BLIS Collective

We'll be at SOCAP Global in two weeks alongside Akira Nakahara, Laura Callanan, and Ellen McGirt, discussing how we can transform the stories that undergird our inequitable economic, social, and political systems. One of the key papers we'll be weaving into our discussion highlights the connection between economic threats and racial attitudes. The study found that individuals, particularly white people, who experience economic anxiety are more likely to express negative attitudes toward racial groups. It found that economic and symbolic threats (like feeling your group's status is challenged) can reinforce each other -- meaning that people's racial attitudes and feelings of economic insecurity likely influence each other. ?? Some questions we’ll be exploring during the session: ? How do narratives around economic threats influence racial perceptions, and how can we reshape these stories to build more inclusive systems? ? What role does media and social media play in reinforcing or breaking down these negative perceptions? ? Can we create new stories that challenge long-held biases and help communities respond to economic threats without resorting to division? We’re excited to unpack these themes and more! Let’s challenge the status quo and think deeply about how changing the narrative can lead to real systems change. We'll link to the paper in the comments! Looking forward to seeing you there! ??? #SOCAP24 #SystemsChange #EconomicNarratives #RacialPerceptions #StorytellingForChange

Calling all women and gender-nonconforming filmmakers of color! We are partnering with Multitude Films and Brown Girls Doc Mafia (BGDM) to support REPARATIVE FUTURES, a groundbreaking series of short films exploring the transformative power of reparations in the United States. Four filmmakers will be selected and receive: ? A production budget of $20K–$35K ? A $7K director’s fee ? The creative collaboration and support of Multitude Films ? A 4-week edit to craft your vision Apply by Friday, November 15:bit.ly/ReparativeFutures We can't wait to see what you create!

Yesterday, today, and tomorrow, our resurgence is unshakable.

We are thrilled to announce that Antonia Belindo has joined the BLIS team as our new Operations and Project Manager! Antonia brings a wealth of experience in strategic management and a deep commitment to our work. As an artist, her work embodies the spirit of solidarity and love that we hold central to our organization's mission. In her own words, "Solidarity is taking the defiant steps towards a reality where love and justice reside for your fellow person." Please join us in welcoming Antonia as she steps into this role to help braid narratives and grow movements for our collective liberation!

Let’s riff on this metaphor for a second—if solidarity is the secret sauce, then it’s what brings all the flavors of justice, equity, and transformative change together into something more potent than the sum of its parts. Just like any great recipe, it takes time, care, and love to get the balance just right. It’s not just about a single ingredient but how they work together to elevate the dish. In our movements, solidarity amplifies our collective power, making every voice stronger and every action more impactful. We’re excited to tap into this conversation hosted by the Marguerite Casey Foundation, featuring amazing organizers and thought leaders like Dr. Carmen Rojas, Derecka Purnell, Astra Taylor, and Richard Wallace, who are paving the way for solidarity narratives to be woven throughout society. Tap in: https://lnkd.in/efPpDmmA

We are proud members of the New York State Cash Alliance, a coalition dedicated to advancing guaranteed income as a vital policy and narrative for our collective economic liberation. Guaranteed income challenges the status quo by advocating for a society where everyone has access to the financial resources needed to live with stability. As members of this alliance, we are looking forward to bridging narratives between the ongoing state and local reparations work and pushing for guaranteed income. https://lnkd.in/eFm5KccG

Imagine someone knocking on your front door, stealing your home, then charging you rent to stay there. Now, take a moment to let that sink in. This isn’t just a hypothetical—it’s a reality for many Indigenous communities in the United States today. In at least four states, according to Grist, five tribal nations find themselves in this exact situation. They are being forced to pay the state for access to over 57,000 acres of land within their own reservation borders. It's time to question: how is this just, and how can we continue to allow such a blatant disregard for Indigenous rights? The fight for land back isn't just about reclaiming physical spaces; it's about restoring justice, autonomy, and respect for the original stewards of this land. #LandBack #IndigenousRights #RestorationJustice https://lnkd.in/gvUntdxz

"Solidarity isn’t unity or sameness. Just as a body has a heart, arms, toes, and a spleen, each of which is wildly different from the next, so society is made up of radically diverse components that form a community. And while we are all different, our fates are linked. As?Eugene Debs?put it: “While there is a lower class, I am in it, while there is a criminal element, I am of it, and while there is a soul in prison, I am not free.” https://lnkd.in/efKZ6hpM

What does it mean to tell truly intersectional stories? How do we deepen the understanding of the Black reparations movement and the Indigenous Land Back movement across communities? These are some questions we explored in our partnership with Garrison Hayes to produce this video. The video, which has already amassed over 140k views and 30k likes on Garrison's TikTok, highlights how the intersections between slavery, colonization, and land theft - along with the opportunity in front of us to build power across movements. We're now partnering with Swayable to test how this video resonates with different audiences. Our goal? To leverage this research to help movements build power and explore creative ways to tell intersectional stories. Stay tuned for insights from our testing that we hope will contribute to the growth and alignment of transformative movements.

We are proud to be featured in The Washington Post this week, alongside our mentor and advisory board member Robin Rue Simmons of FirstRepair. Robin, who led the groundbreaking reparations initiative in Evanston, IL, emphasized, "We have a Black woman with a lived experience and a heart for the Black community." “I believe that Vice President Kamala Harris is the leader who will advance this conversation at the federal level.” As our co-founder, Trevor Smith, shared in the piece, "We can’t keep kicking it down the road. In 2020, we were all talking about racial justice and anti-Blackness because we all watched a Black man get murdered on video, it shouldn’t take that level of an atrocity for us to be able to have these conversations.” Regardless of who's in office, reparations for Black Americans must remain a priority. https://lnkd.in/ermrN6D7