BLIS Collective

“To mobilize the abandoned working class, we need to revive the idea of solidarity,” Robin D.G Kelley states, and later goes on to say “We have to revive the idea of solidarity, and this requires a revived class politics: not a politics that evades the racism and misogyny that pervades American life but one that confronts it directly.” Which is why we’re building a solidarity-based narrative infrastructure. We know Trumpism isn’t just a political project; it’s a narrative project (and a successful one thus far), rooted in the very real grievances against neoliberalism. Our response therefore must be emotional, cultural, and deeply collective. The infrastructure we’re building will directly confront our very real racial and class hierarchy and organize around transformative solutions that repair the harms of the past and create a future where the well-being of all people is our national priority. We’re launching key programs this year to achieve this. Stay tuned. https://lnkd.in/eZ7qDRj2

Our co-founder, Trevor Smith, was recently quoted in The Guardian: “California has provided incredible inspiration,” said New York City-based reparations organizer Trevor Smith, co-founder of the community organization BLIS Collective.” As the movement for reparations continues to gain traction across the country, we're reminded that local action can and will spark national momentum. California's work is a powerful example and an invitation to dream bolder. At BLIS we’re accepting that invitation and braiding together the movements for reparations, Land Back, guaranteed income, and baby bonds, rooting our strategy in narrative, culture, and solidarity. Because repair isn’t a moment, it’s a commitment to each other—and to a future rooted in our collective well-being. https://lnkd.in/gMbcQvnG

A big aspect of our research is to listen deeply. So, we're inviting Indigenous and Afro-Indigenous activists, organizers, and changemakers to participate in intimate focus group conversations exploring how social movements and economic justice policies show up in your life—and in the lives of your communities. Session Details: ? 90-minute online conversation ? 3–6 participants per group ? $50/hour compensation ? Your experiences, wisdom, and vision will be centered throughout We hope you’ll join us in this space for reflection, connection, and truth-telling. Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/eAvGmjPg Thank you in advance to those who sign up!

MUST LISTEN: ?? Since 1776, the U.S. government has tried to systematically erase Native people and culture. But with the rise of the internet, Native creators are flipping the script—using memes, jokes, threads, and community to reclaim the narrative, fight back, and remind folks:?we’re still here. Our co-founder, Savannah Romero joined an incredible panel of Native comedians and entertainment pros for SXSW to talk about how humor, shitposting, and digital organizing—from #NoDAPL to?Reservation Dogs—have become powerful tools of resistance and resurgence. From laughing through the pain to building real-world solidarity, this convo was everything! ?? https://lnkd.in/eMXJhN4M

One time for our Poets for Liberation! ?????? As Toni Cade Bambara said, “The role of the artist is to make the revolution irresistible.” At BLIS Collective, we know that liberation isn’t just about policy shifts—it’s about cultural shifts, about storytelling that reclaims history, and about art that moves people into action. That’s why we’re thrilled to welcome our Poets for Liberation Fellows into the BLIS ecosystem! This year, Italy Ja’Rae Lee, Somah Toya Haaland, and Delaney Jocelyn will explore the role of social identity in 21st-century liberation movements, asking: What does it mean to be a poet for liberation? They’ll craft origin poems on solidarity, reparations, land back, guaranteed income, and baby bonds, integrating their work into the coalition-building and policy advocacy we lead in New York. They’re not just writing—they’re weaving poetry into movement spaces, ensuring the words of the people are heard where decisions are made. Poets have always been truth-tellers, memory-keepers, and agitators for change. We can’t wait to see how these artists will shape the narrative landscape of liberation. Join us in celebrating their voices and this next step in BLIS’ commitment to braiding culture, narrative, and policy for collective power.

Join us at SXSW this weekend for an evening of radical solidarity!

Are you an artist, writer, organizer, or cultural strategist in D.C.? We're calling on creative minds and movement builders to contribute to a special Washington D.C. edition of one of our cultural products, Reparations Daily (ish). We're thrilled to partner with local organizers, strategists, and iF, A Foundation for Radical Possibility, to create a special D.C. edition of our print zine as an organizing tool. We're looking for work that explores: ?? D.C.'s history of racial injustice, resistance, and reparations. ?? The legacy of slavery in the District. ?? The fight for D.C. statehood. ?? Intergenerational visions of a reparative future. ?? Stories of grassroots organizing, community power, and healing. ? Why get involved? ? ?? Your work was featured in a widely circulated zine, amplifying the call for reparations. ?? A stipend for selected contributors. ?? A chance to collaborate with a network of artists, writers, and movement leaders. ?? The opportunity to shape narratives that push reparations from conversation to policy. Interested folks should fill out this interest form by March 10: https://lnkd.in/eNzzHmQr

Black History Month is a time to honor the voices that have shaped our collective story—voices that challenge, inspire, and build new futures. Poetry has long been at the heart of our movements, a force of both resistance and renewal. That’s why we’re thrilled to see Baratunde Thurston uplifting one of our first poet fellows, Italy Lee, a storyteller whose work embodies the radical imagination and truth-telling that this moment calls for. Poetry is not just art; it is a weapon against erasure, a bridge across generations, and a vision for what’s possible. It reminds us that our history is not just something to be remembered—it is something we are still writing. Join us in celebrating the power of poetry this Black History Month and beyond. Drop a poem that moves you in the comments, and let’s keep this tradition of radical creativity alive.

?? Big news! Our very first BLIS Collective member, Brea Baker just hit The Breakfast Club to talk about her book, Rooted: The American Legacy of Land Theft and the Modern Movement for Black Land Ownership, where she gave us and one our coalitions, New Yorkers for Reparations, a powerful shoutout. Over the next few months we’ll be recruiting our founding collective members, but what does it mean to be a member of the BLIS Collective? Well, Brea breaks it down pretty simply: movement and cultural leaders who refuse to be pitted against each other. Members will practice solidarity together, co-create a long-term cultural strategy for our collective liberation, and have access to the Radical Collaboration Fund—designed to push back against the competitive dynamics that capitalism and philanthropy perpetuate. We’re building a new transformative narrative across society, grounded in solidarity — and we need folks like Brea, and folks like you to help us win. Stay tuned for more….

The BLIS Collective is thrilled to kick off the year with our first webinar: "The Fabric of Repair: Braiding Narratives of Liberation for Black and Indigenous Movements." ?? When: February 19th, 3:00 - 4:30 PM ET ?? Where: Virtual This webinar goes beyond conversation—it’s an opportunity to: ?? Share updates on our ongoing research efforts. ?? Dive into our agenda for advancing reparative and redistributive policies. ?? Collectively build cultural consensus around justice, repair, and liberation. Our Esteemed Panelists Include: Camilla Griffiths, PhD, BLIS Collective Savannah Romero, BLIS Collective Nick Tilsen, NDN Collective Kavon Ward, Where Is My Land Garrison Hayes, Mother Jones Together, we’ll dive into how Black and Indigenous movements can advance narratives of liberation and repair in a time when solidarity is more critical than ever. ?? RSVP today to secure your spot: https://lnkd.in/ek_snfE3