John,

In the midst of deep uncertainty, grief, and righteous anger, our narrative team is launching What If, a podcast about political imagination. In the spirit of seeing around corners, we found ourselves asking, how can we use the moment we're in to shift economic justice policies and mindsets into the Overton Window? When so much is crumbling, who can we look to for rebuilding? The answer lives in the communities imagining what comes next.

Host Daydriane Chapman’s expansive interview style and bespoke poetry invites the interviewee and the listener to imagine; what if we weren’t constrained by what is, but could instead ask, what if? The first episode of our What If podcast is out today — we hope you'll tune in.

In this last newsletter of 2025, you'll find updates on the work we're doing to create a more equitable economy. Because, as Daydriane says, "When everything feels urgent, it’s easy to start reacting instead of reimagining... but we can build and dream at the same time."

Community Credit Lab (CCL)

In a world that continues to experience so much uncertainty, this season offers small but powerful reminders of what’s possible. This quarter, we continued to walk alongside partners who are advancing community led lending models and economic justice. We learned that our investment into a CDFI fund has already been recycled three times, supporting the deployment of over 100 loans within a remarkably short timeframe. Additionally, one of our first intermediated investments shared that our commitment helped them raise eight times that amount to fully capitalize their fund. Through our partners’ vision and courage, we’ve witnessed what it means to move at the speed of relationship, not transaction, to meet communities where they are and move resources with care and intention.

This has also been a season of learning. We made time to retreat with our newest partner, the Moonsoon Fund, and we’re reminded that shifting financial systems is not just about where capital flows, but how we show up in the process. As a result, we’ve been able to shift capital flows to support the Moonsoon Fund’s lending capital, loan loss reserve, back office, and fund/relationship management to ensure this fund continues to get the capital and visibility they deserve.

Legacy Lab

This quarter, the Legacy Lab cohort gathered in Chicago for The Assembly of Black Possibilities, a convening celebrating Black imagination and collective economics. The energy was described as “magical,” “reviving,” and “life-changing.” One participant shared, “The most powerful thing for me was being present to so many creative thinkers and doers united in improving and strengthening Black communities across the country.” Another noted, “Meeting Paul Coates and the team at Black Classic Press reminded me of how long we’ve been building toward this moment.” Black Classic Press is the oldest printing & press company in the U.S. that is Black-owned and run.

Looking ahead, the Advocacy Team is going into the next phase of the program, continuing to strengthen relationships across the cohort and co-creating opportunities for deeper learning and collaboration. Legacy lab participants are utilizing space and connections to navigate their own challenges around their enterprises while also actively participating in the reimagining of entrepreneurship as a driver of community wealth. We will close out this initial cohort of Legacy Lab in February with a closing ceremony in Memphis, TN and with a detailed report outlining learnings and findings from the program.

Systems Change Coalition

This fall, we closed our first Systems Change Coalition, a year-long community of practice bringing together more than 50 organizations advancing economic justice for Black and Indigenous communities. The initiative has grown into a network of leaders building relationships and wrestling with what systems change truly requires, especially in this moment.

In our final session, members reflected on the courage it takes to do this work when the path forward is complex and uncertain. “We can’t go into this work alone,” one participant shared. “It starts with values first.” Others named the importance of shared language, narrative strategy, and collaboration across movements. A central question the group left with was: when do we transform existing systems, and when do we build new ones altogether?

This conversation revealed a collective hunger for deeper practice — a space to problem-solve, test strategies, and work through real challenges together. That energy is shaping what comes next: the 2026 Systems Change Action Lab, a space for collaboration and applied learning where leaders can bring their local projects to life in partnership with peers across the nation.

Connect With Us on the Conference Circuit:

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