Michael Baran, PhD

What makes us think we can counter evangelical narratives in Western Africa, if we do not invest toward that goal 🌍 As highlighted in Amy Fallon's article in Devex today, the surge in anti-gay laws in Africa underscores the critical need for strategic donor funding. The reality is that while evangelical groups influence local politics, the #LGBTQ+ movement and its donors must invest more in countering these narratives and supporting local initiatives. The Global Philanthropy Project, Inc. shows that global LGBTQ+ funding increased by over $16 million — 3% — reaching $576 million in 2020, but only $184 million was allocated to the global south. This underfunding highlights the need for greater investment in LGBTQ+ causes globally. “The reality is that U.S. evangelicals do influence Christian politicians in these places, while we, the LGBTQ+ movement and donors, are not spending money to counter these narratives,” [Houdart] said. As LGBTQ+ activists in Africa await legal challenges to anti-gay laws in Uganda and Ghana, Western donors are urged to increase funding for the movement, develop compelling narratives to support rights in the global south and counter Western evangelical influence. 🔗 Read the full article by Amy Fallon for a comprehensive look at the challenges and needs of African LGBTQ+ activists. 🔖 #GenderEquality #LGBTQRights #GlobalDevelopment #NoOneLeftBehind #InclusiveDevelopment https://lnkd.in/eEd3dJvK

18

This week, as we head back to the Super Bowl of Black Policy—CBCF Week in DC—I’m reminded by this Season 1 clip of how complex it is to be an entrepreneur, a social impact strategist and Black. In unique ways, traditional business models and frameworks weren’t created with our success in mind. As a strategist, my mind is always trying to figure out the following: 1. How can we design parallel catalytic movements to ensure that on the other side of pitch competitions and accelerators, mass wealth is a possibility for the majority, not just the unicorns? 2. And speaking of unicorns, is that mindset really helping or exacerbating the current business conditions which historically have excluded marginalized communities? 3. And because innovation is often a response to both curiousity and need, how can we better shine the many ways our communities problem solve—even if they don’t look shiny or polished? Excited that so many of you have joined us on this journey! And looking forward to recording “From Chains to Links” Season 2 with even more brilliant minds this week in DC at The Gathering Spot. #BIAontheHill #ALC53 #CBCF #podcast #innovation

34

6 Comments

Huge parallels to our work in RINGO to re-imagine how international civil society organisations can relate in new, more equal ways with majority world CSOs. #shiftthepower #RINGO West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI)

6

1 Comment

How do we get systems to shift radically enough to actually serve human beings as humans? We dream bigger. You’re really gonna love this week’s episode of Black Innovation Alliance (BIA) “From Chains to Links” with the ever magical strategy and culture team Intelligent Mischief. Some things we touch on include how we: 1. Make dreaming an active part of tech liberation and social transformation 2. Understand both ancestral and future intelligence to respond to the present moment 3. Create alternative language and narratives to help us move radically different and reshape our world. Honestly, sometimes I don’t know if Kelly Burton, PhD and I are working or playing, but this episode reminded me of the impact of a dreaming team. BIA is literally a Dream Team, yall. And dreams are key to change! Full link shared in the comment! #podcast #youtube #ChainstoLinks #innovation #entrepreneurship #tech #AI

20

4 Comments

So why is a white accountability space necessary? Our next one is this Wednesday 20 November 7-9pm online. 🔑In short, we meet as a collective with a shared intention to understand better how whiteness affects our lives and in doing so aim to challenge its salience. I dislike the term “ally” - it may describe what some people are doing but, I find it patronising and with power dynamics embedded and attached. This is not a space to ally anyone. I encourage people in the space to question: who are you doing anti-racist work for? 🌱For me anti-racism as a praxis is a commitment to making life more humane. It is feminist, it’s comitted to equity, it’s committed to positive action and is anti-oppressive as a way of being. For life. It is not just during the presentation you deliver about anti-racism - it encompasses every area of your life. Anti-racism is not suddenly switched on when a Black or Brown person walks into the room or is employed in your organisation. It is active and dynamic. It requires you to question your practice and ways of interacting, looking at your motives and what your gain from not noticing racism or staying silent. 🐾Until white people understand the damage that whiteness has done to everyone, ancestrally, and continues to do to through socialisation we are unlikely to be able to resource ourselves to change it. 🌎People raised in the west or in settler colonial states have inherited and are socialised into perverse levels of greed, a deep rooted desire for competition and superiority, normalised sexual violence, an unhealthy resistance to empathy and a deep investment in capitalism. These drivers can be seen across most western governments and even legislated and protected as human rights and framed as equality. 👥As people who share close proximity to whiteness, it takes some work to resist such norms in your life. We don’t work in ways that are self punishing or re-traumatise, but in a supportive and transparent way which is healthy and honest. 👉🏼I certainly struggle against these white norms as a white woman - the accountability session enables a space to re-centre and realign against the challenges of these socially accepted norms. ⛑️These social patterns normalise racism, infecting the next generation with habits and behaviours that corrupt and create destructive societies, but they can be healed and stopped. I don’t practise anti-racism for anyone other than for my soul because I can see the damage it is doing. It might seem like repackaged interest convergence but this is my take! ✨Join us if you need a space to consider how to show up as an anti-racist in your life and work. This month we meet on Wednesday 20th November 7-9pm.

1

This deeply researched article by Te-Ping Chen at the The Wall Street Journal sheds light on the current state of work loneliness in America (and likely the rest of the world too). I was glad to contribute background perspective and information to the piece. As you will read, the picture is both simple and complicated. What is simple is making the case for why work loneliness is a problem. Evidence of the physical and mental health effects, as well as the impact on company bottom lines, has mounted. So has evidence that loneliness is widespread and persistent, despite returns to in-person work. What is complicated is what to do about it. Requiring more days in the office or offering occasional social events won't solve this problem. I commend the organizations featured in the article who are trying creative solutions like Peoplehood. I also endorse the small steps advocated by researchers Sarah Wright and Jessica R. Methot. Engaging in chit chat with people you encounter in your daily work life, whether in-person or virtually, can make a positive difference. For example, I always appreciate George, who greets entrants to the parking garage at the Questrom School of Business, Boston University with a smile and his latest sunrise photos. It's a wonderful form of connection. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gsSWrFHn

30

7 Comments

New publication alert! First research article in an “A level” top quality journal; in this case it will be published in Organization. My new research study explores strategies by African, male immigrants as they organize and navigate organizations in the West. Blending the French language with the English language into two versions, I am building on my own experiences as a black man navigating top institutions. This research intellectualizes African communal practices while integrating content from Frantz Fanon and the popular Lupin series on Netflix!

72

21 Comments

A lot of us have opinions about supposed big shifts occurring in our sector and having an effect on charitable giving. For some time now, I have made the argument that one of the most consequential shifts is that of the donor behaving more like a citizen rather than a consumer. Where we can see this shift is in the donor’s decision making process - they are moving away from impulsive, less informed decisions to intentional, more informed decisions. The reasoning behind this shift is simple: impulsive decisions usually get the best of us. Earlier this week, I had conversations with several salespeople about replacing the heat pump in our home. What was notable about my first conversation was how much the process relied on my consumer impulses. The salesperson was candid about their pricing strategy, admitting that their products didn't differ significantly in quality from competitors, but that their prices would be at the top end of the spectrum. Sensing our reluctance to make a hasty decision, the salesperson opted not to provide a quote, revealing a business model that has been built entirely on exploiting impulsive consumer behavior. #responsivefundraising #linkedintopvoices

19

3 Comments

And another one! Sharing this amazing research study by Akua Cosby, M.A. It focuses on Black women executives, intersectionality and the barriers they face as they prioritize well-being If you meet the criteria you know what to do! Complete the form: https://lnkd.in/gYfS_eUc #Intersectionality #WellBeing #BlackWomen

27

1 Comment

Why should nonprofits and NGOs disclose their lack of progress on #DEI? This HBR article offers sound reasons why corporations should do so, and I see no reason why it would be different for social sector organizations. Note: disclosing your lack of progress engenders *more* trust and reinforces the impression that your organization is genuine about its DEI commitment. This may 'feel' counterintuitive, but is all the more insightful. And given that our sector's external transparency (on DEI and some other variables) in general already seems quite uneven - and in tension with how we say to want to hold other sectors accountable --, all the more reason to pay attention:

8

Soooo....if we wanted to create a Global DEI collective to: ✊🏽 Connect theory with practice ✊🏽 To fund data and research on proven DEI strategies across various environments ✊🏽 To be a source of collective support and political drive ✊🏽 To create a body of knowledge, industry data, code of ethics and other resources in the DEI space ✊🏽 To provide organizers and activists with the support they need in their community ✊🏽 To have the numbers and power by building coalitions of DEI-centered practice globally How do we get started in the radical creativity of it? How do we create the first coalition to build this? I want to do this but I can't do it alone. A lot of us feel this way. We can't do this alone. We need community and those willing to build and grow it. Where is everyone? Are all of us fighting for our lives out here? Why haven't we seen a group of practitioners, researchers, and thought leaders build something like this? We need to have an honest discussion of why this is not happening. I don't presume to know all the answers so I'm truthfully asking why. Asking for a friend.

11

14 Comments

PEPFAR in the crosshairs, again First, the landmark initiative known as the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief failed to secure the five-year reauthorization that development advocates had hoped for. Instead it got a one-year reauthorization, signaling potentially waning interest in the U.S. Congress for a program credited with saving 25 million lives over the last 20 years. Now, its future is further clouded by funding cuts. Politico revealed that the Biden administration intends to chop PEPFAR funding by more than 6% in fiscal 2025. The State Department confirmed the cuts. “The department has gradually spent down a glut in the PEPFAR budget from years in which funding from Congress exceeded State’s ability to spend it,” wrote Politico's Carmen Paun. “Now the glut is gone and Congress in March held the program’s $4.4 billion budget flat.” It’s another blow for PEPFAR, especially after the program became caught up in America’s culture wars — with Republicans accusing it of funding abortions, even though U.S. law prohibits this. The one-year reprieve that eventually passed got mixed reviews, with some applauding the compromise and others warning it sets a dangerous precedent of politicizing the program. Now, supporters are bracing for more turmoil. “PEPFAR continues to be the greatest driver of public health impact — not just in the AIDS response but across global health,” Mitchell Warren, executive director of the HIV prevention nonprofit AVAC, wrote to Devex. “Sadly, the current political and economic realities in the US and globally jeopardize more than two decades of progress. These fiscal pressures are not new; the US's global HIV budget, including PEPFAR, has been flat funded for over a decade — which amounts to a decline in annual spending power — and that's not how we achieve 2030 targets,” Mitchell said. “The progress to date, which is remarkable overall, has been uneven across countries and across populations, and now it is critical that advocates, policy makers and national governments work with PEPFAR (and the Global Fund) to get specific and strategic about how to ensure past gains are not lost and that the ambitious targets can actually be met,” he added. “It is up to Congress in FY25 appropriations to robustly resource PEPFAR to help the world meet our community’s 2030 targets.”  U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator Dr. John Nkengasong, who leads PEPFAR, will be one of the luminaries speaking at Devex World. Join us on Oct. 24 in Washington, D.C., at Studio Theater to connect with leaders shaping the future of global development. Save your spot now.

7

Staying the course on this podcast journey

7

1 Comment

We continue to make awareness on equitable inclusion of Black Entrepreneurs in the Economy through the following: a. Credit Amnesty b. Tax Amnesty c. Access to sustainable markets d. Capacity development and mentorship

3

Yet another woman leader of color is pulled down. Please share this widely. The recent uproar over the leadership changes at Women in Global Health (WGH) underscores some of the challenges women of color leaders face, Including unjust treatment and lack of due process. The abrupt dismissal of co-founder and Executive Director Dr. Roopa Dhatt Dhatt without due process and transparency highlights the systemic issues women of color face in leadership positions. As reported, this action has caused immense damage to her reputation and the movement she helped build. Let's say ENOUGH to made-up charges, lack of due process, and the silence of risk-averse entities around us. Talk about equity is easy—walking the walk is what counts! The silence out of fear of being outcasted from professional growth has kept too many people, especially women of color, from speaking out against oppressive practices. It is incredibly challenging for women to climb the ladder to leadership roles, and once there, they are often left unsupported. Dr. Roopa Dhatt is a leader I have known since the beginning of WGH's journey, from its founding to becoming a force for global impact. Unfortunately, too many are struggling alone. It is time to break the silence, bring the issues to the public square, form collaborations for support, and hold organizations accountable. Allies, funders, board members, and women of color themselves need to come together to ensure that women of color in leadership are not just token figures but are genuinely supported and empowered to lead effectively. It is time to walk the talk of social justice and equity. #WomenInLeadership #SupportWomenOfColor #Equity #SocialJustice #Leadership

62

14 Comments

Through years of research into racism, it is clear that more resources are needed to support white people undertaking #DEI work. I don’t mean for the day, the project or the #coaching session… I mean to support people who seek a genuine life changing approach to how we live, who we are and how we choose to be. Everyday. My #research shows that to stop investing in and benefiting from #Whiteness is a persistent challenge. Especially if you are #leading in the #institution. #Leadership certainly posed challenges for me! When the world (media, politics, funding) reflects why people should invest in proximity to whiteness and rewards you for it, it is not easy to take a different path. Decades of research shows that maintaining boundaries to challenge #inequity in the family and at work requires network and soldiarity. You need a consistent container, not just friends and relatives. White accountability spaces are there for you to bring current challenges and think with others on what challenges #race brings up in your life. For many white folks this is brand new triggering work. Having a container space for processing and examining whiteness is a must. There are #therapeutic #techniques to learn, there are solidarities and perspectives to hear. White folks generally avoid proactive and open conversations about race - in these spaces you get to practise and dig into what comes up. The outcomes will mean: - you will process #emotions before you raise your thoughts and questions with global majority folks (avoiding doing harm) - you will reflect on you, first, privately - you will have more options and perspectives about race to think through - you will get out of “freeze” and “flee” and begin to feel ok about being uncomfortable when speaking about race - you continue to understand and take responsibility for your own racism and how it intersects with your other #identities. Here is the link to book -

2