Two years ago, SNS began a journey to explore the question: What does it mean to be Black-led? Today, we are publicly releasing that answer.
We are pleased to introduce, What Does it Mean to be Black-Led?: An extensive guide on liberatory organizational management, Black leaders’ experiences, and their needs from supporters to thrive.
I never could have imagined what this project would become. I can personally attest to how this investigation validated my experiences and power as a Black woman, and informed SNS’ organizational equity and culture enhancements. However, I wasn’t necessarily surprised: I always knew that Black people offer immense value and insights for transformative leadership.
The most pleasant surprise has been the Black-Led Project’s effect on SNS’ entire mission. It became clear very early into the research process that this information needed to spread far and wide in order to inform others’ leadership priorities, spotlight the power of Black leadership, and generate much-needed support for Black-led organizations and their leaders. Anyone and everyone can learn from and amplify this information by downloading our free Black-Led Project report and sharing it with their networks.
Could you take a moment to download the report and read the Introduction? Even the introduction will help you understand the Project and the work ahead.
The Black-Led Project has evolved from a research initiative into a fundamental aspect of our mission, and a critical pillar of our programming. In addition to the report, we are launching a new virtual training for participants of all identities to reflect in community, gain new insights, and develop tangible action steps for moving forward with this invaluable information.
This is a whole new season for SNS, and I am confident that it is our best one yet. While the Black-Led Project is new, it grounds us in our full organizational identity. I often say, “Allyship is what we do, and Black-led is who we are.” I am thrilled and moved to fully enter this authentic phase of the organization, and to be alongside all of you in the process.
Gratefully,
Whitney Parnell
Founder & CEO