Kerry Washington is one of the co-chairs of the Black Voices for Black Justice Fund.
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The latest ruling on the death of Breonna Taylor, which resulted in no officers being charged with any crimes related to her killing, prompted various responses. Writer, educator and political activist Brittany Packnett Cunninghams first inclination was to take action. She tweeted a thread of social justice accounts to follow, as well as bail funds and toolkits for her more than 300,000 followers to read and re-share.
Its that kind of initiative thats helped Packnett Cunningham, cofounder of the anti-police brutality project Campaign Zero and former co-host of the American political podcast Pod Save the People, earn funding as part of a new $10 million racial justice fund, backed by organizations including the Joe and Clara Tsai Foundation and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.
Launched today, the new Black Voices for Black Justice Fund was created to help support Black leaders like Packnett Cunningham and Black-owned businesses in their efforts to eradicate racism in America through work with voting rights, Covid-19 recovery and criminal justice reform.
Packnett Cunningham joins The Grio Senior Correspondent Natasha Alford, the Black Resilience Fund cofounder Cameron Whitten and 28 other recipients of the fund. This first cohort, who were chosen from a pool of public nominations, receive grants directly to allocate to the causes of their choosing.
After the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, we felt like we had to do something and something big, Robin Hood CEO and fund co-chair Wes Moore, told For(bes) The Culture via email. There seems to be more understanding in this moment about racial injustice, particularly among white Americans, and we want to see that increased interest work for real change.
Moores co-chairs are actress Kerry Washington and New Leaders CEO Jean Desravines. Tenicka Boyd, ACLU national organizing director and deputy political director, John B. King Jr., president and executive director of the National Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights and former secretary of education, and Shavar D. Jeffries, president of Education Reform Nowwere also involved in selecting the fund recipients.
“The Black Voices for Black Justice Fund recognizes incredible leaders who have been on the frontlines working to dismantle the deep-rooted, racist systems that have plagued our country for centuries,” Washington said in a statement. “Amplifying their voices and providing resources to these inspiring advocates is critical as we strive towards equity and racial justice in this country.”read more
Kerry Washington And Robin Hood CEO Wes Moore Among Leaders To Launch $10 Million Racial Justice Fund
