August/September 2019 WI Bridge

THE W ASHINGTON INFORM ER

Augus t /Sept ember201 9.Vol ume5.I s s ue8

BRI DGE A DAYI N THELI FE:MI NUTEI NTERVI EWSATTHEUBI QUI TI OUSHAI REXPO BUI LDI NG W EALTH W I TH YOURMI ND BEFOREYOURBANKACCOUNT WI TH ASHLEYFOXOFEMPI FY|POLI TI CS,BUTMAKEI TNASTY ASHLEYBLAI N FEATHERSON :DI VI NEALI GNMENT

W omenf r om al lovert heDMV gat her edt oget herf ort he6t hAnnual Ubi qui t i ousW omen’ sExpo,whi ch f eat ur ed wor kshops,di scussi on panel s ,anar r ayofpr oduct sand i l l ust r i ousguest sf r om t hebeaut y, hai r ,andheal t hi ndust r i esonAugust24t h&25t h.

Web:wi br i dgedc. com Emai l :I nf o@W I Br i dgeDC. com ADVERTI SEW I TH US!

2

@W I BRI DGEDC

Publ i s her:Laf ayet t eBar nesI V Edi t or:Cl audi aWat t s Phot ogr aphyEdi t or:Fat i maSyed La youtDes i gn:Laf ayet t eBar nesI V Phot ogr aphy:Ja’ MonJacks on,Fat i maSyed, St evens onOpoku,Del anoMckenzi e r i but i ngWr i t er s:Cher r el l eSwai n,Chr i s t opherHar r i s Cont Cl audi aWat t s ,Sas ki aKer cy

A D a y i n t h e L i f e Mi nut eI nt er vi ewsatUbi qui t i osHai rExpo W or ds Chr i s t opherHar r i s|I G:@pr i ncehar r i s

Phot ogr aphy Ja’ MonJacks on|I G:@j gys zn

Jus tf ouryear saf t erl eavi ng Howar d Uni ver s i t y’ sWas hi ngt on D. C.campus , Zor aNeal eHur s t onpennedoneofhermos ts emi nales s ays ,“ How i tFeel st o BeCol or edMe. ”Wi t hi nt het ext ,whi chwasor i gi nal l ypubl i s hedi nTheWor l d Tomor r ow,Hur s t ondes cr i beswhati twasl i ke[ f orher ]t obebl acki nt heear l y 1 900s . “ ButIam nott r agi cal l y col or ed, ” Hur s t on wr ot e.“ Ther ei sno gr eats or r ow dammedupi nmys oul ,norl ur ki ngbehi ndmyeyes .Idonotmi ndatal l . . .

Even i nt hehel t er s kel t ers ki r mi s ht hati smyl i f e, Ihaves eent hatt hewor l di st ot he s t r ongr egar dl es sofal i t t l epi gment at i onmor eorl es s .No,Idonotweepat t hewor l dIam t oobus ys har peni ngmyoys t erkni f e. ” Near l y ni net y year sl at er ,How have t hi ngs changed f orbl ack women i n Amer i ca? AsWas hi ngt onD. C.boas t soneoft hel ar ges tpopul at i onsofbl ack women i nt he count r y,The Br i dge deci ded t os t op by The Ubi qui t ous Women’ sExpo t o find outexact l yhow i tf eel st o beabl ackwomani nt he DMV.

Er i nAr nes,24 Jus tbecaus eoft hef actt hatD. C.i sahubf or pol i t i cs ,i ti sver ydi ver s e….you' r egoi ngt os ee al otofwhi t e peopl e,i fyou' r ei n Sout heas t , you' r egoi ngt os eeawhol el otofbl ackpeopl e, i fyou' r ei nBl adens bur g,you' r egoi ngt os eea whol el ot of l at i nx peopl e.So,i t ki nd of depends on wher e you ar ei nt he ci t y.I per s onal l yhaven' tr eal l yexper i enced ordeal t wi t hanypr ej udi ce.I ’ m al s oapar toft hequeer communi t y. . .

If eel , i ngener al , bei ngaper s onof col ori nt hi st i me and day i t ' s ver y di fficul t movi ng t hr ough l i f e and havi ng t of earany t ype ofpr ej udi ce f r om anyone on any gi ven dayi t ' schal l engi ngbutD. C.hasdonei t sbes t .

Al exPr oct or ,1 3 I ti samazi ng.Il ove l i vi ng i nt he DMV ar ea becaus e Ij us ts ee s o many beaut i f ulbr owns ki nwomenandweal ll oveeachot her .

Ir eal l yj us twantgi r l s t ol ovet hems el vesandIdon' tr eal l yl i kewhengi r l sgetpi ckedonorbul l i ed f orhow t heyl ookorf orhavi nghai rt hati s‘ nappi er . ’ i nes si sCur l i ni s t aandIwantt ot eachgi r l syou' r ebeaut i f ul ,nomat t er Mybus how youl ook.Wes el lacur lcr eam,det angl er ,andacur lcus t ar d.

3

Br i t t anyW i l l i ams,29 I thasi t supsanddowns-upsbei ngbas i cal l y wear eal mos t1 00% bl acki t ' sdefini t el yal otof l oveher ef ors ur e,butwecel ebr at eeachot her wemakes ur ewes uppor teachot her ,j us tl i ke wear eher eatt heexpo.I tcanhavei t sdowns becaus e oft he pol i ce br ut al i t y.I t ’ s notj us t men,i t ’ swoment oo. twat chal otofnewsanymor e.A l otof Idon' my f r i ends get pul l ed over and get t hi ngs pl ant edont hem bycopsofdi ffer entr acesand i tj us ts houl dn' thappen.

Mayi aBr anch,27 I ti sabl es s i ngandi t ’ sal s opr es s ur e.Youhave t os t and up f orwhatyou bel i eve i n.Ther e' s pr es s ur e due t o s oci al medi a l ooki ng at s t andar ds f or what peopl el ook l i ke.Il ove bei ngbl ack.

Iwoul dbemadi fIwas n’ t , t hef act t hatt hey’ r emad,Iwoul dbemadt oo.I t ' saj ob i ni t s el f .gent r i ficat i oni st aki ngpl aces ot hey’ r e t r yi ngt opus husout . andwe' r el i ke‘ no' weai nt goi nganywher e. ’wegot t ar epr es ent .

Themai ni s s uewaswhent heyt r i edt ot el l ust o t ur nourmus i coff-numberonet hi ng, youwi l l notmut eD. C.

Jal i sa&Janel l eOdom,22&1 9 Jal i s a:It hi nki t ' sempower i ng t ol i ve i n D. C.becaus et her e' ss o much cul t ur e.I t ’ sver y di ver s e,you can be expos ed t o al otof di ffer entwal ksofl i f eandpr of es s i ons .I tdoeshavei t scons ,bei ng abl ackwoman, butIt hi nkt hat ' st hes amef oranywher e.

Youhave t owor kt wi ceashar dt opr oveyour s el formeetcer t ai ns t andar ds over al l .It hi nk i t ' s good becaus e oft he acces s ,expos ur e and cul t ur e.

Janel l e:I tcan be har ds omet i mes .You al ways have t o pr ove your s el f ,es peci al l yatHowar d.Peopl et her ear eont hehi gherend oft hi ngs .

Iwoul ddefini t el ys ayki ndofbougi e, al i t t l ebi t .

Hones t l y, t r yi ng t o be yourbes t— noteven t he bougi es i de ofi t ,t he educat i onals t andar d and [ t hes t andar d]j us tbei ng as ucces s f ul bl ackper s oni ss ohi gh.

Tr yi ngt owor khar d, buti tal s opus hesyou att hes amet i me.

4

W or ds Sas ki aKer cy |I G:@s as ki aker cy

Phot ogr aphy Fat i maSyed |I G:@f at i fil m

Po l i t i c s , b ut Mak eI t Nas t y

TheHowar d Law gr aduat ei sl ooki ng t os hakeup t heci t ywi t hpr ogr es s i ve pol i cyr ef or m andcr eat eoppor t uni t i est hatel evat eandempowerwomen.

“W e’ r e ata pl ace wher et her e has t o be a st r ong i ndependentvoi ce, speci f i cal l y a st r ong i ndependentwoman’ svoi ce,who i s‘ unboughtand unbossed’and wi l l i ng t of i ghtf orf ami l i esand women i nt hi sci t y, ”s ays Lewi s Geor ge.“Ther ei s an absol ut e ur gency i n ourci t yf ora young, pr ogr essi vewomanofcol ort ohaveavoi ceonourcounci l . ” Sur el y,women ofcol orhave pr oven t o be par amounti nt he evol ut i on of Amer i ca and t he t r aj ect or y of pol i t i cal l eader s hi p. Ami d t he r i s e of movement sl i keShet hePeopl e,Bl ackLi vesMat t er ,and#MeToo,Democr at i c pr es i dent i alcandi dat esl i keJoeBi denandKamal aHar r i shaveal s omadei ta poi ntt odes i gnat ewomenofcol orast hedr i ver soft hei rcampai gns .

The er a oft he Bl ack woman i supon us( and so ar e hercr i t i cs) .Acr os s movement s ,i ndus t r i es ,and s ect or s wher e women of col or have been hi s t or i cal l yunder r epr es ent ed,agr owi ngnumberofwomenhavebeendar i ng t ol ever age t hei rpl at f or ms as mechani s ms f orr edefini ng womanhood.I n par t i cul ar ,t henumberofwomenel ect edt of eder alofficehasi ncr eas ed,wi t h t he1 1 6t hCongr es shavi ng t hehi ghes tper cent ageofwomeni nU. S.hi s t or y.

Thi svi ct or y hasnotcome wi t houti t ss har e ofr es i s t ance,asmany i nt he count r yhavet akent os oci al medi at os har et hei rdi s appr oval oft hi snew wave ofpol i t i cs .

Pr es i dentTr ump has been a commi t t ed and l oyalcr i t i c ofwomen,of t en r ef er r i ng t o pr omi nentfigur esas“ nas t y. ” Not abl e“ nas t y”women i ncl ude Denmar k Pr i me Mi ni s t erMet t e Fr eder i ks en,Speakeroft he Hous e Nancy Pel os i ,andDuches sofSus s exMeghanMar kl e,amongot her s .

Onbot hl ocalandf eder all evel s ,mor ewomenofcol orhavebecomevi s i bl ei n t hepol i t i calar enaandar epr ovi ngt hei rgr i twhi l ei npur s ui tofj us t i ce.Uni que t omanyci t i esacr os st hecount r y,D. C.i sr epr es ent edbyanumberoff emal e l eader sofcol or ,f r om MayorBows ert oCongr es s womanNor t on.Thi syear ,a new cont enderhasent er edt her acet or epr es entWar d4i nt heD. C.Counci l .

Janees eLewi sGeor ge,at hi r dgener at i onWas hi ngt oni anandWar d4nat i ve, announced hercandi dacyf ort hes eatt hi sAugus t ,chal l engi ng t hecur r ent i ncumbent Br andon T.Todd ( D) .Des pi t et he over whel mi ngl y pos i t i ve f eedbackf r om t hecommuni t y, Lewi sGeor gehaschos ent oembodyt hes pi r i t ofherl at er ol emodel ,Shi r l eyChi s ol m,andbr i ngherownf ol di ngchai rt ot he pol i t i calt abl e.

Exper t s l i ke Candi ce Nel s on, academi c di r ect or of t he Campai gn ManagementI ns t i t ut eatAmer i canUni ver s i t y, havenot edt hat“ havi ngpeopl e ofcol orons t aff f orcommuni cat i onsi skeyt oacampai gn’ ss ucces s . ”Ki r s t en Al l en,Nat i onalDeput yPr es sSecr et ar yandAf r i canAmer i canMedi aDi r ect or f or Kamal a Har r i s , des cr i bes her exper i ences engagi ng wi t h di ver s e communi t i esi n herpos i t i onsas“ t r ans f or mat i ve. ”Accor di ng t o Al l en,Bl ack out r each f r om Bl ack s t affer s bot h pr ompt s nat ur al connect i ons and encour agesBl ackvot er st ogetmor ei nvol ved.

“Par t i ci pat i ng i n democr acy i spar amountt o ever yt hi ng t hatt hi snat i on pur por t si t sel ft obe, ”Al l ennot es .

“Thegover nmenthasf ai l edus,butwhen i toper at esati t sopt i mall evel ,i tcanl evelt hepl ayi ng f i el d and i mpr ove ser vi cesl i keeducat i on,publ i csaf et y,heal t h,[ and]secur i t y. ” I ndeed,Bl ackwomenhavebeenkeypr oponent si nt r umpi ngt hei r onfis tof Amer i ca, at es t amentt ot he94per centofBl ackwomenwhovot edf orHi l l ar y Cl i nt oni nt he201 6pr es i dent i alel ect i on.

Womenacr os st hecount r y, l i keJanes s eLewi sGeor ge, ar ecl ai mi ngt hei rs eat s and demandi ng t hat t hei r voi ces and concer ns become pr i or i t i es i n l egi s l at i on.

“Themor ewomenseeot herwomeni nl eader shi pst eppi ngoutoncour age -and see r ealwor ki ng women doi ng t hat , ” Lewi sGoer ge s ays ,“ot her womenwi l lbeencour agedt odot hesame. ” Per hapst hi spr ogr es s i vepur s ui tofchangei scaus et obei nduct ed i nt ot he “ nas t y”gi r lhal loff ame.

Maybe i ti st i me t o make Amer i ca gr eatagai n,butt hi st i me l et ’ smake i t “ nas t y! ”

5

A s h l e y Bl ai ne F e at h e r s o n W or ds

Cl audi aWat t s |I G:@cal l mecl aud

Phot ogr aphy

St evens onOpoku |I G:@s t evens onopoku

6

Ashl eyBl ai neFeat her soni sonherwayt obecomi ngt hei ndust r y’ snext‘ I t Gi r l ”andshe’ sr eppi n't heDMV ( DC,MD,andVA) . t eras er i esofemai l sandcr os s edfinger s ,wefinal l ygott he“ gr eenl i ght ”on Af an i nt er vi ew wi t h DMV nat i ve and s t arof“ DearWhi t e Peopl e” ,Seas on 3, As hl eyBl ai neFeat her s on.Phonei nt er vi ewsar eal waysal i t t l eupi nt heai r ,as i tcanbedi fficul tt ogetat r uef eelf ors omeone’ sper s onal i t yandevenmor e di fficul tt o find t hegr oovei n conver s at i on bas ed on t hei rmood orchos en envi r onment .WhenIans wer ed t hephonet hateveni ng,Iwasgr eet ed bya pr es enceandnotavoi ce.ThankGod.

Di v i ne A l i g nme nt

Bor ni nt oaf ami l yofper f or mer s ,As hl ey’ sl ovef ort hes t agecameear l y.By age t hr ee,dance and voi ce l es s ons wer e al r eady a r egul arpar tofher s chedul e.Thefir s tper f or mance,ass her ecal l si t ,wast he“ Thr eeBi l l yGoat s Gr uff”i nPr e-Ki nder gar t enatt heFr ankl i nMont es s or i School i nRockvi l l e, MD. Feat her s onl ovedi t .

“ Id i d n ’ tha v ea nAha !mo me nto rs e es o me t hi ngo nt v ,Iwa ss oy o ung a ndI r e me mb e rr e a l l yc a r i nga b o ut myr o l e . . .

I t ' sa l wa y sb e e nt hi si nna t e eyr emember ed. t hi ngIwa sme a ntt od o .

"Ashl he di d.Recogni zi ng a l ack ofmi r r or sf orgi r l s ofcol or ,As hl ey And,do,s cocr eat ed“ Hel l oCupi d”f orBl ackandSexyTV wi t hLenaWai t he.Thes er i es f ol l ows t he onl i ne dat i ng advent ur es oft wo r oommat es and addr es s es di ffer entexper i enceswi t hi nt hebl ackcommuni t y.Fr om t her e,s heappear ed onGl eebef or es naggi ngar ol ei n201 4’ s“ DearWhi t ePeopl e”t hemovi e.

“ E v e r ys uc c e s si st hehi g he s tp o i ntunt i ly o ua c hi e v et hene x tb i gt hi ng .

Mymo s tr e c e nthi g he s tp o i nt ,De a rWhi t eP e o p l eb e i ngi ni t st hi r d s e a s o n[ o nNe t f l i x ] …t os e emy s e l fo nab i l l b o a r da nds e ewha tt y p eo f r e p r e s e nt a t i o nt ha tp r o v i d e sf o ro t he rb r o wng i r l sr i d i nga r o undt he t hpr i de. c i t y . ”Feathersonstatedwi As hl eys t ar t ed i nt hemot i onpi ct ur ewi t hwhats hedes cr i besas“ fivel i nes ” and has wat ched herr ol e gr ow overt he l as ts even year st o wher e her char act er ,Joel l e,hasbecomet hef ocusoft hes how’ st hi r ds eas on.Now,we ar e al lf ami l i ar wi t ht he pl i ght of t he bl ack act r es s .The di s par i t i es i n compens at i on,avai l abi l i t yofr ol esand t hedangerofbei ng t ypecas tl ur ki ng ar oundt hecor nerofever ygi g.Thoughi ns t eadofvi ewi ngt hes er eal i t i esas obs t acl es ,Feat her s onchannel st hem i nt opos i t i veener gy;eagert ol endher t al ent st oBr oadwayandexci t edaboutanupcomi ngpodcas t .

“ Ia ms ot ha nkf ul De a rWhi t eP e o p l ec o ul db eap l a t f o r mt os ho wp e o p l e t ha tIa m mul t i d i me ns i o na la ndIa ma na r t i s tt ha tha sal o to f p o t e nt i a l . . .

Ic o mef r o m ac i t ya ndap l a c e[ DMV ]t ha tha sha ds omuc h g r e a tt a l e ntc o mi ngo uto fi t . . .

Ia me x c i t e dt oha v emo r eo nt heho r i z o n d. t ha tt he yc a ns up p o r ta ndr a l l ya r o und . ”Shesai Thewi s hl i s tofpr oj ect swentonandon,j umpi ngf r om mus i cal st of r agr ance andbeaut ypr oduct s .Thr eet hr eadsofcommonal i t yr emai ned;Feat her s on’ s unwaver i ng devot i on t ot el l i ng t he s t or i es of her f el l ow bl ack women, ment or i ngt henextgener at i onandbei ngt r ans par entaboutherexper i ences .

“ Al wa y st e l lt het r ut h.Ia mc o mmi t t e dt ob e i ngt r a ns p a r e nta b o utmy e x p e r i e nc e .Iha dt og ot hr o ug hmyc ha ng et oe a t .Id o n ’ twa nta ny o ne t ot hi nkt ha t i t ' sb e e nr o s e sa nds uns hi ne , b e c a us et ha t ’ sunr e a l i s t i c .

And f o rt het i me swhe ni twa sr o s e sa nds uns hi ne ,t ho s ewe r e n ’ tt het i me s ey t ha tb ui l tmyc ha r a c t e rupt os us t a i nmy s e l fi nt hi sb us i ne s s . ”Ashl expl ai ned.“ Y o ua l s oha v et or e a c hb a c ka ndma kes ur es o me o nef e e l s t he yc a nf o l l o wi ny o urf o o t s t e p so ra tl e a s ts e ey o urf o o t s t e p sa ndma ke t he i ro wnmi s t a ke s . ” Anover al lt oneofpos i t i vi t yi ss omet hi ngt hatcanbef el twi t hever yr es pons e s hegi vesand i ss omet hi ng s heat t r i but est obei ng i ndi vi neal i gnmentwi t h herpur pos e,changi ng t he wor l dt hr ough herar t i s t r y and s er vi ng as a r es our cef orwomenofcol or .

Af eatt hatcomeswi t hpl ent yofr ej ect i on, ass he not es ,pos i t i vi t ydoesnotcomeeas i l y.I t ’ sbeent hr ought hi sal i gnment ,t he l ove ofs uppor t i ve par ent s ,f r i ends and t he bel i efi n a hi gherpowert hat cont i nuest okeepAs hl eycent er ed.

" Be i ngs ur r o und e db yt her i g hte ne r gyi sv e r yi mp o r t a nta ndt hep o we r ai ned.“ o ft het o ng uei sl i f e c ha ng i ng .

"Sheexpl Iha v eb e e nb l e s s e dt o ha v ee ne r gyt ha ti sc a l mi nga nd l o v i ng ,Ic a l lt he m myd e s t i ny a d v o c a t e s ,wea r ei na g r e e me nta b o utwhowewa ntt ob ei nt hi swo r l d a nda b o uthe l p i ngo nea no t he rb eo urb e s ts e l v e s . ”

7

W or ds Cher r el l eSwai n |I G:@t hecher r el l es how

Phot ogr aphy Del anoMckenzi e

8

T h eBl ac kCo mmuni t y h asap r o j e c t e dne two r t h o f $ 0b y2 0 5 3 .

As hl ey Fox,f ounderEMPI FY,and f or merWal lSt r eetAnal ys ti swor ki ng t o s hi f tt hatnar r at i ve.As hl ey’ si deaoffinanci alweal t hwasdr amat i cal l yal t er ed whens hewasexpos ed t omas s i veamount sofweal t honWal lSt r eet .Fr om t hi sexper i ence,s hebegan t os eet heexpans i vepos s i bi l i t i esofweal t h and wasi ns pi r edt ot eachaweal t hbui l di ngmi nds eti nherowncommuni t y.

As hl ey cr eat ed EMPI FY t o br i ngst he expos ur e,t ool s ,and r es our cest hat weal t hypeopl eknow,bel i eveandar et aughtt oacommuni t yofpeopl ewho wantt obemor et hanfinanci al l ys ecur ebutdon’ tknow wher et os t ar t .Si nce 201 3,s he has bui l ta s er i es ofEMPI FY pr ogr ams t hathave empower ed s t udent si nPhi l adel phi a, New Yor kCi t y, andAt l ant as chool s .

As hl eyal s ogave EMPI FYcour s est oi ncar cer at edyout hwhocamef r om Ri ker sI s l andPr i s oni n New Yor k. t i ci pant s ent erEMPI FY’ s Weal t h Bui l der s pr ogr am wi t h a ver yl i mi t ed Par per cept i onofwhatweal t hl ooksl i ke.

“Many ofourst udent sbel i eve t hatweal t hl ooksl i ke an ol d whi t e man wear i ngat r enchcoat , ”expl ai nsFox. ,bywayofEMPI FY,As hl eyi sr edefini ng t hewayt hatbl ackpeopl e However s eeweal t h.Whatmanyt houghtwasonces o compl i cat ed,s hehasf ound a wayt o makecul t ur al l yr el evantand eas yt o under s t and whi l es howi ng t he communi t yhow t ogeti tdone.

“EMPI FYshowst hecommuni t yt hatyoucanact ual l ybear egul argi r lwi t h a pai rofNi kes,wear i ng a t shi r t ,and be weal t hy, ” expl ai nsAs hl ey. “I i nt ent i onal l ydonotwearbl ackandbl uesui t swhenIt each.Ial sochange myhai rof t enbecauseIwantt or edef i nehow ourcommuni t yvi ewsweal t h i nAmer i ca.W eal t hdoesnothaveacol or ,andweal lneedt odebunkt he i dea ofwhatweal t hl ooksl i ke,so t hatwe bel i eve i tl ooksl i ke us, ”s he cont i nues .

EMPI FY’ Sl at es ti ni t i at i ve, TheBl ackMal eEducat or sWeal t hBui l di ngPr ogr am, i san i nnovat i vepar t ner s hi p wi t ht heBl ackMal eEducat or sConveni ng and Uni t ed Way,whi chhashel ped 1 5Bl ackmal eeducat or si nPhi l adel phi al ear n how t oi nves t .Thef r ees ummerpr ogr am wasoffer ed onceaweekf orfive weekst ohel pbet t ergr ow,s uppor tandbui l dBl ackmeni neducat i on. mpet usf ort hi spar t ner s hi ps ur f acedf r om t heneedf ormor efinanci al l y Thei empower i ng s paces f orBl ack mal e educat or s .Thi s need came f ul lci r cl e t hr ough As hl ey’ sexper i encewor ki ng wi t hi ncar cer at ed young men i n New Yor k Ci t y.She wi t nes s ed t oo many bl ack chi l dr en atRi ker sI s l and Pr i s on wi t houtr ol emodel sand/ orf at her figur esi nt hei rl i ves .

Sheas kedher s el f ,“W hati ft heywentt oschoolandsaw ast r ongbl ackman t hatwasn’ tst r essedoutaboutmoney?W hati ft heyhadr el at i onshi pswi t h st r ong bl ackmenwho wer ehappy? W hatcanIdo t o pr eventki dsf r om bei ngi ncar cer at ed?”

I nr es pons egr ew EMPI FY’ sBl ackMal eEducat orcour s et ot r ai nBl ackmal e educat or st obei nves t or sandbui l dweal t h.

I nt he begi nni ng,many oft he men f el tawkwar d oruncomf or t abl et al ki ng aboutmoney,t heywer es kept i cal .Onl yf ouroft het went ymenhadi nves t ed bef or eandnoneoft hem f el tconfidenti nt hei ri nves t i ngabi l i t i es .

“Theycamet ocl asswi t ht hemi sconcept i ont hatyouneedal otofmoney t oi nvest , ”expl ai nsAs hl ey.Ourpr ogr am t aughtt hem t hati nor dert o gai n weal t hyoumus tbui l di twi t hyourmi ndbef or eyourbankaccount . opi ng t hi s mi nds et was f oundat i onalbecaus et he educat or s wer e Devel doubt f ulofwhatt heywoul dbeabl et ogetf r om t hecour s e.As hl eyexpl ai ns , “of t ent i mesourcommuni t ygi vesupordoesn’ tt hi nki t ’ spossi bl et ogai n weal t hbecauset hey’ vegr ownaccust omedt onothavi ngi t . ”

Overt he year s ,As hl ey hashear d many s t or i est hathers t udent s ,adul tor yout h,havet ol dt hems el vesaboutmoneyandhavechos ent obel i eve.Some havet ol dt hems el vest hes t or yt hats oci et ys et si tups ot heycan’ tdoi t .Asa r es ul t ,t heyhaveavoi cei ns i deoft hem t hatt el l st hem t heycan’ tdoi t .

“W hat everst or y orr eason you come up wi t h,i twi l lei t herpr opelor pr eventyouf r om bei ngabl et odoi t . ”As hl eyFox Ast hecour s epr ogr es s ed,t hemen’ svi ewsaboutmoneydi dt oo.“EMPI FY r emovest hel ayer soft henegat i vest or i est hatar eont hehear t sandmi nds ofadul t sandyoungpeopl ei nourcommuni t y, ”r eflect sAs hl ey.

I nj us taf ew weeks 't i me,s hes aw t heBl ackmal eeducat or ’ scapaci t yand under s t andi ng oft hes t ockmar keti ncr eas edr amat i cal l y.Ther ewer emany moment s wher et he men engaged i n deep conver s at i ons on t hei rown, s peaki ngaboutwhatt heywer egoi ngt oi nves ti nandeval uat ewhyi twasa goodorbadi nves t ment .

As hl ey r ecal l s ,one of t he educat or s who r ef er r ed t o her as “ t each” ent hus i as t i cal l ycomi ng t o cl as st het hi r d weekexcl ai mi ng,“ I ’ vebeenup al l ni ghtr es ear chi ng,I ’ vegotmyl i s tofs t ocks ,Iknow whatIwantt obuyandI ’ m r eadyt oi nves t ! ” I nj us tfiveweeks 't i me,t hemenunder s t oodt hebas i csoft hes t ockmar ket , how t os el ectgoodi nves t ment s ,andi dent i fiedwhi chs t ockst heywant edt o own.By t he l as ts es s i on,each educat orl ear ned how t o act ual l yi nves t , openedt hei rownbr oker ageaccount s ,andpur chas edt hei rfir s ts t ocks .Asa cul mi nat i ont ot hecour s e, eacheducat orr ecei ved$200t oi nves t .

Col l ect i vel y t heBl ackmal eeducat or si nves t ed$4, 000t husi ncr eas i ngt hei raggr egat enet wor t hasacommuni t y. s es howed t hem how t os t ar tbui l di ng s mal l ,managi ng money The cour di ffer ent l yands et t i ngj us tal i t t l eas i deeachmont h.I tdemons t r at edt ot hem t hatwhent heyf ocust hei rt hought sand bel i ef sont hi ngst heydes i r e,t hey canchanget het r aj ect or yoft hei rl i ves . kedhow t hi sexper i encemi ghtaffectt hes t udent st hes emens er ved, W henas As hl eyr es ponded,“Now t heyseet hemsel vesasi nvest or s.W henyouwal k ar oundasani nvest or-youf eelst r onger ,youhaveabet t erhol donyour money;you wal k di f f er ent l y,you t al k di f f er ent l y,whatyou bel i eve i s possi bl ei s di f f er ent . ”I nt he cas e of t he Bl ack mal e educat or s -t hi s confidenceandknowl edgewi l lt r i ckl edownt ot hei rs t udent s .

As hl eyencour agesal lofust obegi nt hi nki ngl i kei nves t or s ,“gai ni ngweal t h r equi r es us t o do somet hi ng di f f er ent i ndi vi dual l yt hat can massi vel y changet hebl ackcommuni t ycol l ect i vel y.W eneed t of ocusonbet t er i ng our sel ves,r ecogni zi ngt heoppor t uni t i est hatar eoutt her e,andmakei ta pr i or i t yt ogeti nvol ved.I t ’ sopeni ngourmi ndsandhear t st osaywecando t hi s,we deser ve t hi s;and i fwe act ual l y bel i eve i t ’ s shi f t i ng t he bl ack nar r at i ve,i t ’ sourdut yt odot hi sasbl ackpeopl e. ” EMPI FY hasaweal t hbui l di ngonl i neappbas edcommuni t yt hatanyonecan j oi n.I ncl udedi nt hemember s hi par eweekl ycl as s es ,t ool s ,and r es our cest o gui de member st hr ough t hei rfinanci alj our ney.Beyond t he t ool ki t s and cour s es ,t hecommuni t yoffer sas af es pacef orpeopl et obes uppor t edand encour agedbyoneanot herandexper t s .Cur r ent l y,t her ear emor et han600 member si nt he communi t y.To j oi nt he Weal t h Bui l di ng Communi t y vi s i t bi t . l y/ empi f ycommuni t y.

“Ij ustpush peopl ei nsi de t he door .Once t hey see what ’ si nsi de -t hey r eal i ze t her ei sso much outt her e -t hey wantmor e,and t hey wantt he gui dancet ogett her e.Tooof t enasbl ackpeopl e,wej ustst andatt hedoor .

W ewantt o go i nsi de,wemayevenpeeki nal i t t l ebi t .EMPI FY get syou t hr ought hedoor ,andonceyou’ r ei nsi de,your eal i zeyoubel ong,andwe show youhow t ogeti tdoneunt i lyounol ongerneedus[ EMPI FY] . ”

9

Bl ackGi r l sRockSer i es Phot ogr aphy:Ja’ MonJackaon @JGYSZN

1 0

Bl ackGi r l sRockSer i es Phot ogr aphy:Ja’ MonJackaon @JGYSZN

1 1

Phot ogr aphy Ja’ MonJackaon @JGYSZN

THE W ASHINGTON INFORM ER

BRI DGE Web: wi br i dgedc . c om Emai l: i nf o@wi br i dgedc . c om

WI Br i dgeDC