#SPECTRUMVirtual
. @staceyabrams at #SPECTRUMvirtual: we need to build an equitable economy that works for all… a more inclusive, vibrant impact economy. pic.twitter.com/UW0Vmyq7ka
— Clare Winterton (@clarewinterton) June 9, 2020
This panel at #SpectrumVirtual had the perfect trifecta to end the conference. Lots of work to be done for sure but hopeful w these three leading. Loved the convo and excited to see how corps roll up their sleeves on the #racialwealthgap https://t.co/QXkJ0LsfzK
— Alicia Alston (@AlstonPruPR) June 13, 2020
I spoke about this stat during the capital allocation breakout session on @SOCAPmarkets #spectrumvirtual – we cannot look at wealth gap reduction as charity, it just makes good economic sense pic.twitter.com/r9JUeQKVqU
— Taj Ahmad Eldridge عائلة أحمد (@Econoahmad) June 9, 2020
Take away from #SPECTRUMVirtual 1) many great BIPOC doing amazing work 2) not enough work outside current economic structures 3) lack of connection between developing world 4) philanthropy/corporate dominant culture currently directs the narrative. Thoughts?!
— Alfredo Gonzalez (@algova101) June 11, 2020
@NadiaBrigham is facilitating the painful, poignant and important conversations on racial equity. As we observe a moment of silence to remember our Indigenous family and their land rights and #GeorgeFloyd #BreonnaTaylor #AhmaudAubrey
— Sunny Slaughter (@Sunny_Slaughter) June 9, 2020
Enlightening. 🧘🏾♀️ Empowering. 💪🏾 Encouraging. #SPECTRUMVirtual #BeTheChange https://t.co/Ne5dGE5ozN
— Crys&Tell (@CrysAndTell) June 11, 2020
“We need multiple fund sources to support founders of color. There is not one fund that can address the need alone. It requires finance equity.” – #CharisseConananJohnson @nextstreet #SPECTRUMVirtual
— Avivar Capital (@AvivarCapital) June 10, 2020
Start:ME team and alumni entrepreneurs attended @SOCAPmarkets SPECTRUM conference. #SPECTRUMVirtual brought together multicultural changemakers committed to racial equity and an inclusive impact economy.
Five alumni social entrepreneurs participated including… pic.twitter.com/thTErzDkld
— Start:ME Atlanta (@_StartME) June 12, 2020
RT Via: https://t.co/cBYmYfA7h7
“It’s time for a more inclusive economy where voices are heard, people are seen and ideas are funded.”
Written by KeishaSenter #SPECTRUMVirtualhttps://t.co/3NuRzAvPCV#diversityintech #
— IAM Platform (@IAM__Network) June 12, 2020
Newsy roundup of this week’s #SPECTRUMVirtual conf.
– @macfound becomes latest & largest investor in second fund from @IA_Fund
– @CharisseSays & @nextstreet ID opportunity to close equity-capital gap of $146M facing Chicago’s Black & Latinx entrepreneurshttps://t.co/M81hYIhT70
— Dennis Price (@dennisaprice) June 11, 2020
#SpectrumVirtual came to an end after three days of conversations about the racial wealth gap 👊🏾⚖️ Here’s what we learned! 👇 @SOCAPmarkets https://t.co/b4g1wc65Vr
— Colaborativo (@ColaborativoNET) June 12, 2020
I loved this convo. Thank you @SOCAPmarkets 🙏🏽 https://t.co/Fj6CHTv0bs
— Sarah Eagle Heart⚡️ (@Ms_EagleHeart) June 10, 2020
I’ve been thinking so much about it lately, and how it is the basis of so much work we have to do. It was SO affirming to hear @latareddy and @Salene take me to the next level. All the love to #SPECTRUMVirtual for clearing the way for a heartfelt and heart-centered day
— Ellen McGirt (@ellmcgirt) June 11, 2020
We need to align efforts that strengthen Black biz & address the racial wealth gap. Working in isolation will limit impact, so we’re working w/ @WK_Kellogg_Fdn @Surdna_Fndn @BrookingsInst to create a call to action. Sign up to learn more https://t.co/jscCuoFkZl #SPECTRUMvirtual
— CapEQ (@CapEQimpact) June 11, 2020
I appreciate you so much @NathalieMolina, your message is filled with inspiration!
“Ive concluded that equity lacks ambition”
“Equity in our hearts means prosperity…when we combine heart and mind, we want so much more”#SPECTRUMVirtual
— Carlos Rodarte (@crodarte) June 11, 2020
A very insightful session on rebuilding communities of Color and supporting entrepreneurs of Colors led by @JAY4HOPE, @michellegeiss and Deborah Ayanna at #SPECTRUMVirtual @SOCAPmarkets
Key takeaway: Communities are the main investors and accelerators for any business pic.twitter.com/MCFU8y2Trp
— Ankita Joshi (@ankitanjoshi) June 10, 2020
A word from @rashadrobinson
at #SPECTRUMVirtual on racist framing: “We talk about how Black people are less likely to get loans, vs. how banks are less likely to lend to Black people.”— Marcus D Cunningham (@mdcunningham87) June 11, 2020
Powerful words from Erika Alexander #SPECTRUMVirtual “the past is painful, the present is precarious, but the future is free”
— william colegrove (@wcolegrove) June 10, 2020
All white people have privilege. It is our responsibility to spend down that privilege EVERY DAY to ensure that people of color have voice and share your power and privilege. Shift your power. Share your power. @KeishaSenter @sree @SOCAPmarkets #SPECTRUMVirtual @NadiaBrigham
— Cari Hanson (@CariHanson) May 31, 2020
If you want to keep the conversation going on Twitter, SPECTRUM Virtual attendee Carlos Rodarte started a SPECTRUM Virtual Twitter list that you can follow.
Resources to Build Equity, Access, and Inclusion
The following articles, tools, and online resources were shared by SPECTRUM Virtual attendees through the mainstage chat.
- MWBE Enterprises provides consulting services to minority and women-owned business owners seeking MBE, WBE, DBE, 8(a) and WOSB business certification.
- The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation’s Capital Access Lab provides early capital to innovative, emerging funds that make investments directly to underserved entrepreneurs.
- Report from Next Street: The Equity Capital Gap for Entrepreneurs of Color in Chicago
- Imperative 21 is a business-led, cross-sector coalition working to align incentives and shift culture so capitalism works for the benefit of all stakeholders.
- The Community Investment Trust (CIT) offers a long-term path to collective, communal ownership of real-estate for investors from $10 – $100 per month.
- Covidcap.com, produced by The Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship (CASE) at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, collects and shares relief resources for entrepreneurs.
- Color of Change is working to Change Hollywood and positively transform how Black people are represented across the media landscape.
- Abaca is a tool that makes benchmarking the progress of your company easy and gives you a common language to use with investors, mentors and your team as you seek capital and resources.
- The Maryland Neighborhood Exchange prepares promising local and minority-owned businesses for crowdfunding opportunities that will boost MD’s economy.
- Parity is an equitable development company in West Baltimore that acquires and rehabilitates abandoned properties by the block to create affordable home ownership opportunities.
- VOLAR (Village of Love and Resistance) is a cooperative community in East Baltimore owned by Black and Brown people, to create opportunities for historical residents to acquire, rehab, and sell/rent property to build wealth.
- Liz Dozier of Chicago Beyond on Excavating and Rebuilding a New Society
- SOCAP started a SPECTRUM LinkedIn Group that you are invited to join.
- How to Spend Your Privilege By Brittany Packnett for The Cut
- Why the racial wealth gap persists, more than 150 years after emancipation by By Calvin Schermerhorn for The Washington Post
- Planning for a post-coronavirus economy must focus on racial inequities by Andre Perry and Nathalie Molina Niño for The Boston Globe
- Financial literacy is not the problem by Felix Salmon for Axios
How to Support SPECTRUM Entrepreneurs
SPECTRUM Virtual brought 35 innovative entrepreneurs to the event through our scholarship program. You’ll find their names and the names of their ventures here with links to their websites. Make an impact by investing in their work.
Do you know other innovators whose work we should be supporting? Nominate them to be included in this year’s 20 Game-Changing Founders of Color Annual List.
Next Steps
The conversations we started at SPECTRUM Virtual will continue. To hear about future SPECTRUM events, relevant sessions at SOCAP Virtual, and SOCAP 365 events featuring conversations on impact, access, and inclusion, please sign up for SOCAP’s email newsletter.
