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Designer
accelerating change, creating a radically just new world where communities of color thrive
  • criminal legal reform

    African Americans are incarcerated in state prisons at a rate that is 5.1 times the imprisonment of whites. In five states (Iowa, Minnesota New Jersey, Vernmont, and Wisconsin), the disparity is more than 10 to 1.
  • racial justice

    Since the Great Recession the gap between the black and white homeownership rates in the United States has increased to its highest level in 50 years, from 28.1% points in 2010 to 30.1% points in 2017. The 30.1% point gap is wider than it was when race-based discrimination against homebuyers was legal.

  • philanthropy

    A recent study on racial equity in philanthropy found that:

    • 92% of foundation presidents and 83% of full-time staff members are white
    • A $20 million funding gap exists in between White-led and Black-led organizations
  • lgbtq rights

    LGBTQ people, especially transgender people, are at high risk for unemployment. 44% of transgender people are unemployed or under-employed.
  • economic justice

    During the most recent economic downturn, median net worth declined by more for Black families (44.3% decline from 2007 to 2013) than for white families (26.1% decline). In fact, the ratio of white family wealth to Black family wealth is higher today than at the start of the century.
"our purupose is to accelerate the creation of a radically just new world"
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Values

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radical imagination

We are the freedom dreams of our ancestors and the architects of a future for the coming generations.
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Agency

We believe liberation demands people access their power to uphold the humanity and dignity of all people.
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Collective Action

We believe dismantling historic oppression requires collective and strategic action to create a radically just new world.
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shifting power

Communities of color have been systematically denied access to power. This includes power derived from organizing people, information and money. We recognize that organized power changes systems and systems must be reimagined and restructured to create more equity and justice. To do so, we use an organizing framework to shift power, so communities of color are self-defined and self-determined and systems are designed to ensure equity and justice for all.

Co-creating a just new world, requires a collective understanding of power and privilege and a willingness to shift power for the greater collective good. To do so, we root each engagement in an analysis of power and privilege, mutually agreed-upon values, and a vision for the work we will achieve together. To analyze power, we employ an intersectional framework, grounded in an understanding of race as an exponential multiplier of oppression and inequity. We also examine the implications of gender, sexuality, nationality, ability, age and class as drivers of inequity.

We understand that “power concedes nothing without a demand” (Fredrick Douglas) and shifting power requires risk and exponential growth. We commit ourselves to the co-creation of a radically just new world where communities of color thrive, because as Assata Shakur reminds us “we have nothing to lose but our chains.”

"converge uses an organizing framework to shift power so communities of color are self-defined & self-determined"
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Logo

The Converge logo is a stylized version of “Nsaa,” the Adinkra symbol for excellence and authenticity, two of Converge’s founding core values. It pays homage to the power and resiliency of the Black people who helped build the South and embedded Adinkra symbols throughout the historic and remarkable iron work of New Orleans as an act of cultural resistance.
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Ethical Procurement

Consistent with its commitment to advancing racial equity, Converge seeks to spend its money with businesses that are led by people of color, pay livable wages, and align with our values and purpose.

Consistent with our commitment to advancing racial equity, Converge seeks to ensure that we contract with vendors and service providers based on ethical procurement criteria. We seek out vendors as partners that are e.g. led by people of color, pay livable wages, and align with our core values and purpose. Whenever possible, Converge purchases materials and services that are sourced locally from local, minority-owned businesses. This includes office supplies, memberships, technical solutions, and various other products utilized within our business.

Converge is a proud member of the New Orleans Regional Black Chamber of Commerce.

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