ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Black Voices for Black Justice Fund (BVBJ), an innovative initiative that supports Black leaders on the front lines of the urgent movement to build a fair, equitable, and anti-racist America, today announced that voting rights champion, politician and author Stacey Abrams has joined its leadership team. Abrams joins an esteemed group of national Black leaders who are amplifying and elevating the work of everyday heroes advancing racial justice in communities across America through educational equity, criminal justice reform, environmental justice and other efforts. Since the fund’s launch in 2020, 50 Black leaders across America have received BVBJ financial awards to use as they believe will make the biggest difference for racial justice.
Abrams said, “I am honored to join BVBJ because it is leading by example. Unlike most philanthropic giving for racial justice, the Black Voices for Black Justice Fund puts Black leaders in the driver’s seat – with Black activists on the ground who understand how racism plays out in their community defining both the problem and the solutions. I’m excited to throw myself into BVBJ because I believe we will make more progress in advancing racial justice as a country if more of the philanthropic community would embrace this novel approach.”
Abrams is the New York Times bestselling author of Our Time Is Now and Lead from the Outside. She served as Democratic Leader of the Georgia House of Representatives for seven years prior to running for Governor of Georgia, winning at the time more votes than any other Democrat in the state’s history. She launched Fair Fight after the 2018 gubernatorial election to ensure every American has a voice in our election system, Fair Count to ensure accuracy in the 2020 Census and the Southern Economic Advancement Project, a public policy initiative to broaden economic power and build equity in the South. Born in Madison, Wisconsin, Abrams received degrees from Spelman College, the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas, and Yale Law School. Her latest novel While Justice Sleeps will be released in May 2021.
“Every day, Stacey Abrams shows us what true leadership and dedication to equality look like,” said actress and activist Kerry Washington, who is co-chair of BVBJ. “It is such an honor to work alongside a real-life hero, like Stacey, in this fight for justice.”
“Stacey’s role as a leader in the fight against voter suppression and of upholding the promise of democracy has been a true inspiration; we enthusiastically welcome her insights on how to best accelerate the work of the fund and take it to the next level,” said Tenicka Boyd, BVBJ co-chair and National Organizing Director and Deputy Political Director of the ACLU.
Abrams replaces Kristen Clarke, who has been nominated by President Biden to serve as Assistant Attorney General of the United States, leading the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.
The Fund is currently seeking nomination for its third round of giving and is particularly interested in community-led racial justice efforts that encompass justice for both Black Americans and Asian Americans. For more information, visit www.blackvoices.org.
About Black Voices for Black Justice Fund
The Black Voices for Black Justice Fund was created to address under-investment in Black leaders and Black-led organizations by major donors, both to remedy racial disparities concerning access to philanthropic dollars as well as to support diverse social entrepreneurs who bring unique perspectives and expertise to tackling America's most pressing challenges. Toward these ends, The Fund amplifies clarion voices concerning racial justice; connects new and established Black leaders to one another; and supports Black-led efforts to build meaningful economic and political power for their communities in the context of police brutality and the disproportionate impact of the pandemic along racial lines – including disparities in access healthcare, jobs, education, justice, and the right to vote.
