Gathering in Power: Open Horizon’s Commitment to BIPOC Affinity Spaces and Leadership

This article is written by Open Horizon Executive Director, D'Lynn Jacobs

The benefits of affinity spaces are clearly measurable and the brilliance of them is that the returns are deeper and more expansive than one could plan for.

On Saturday, Nov. 1, Open Horizon convened our BIPOC leaders for a gathering in DC. Affinity spaces can be deeply nourishing and coupled with some delicious food, the communion was precisely that! We had 12 humans present, sharing libations, and nibbling on some bomb Jamaican food. The ED for OH arrived early (per her Spelman training) to find a text from one of the cousins, ED of DC Justice Lab, Patrice Amandla Sulton , asking where she was and inviting her to the office around the corner before the event. D’Lynn scooted over there and enjoyed an inspiring and fun impromptu site visit of what might possibly be the most fierce office space and community.?

The time with BIPOC leaders fostered deeper connections. Made introductions across leaders of organizations in informal ways that might just be the foundation for future collaborations across our partners. We even got to cheer hooray for our newest cousins, iFLY , an organization that sends middle school girls from the DMV? overseas to introduce them to international travel resulting in greater confidence and broadened horizons!?

When folx eat and feed their tummies together, we think it can also help feed our souls. We loved the meal and excellent service at St. James restaurant ; we traveled to Jamaica through their spices and delicious drinks (did you know Jamaica is named for the hibiscus flower- jamaica in Spanish?! A fun fact connected to not so fun colonization.) We selected this restaurant as it aligned with our policy affirming our prioritization of seeking and selecting BIPOC vendors.?

Each partner received 2 randomized affirmation cards from the “I am everything” deck and was tasked with discerning which one was meant for them and which one was meant for a peer. Each handed one to a peer ….?We hope our cousins feel cared for by us and each other.? We loved hearing the updates for what’s happening in everyone’s worlds and noting where you’re having similar successes and challenges. We also loved seeing the baby photos and Halloween costumes and hearing updates about the big kids in college.?

It is important for us at Open Horizon to foster spaces of affinity to be sure that our BIPOC partners feel seen, heard and witnessed in their experiences as leaders of non-profits- often leading life changing, love guided, culturally competent social sector work. When humans are fortified in their truth, they realize their power to move with and toward purpose. We center the organizing principle of “power-with” not power over; our Black leadership at OH feels seen and affirmed in their identity with this connection too.

In this month often focusing on gratitude, we start the days of autumn and times of harvest, grateful for our BIPOC cousins. The melanin is poppin' and it’s beyond beautiful! ?? Our goal of fostering connection as we build the world we want to see was met with extensive humbling returns.

Our next affinity quarterly gathering will be planned for March 2025 following the built in affinity programming for cousins attending the 2025 leaders retreat in January.