🏅 As the world gathers for the Olympic Games (and the Merrell women watch in awe from home), we are reminded of the power of perseverance, innovation, and the spirit of pushing boundaries. This year, I find myself inspired not only by the athletes but also by groundbreaking developments in philanthropy that echo these same values. 💸 Most notably the recent announcement that Allyson Felix, the most decorated female track and field Olympian, received $20 million in funding from Melinda French Gates Pivotal Ventures to support Black maternal health initiatives. Felix, who experienced birth complications herself, has been a strong advocate for maternal health. 🏆 This funding is part of Gates’ $1 billion commitment through 2026 to advance women’s power globally. With the rollback of women’s rights and headwinds to social progress, Melinda believes that now is the time to provide urgent capital to organizations fighting for equality and removing barriers that hold women back. Why do I find this so significant? Entrepreneurial Philanthropy: This approach embodies a shift towards an entrepreneurial mindset, emphasizing creativity and risk-taking. By backing unconventional projects, we foster proactive solutions. Informed Trust: This balance between informed decision-making and trust empowers communities to drive meaningful change. Sustainability & Innovation: Funding that prioritizes sustainability encourages long-term impact and innovative breakthroughs, much like athletes in Paris who push the limits. Together, we can transform challenges into opportunities for growth and build a better future for all. 🌍 #Philanthropy #Innovation #Olympics #TrustBasedGiving #Sustainability #OneDegreeImpact #FutureOfImpact

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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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To this we say - if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem. Sadly, the future landscape of funding for Black entrepreneurs shows no signs of improving. In fact, according to a recent piece by AFROTECH, it's getting worse. "According to insights from Crunchbase, Black-founded startups pulled in a mere $705 million in venture funding in 2023, barely scratching the surface (0.5%) of the colossal $140.4 billion #VC pot feeding all U.S.-based #startups last year. For the first time since 2016, this drop is below the billion-dollar mark, though still higher than that year’s total of $582 million raised by Black-founded startups. This is particularly striking considering that 13.6% of the U.S. population identifies as Black or African-American, per the United States Census Bureau." And, if the recent successes in the higher courts of the case against the Fearless Fund, brought last year by the American Alliance for Equal Rights, a group led by Edward Blum, who also led the charge to overturn Affirmative Action tells us anything, interest in leveling the playing field in general is clearly still subject to "fragility." Harder still, according to an outlook published by Wellington Management, distributions from VC funds overall dropped a staggering 84% from 2021 to 2023, further growing dry powder inventory and extending the allocation drought. Competition for fundraising will continue to be a trending theme among all emerging companies in 2024.   It's up to us as a community to see and build our way out of and beyond this. We cannot rely on anything but our own proven will to thrive against all odds. But we must do it together. If we intend to thrive as a community we must work as a community. Join our movement today! #BlackBusinessesMatter #VentureCapitalInequality #LevelThePlayingField #EntrepreneurshipEquity #FundingDisparities #BlackStartupStruggles #CommunityEmpowerment #InclusiveEconomy #BuildingBlackWealth #SupportBlackEntrepreneurs

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Black women are the cornerstone of their families, communities and key drivers of our economy. Fearless Fund stepped up to invest in them, and this BS. Fearless Aisha Nyandoro sums it up in TIME: "Black women are among the most entrepreneurial demographics in the U.S., launching businesses at higher rates than other groups despite facing significant barriers​. We create jobs, drive innovation, and contribute to economic growth; fostering a more inclusive and robust economy. Investing in Black women specifically is not just a moral imperative, but a strategic economic decision that benefits everyone." https://lnkd.in/g-7p892u

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😒😒We have so far to go… I can’t wrap my head around this… at all. I got the opportunity to be part of a discussion with the Fearless Fund during SXSW and the fight that they have been made to fight for successfully doing what the start up world has claimed to want for several years is 🤯. Over the past 5-7 years there has been a huge push for DEI and making entrepreneurship attainable for underrepresented founders. I have been an “underrepresented founder” participant in several different programs that 🎯this specific space and I am grateful for the ones that have been beneficial in growing TRS. But let’s cut the 🐂. More often than not these programs are run by large predominantly white male led organizations that are exploiting the same people they claimed to be helping. Programs that are many times way more about the optics and after being accepted their is very little to no value for the participants, however the orgs get the metrics and 💵 to show how much they are focusing on “DEI and “under represented” even profiting off these founder stories or closing large deals because of them with no trickle down to the founders and no concern for if it’s helping or harming. I could keep going but u get the point. These orgs have been praised for years for the BS “programs” they created to further line their OWN pockets. **There are also good legit programs I’m not saying they are all bad- many have helped us- but the fact still remains many haven’t- But when Fearless Fund actually creates a program that does all these things we’ve been claiming to want for years now- (with little to no movement in the actual success of these underrepresented founders). Now it’s an issue and you can’t do that. Sounds to me like the diversity was just never actually wanted. Sounds to me like the old white men got scared when they saw a legit pathway for companies and founders far better then them to get a chance to compete with them as robust vc backed companies. Now DEI is unfair? Unconstitutional?! But there’s nothing wrong with the fact that less than 1% of VC funding goes to black founders and 0.39% went to women of color founders in 2022. And let’s not forget black women founders on average provide better investment returns than white women or man led companies. Anyways I post this ask how can we help? What can we be doing to stand up and say we aren’t going to accept this. To stand with fearless fund and support them? I’m sure their are orgs and people already doing this- I’d love to know how I can help! Funding is unfair it’s part of the game - maybe not unfair but it’s not the best ideas are the ones that get the funding they need- that’s just what it is and always has been- but it’s unconstitutional to have a $20,000 grant for black women? Clearly any real movement towards leveling the playing field scares the shit out of those that have always held the wealth and power- Like i said in the beginning we have so far to go.

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