who we are

 

WHO WE ARE

The Black Futures Lab is an innovation and experimentation lab focused on new ways of engaging Black communities civically and building our capacity to be powerful in politics. We close the gap between our communities and the tools we need to build power.

Are you ready to join us?

Our Strategy

To make Black communities powerful in politics we:

Educate, Activate, And Motivate Black Voters

Build The Capacity Of And Invest In Black Organizing Infrastructure

Collect And Use Relevant Data To Transform Our Communities

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Why Now? Why Us?

 If we’ve learned anything from recent years, it’s that collective Black power is key to improving our communities and our lives. Despite the obstacles we face—state violence, mass incarceration, voter suppression, and disproportionate poverty—increased power for our communities is within our grasp. Most importantly, building power must come from us and by us: we know what we want, we know what we need, and we have the resources in our neighborhoods to build Black political power.

We engage Black voters over the long term, we empower Black voters to shape the policy discussions that affect our lives, and we energize a new generation of leaders, officials, and decision makers who care about issues facing Black communities. We experiment with policy solutions and community alternatives that can be put into place at the local and state level.

And we will know we have achieved success when Black people are making decisions on our own behalf, when we are represented by people who have our best interests at the forefront of the policy agenda, when our communities are actively and consistently engaged, and when the conditions in our communities allow Black people to thrive.

This is why we built the Black Futures Lab.

We help build our power, amplify our power, and direct our power.

Is This The Same Thing As #BlackLivesMatter?

Black Futures Lab founder, Alicia Garza, helped create Black Lives Matter in 2013. We are a proud supporter of the Black Lives Matter Global Network, a chapter-based, member-led organization whose mission is to build local power and to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and a proud supporter of the powerful Movement for Black Lives, a coalition of more than 50 organizations representing thousands of Black people from across the country that have come together to articulate a common vision and agenda.  We believe in the power of Black people to change our own conditions and support BLM’s goals to “support the development of new Black leaders, as well as to create a network where Black people feel empowered to determine our destinies in our communities.”

The Black Futures Lab is focused on collaborating with Black people, Black elected officials, and Black community-based organizations to build political and legislative power in order to get us closer to having the communities and political power we deserve.

How Do I Get Involved? How Does My Organization Get Involved?