John,

It's a bittersweet feeling to be emailing you one last time as executive director of Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation.

Today, we announced that I'll be transitioning out of this role and named two interim senior executives.

They are Makani Themba, Chief Strategist at Higher Ground Change Strategies and former executive director of The Praxis Project, and Monifa Bandele, Chief Operating Officer at Time’s Up Foundation. Both women have been supporters and advisors of Black Lives Matter since its inception.

Here's what they had to say:

“As a strong advocate for the transformation of Black lives and the end of white supremacy, I'm eager to continue the foundation's great work over the coming months.”
-- Monifa Bandele

“We are deeply grateful for Patrisse's leadership and her powerful legacy. BLM has always been, and continues to be powered by deep love for our people. We look forward to supporting this amazing team.”
-- Makani Themba
Serving in this role has allowed me to engage in extraordinary, transformative work that I know BLMGNF will continue to build on.

In the past 7.5 years, the foundation has been strongly positioned to advocate for futures where we divest from police, prisons, and all punishment paradigms and replace them with greater investment in liberation and culture programs. We've launched both BLM Grassroots and BLM PAC -- grounding ourselves where we started (in the streets) and taking our protest to the polls, all while increasing voter turnout and participation.

I have no doubt that this foundation will continue to grow and progress toward achieving Black liberation in all systems. Between the two senior executives and BLM Grassroots Co-Director Melina Abdullah, who is an original member of BLM and co-founder of its first chapter in Los Angeles, their immense talent will build a future where Black lives do more than matter -- they will truly thrive.

Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation will always remain committed to combating and countering acts of violence, creating space for Black imagination and innovation, and centering Black joy through arts and culture.

This is surely not goodbye -- and I'll continue to be in the fight for abolition and Black liberation for all of us.

In love and solidarity,

Patrisse Cullors
Co-Founder and Former Executive Director
Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation

P.S. You can read the official Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation transition announcement here.