2021 COMMUNITY GRANT RECIPIENTS
Jordan Brand is of and by the Black Community. Bigger than one man, whose will and work redefined the meaning of greatness. Bigger than the basketball court, where generations of dreams have taken flight. Bigger than any struggle, any obstacle, any fight. The fight for equal opportunity and equal justice is ours.
At the the heart of the 10-year, $100 million Black Community Commitment, announced by Michael Jordan and Jordan Brand in 2020, is a desire to take action where it is needed most.
2021 COMMUNITY GRANT RECIPIENTS
Jordan Brand is of and by the Black Community. Bigger than one man, whose will and work redefined the meaning of greatness. Bigger than the basketball court, where generations of dreams have taken flight. Bigger than any struggle, any obstacle, any fight. The fight for equal opportunity and equal justice is ours.
At the the heart of the 10-year, $100 million Black Community Commitment, announced by Michael Jordan and Jordan Brand in 2020, is a desire to take action where it is needed most.
ECONOMIC JUSTICE
CITY STARTUP LABS, INC.
City Startup Labs seeks to create a new class of Black entrepreneurs and innovators.
MORTAR CINCINNATI
MORTAR aims to build diverse communities by providing Black and minority entrepreneurs with access to the tools and resources they need to successfully start and run a business.
OUR VILLAGE UNITED
Our Village United's mission supports the growth of Black solopreneurs and microbusinesses by delivering targeted technical assistance and shared professional services that empower business owners to grow their operations and scale their businesses.
REVOLUTION WORKSHOP
Revolution Workshop builds skills, hope, and resilience through construction job training for unemployed and underemployed people across Chicago.
OAKLAND BLACK BUSINESS FUND
Oakland Black Business Fund is a Black-led grant making program, providing capital, technical assistance, and growth strategy to Black businesses in Oakland, California.
YOUTH DESIGN CENTER
Our mission is to increase racial and ethnic diversity in design and technology professions and to disrupt cyclical poverty.
SOCIAL JUSTICE
ALLIANCE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION IN PRISON
We support the expansion of quality higher education in prison, empower students while in prison and after release, and shape public discussion about education and incarceration.
COMMUNITIES UNITED FOR RESTORATIVE YOUTH JUSTICE
We unlock the leadership of young people to dream beyond bars.
GOOD CALL
Good Call’s mission is to empower communities of color and create systemic transformation by using technology and community organizing to provide immediate access to legal support.
MIDDLE GEORGIA ACCESS TO JUSTICE COUNCIL
To support and supplement existing systems for providing legal assistance to those in need by identifying gaps in services, developing new programs, and facilitating collaboration among existing legal service providers.
EDUCATION & AWARENESS
1HOOD MEDIA
Building liberated communities through art, education, and social justice.
1619 FREEDOM SCHOOL
The 1619 Freedom School’s mission is to create compassionate learning spaces where students and teachers learn to use language and literacy in critical and empowering ways.
BILLIE HOLIDAY THEATER
To shatter all obstacles and injustices and convene unapologetic, authentic voices to make American Black Theater a rigorous space that forces social change.
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER FLINT
The Community Foundation of Greater Flint partners and leads by influencing and connecting generosity to Genesee County needs. For Good, For Ever. For Everyone.
COURAGEOUS CONVERSATION GLOBAL FOUNDATION
To elevate racial consciousness through interracial healing.
HOLLABACK!
Hollaback!’s mission is to end harassment in all its forms by transforming the culture that perpetuates hate and harassment.
LOVE NOW MEDIA
Connecting communities through empathy-centered storytelling advocating for social justice, wellness, and equity.
RE·CENTER RACE & EQUITY IN EDUCATION
RE·Center Race & Equity in Education activates youth and adults to drive transformative change towards racially-just schools and communities.
INSTITUTIONAL GRANTEES
Michael Jordan and Jordan Brand’s commitment to the Black community incorporates investment in sustainable solutions to drive systems change in the areas of economic and social justice, education and narrative change. Our institutional grantees are leading the way to create a world in which Black people can thrive.
Department of Journalism, Sports, Culture and Social Justice
MOREHOUSE COLLEGE
Morehouse is the only historically Black college or university dedicated to educating and empowering Black men. For fifteen years, Morehouse’s Journalism and Sports Program has addressed a distinct need—the lack of Black leadership in sports journalism and athletics. The program has educated and professionally developed more than 600 students from Morehouse and the Atlanta University Center, producing more than 80 graduates who now work in media and sports and almost 40 graduates who have earned master’s degrees in those fields.
INSTITUTIONAL GRANTEES
Michael Jordan and Jordan Brand’s commitment to the Black community incorporates investment in sustainable solutions to drive systems change in the areas of economic and social justice, education and narrative change. Our institutional grantees are leading the way to create a world in which Black people can thrive.
Department of Journalism, Sports, Culture and Social Justice
MOREHOUSE COLLEGE
Morehouse is the only historically Black college or university dedicated to educating and empowering Black men. For fifteen years, Morehouse’s Journalism and Sports Program has addressed a distinct need—the lack of Black leadership in sports journalism and athletics. The program has educated and professionally developed more than 600 students from Morehouse and the Atlanta University Center, producing more than 80 graduates who now work in media and sports and almost 40 graduates who have earned master’s degrees in those fields.
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE
Since opening Sept. 24, 2016, the National Museum of African American History and Culture has welcomed more than 7.5 million in-person visitors and millions more through its digital presence. The nearly 400,000-square-foot museum is the nation’s largest and most comprehensive cultural destination devoted exclusively to exploring, documenting, and showcasing the African American story and its impact on American and world history.
IDA B. WELLS SOCIETY FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING
It's no secret that newsrooms have a diversity problem. And for investigative news teams, the numbers are even worse, with few people of color on the staff who produce the kinds of in-depth work that helps set the public agenda. The Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting seeks to change that at all levels. We are a news trade organization, founded by award-winning journalists Nikole Hannah-Jones, Ron Nixon, and Topher Sanders, with a mission to increase the ranks, retention, and profile of reporters and editors of color in accountability journalism.
DONORSCHOOSE
DonorsChoose is the leading way to give to public schools. Since 2000, 5 million people and partners have contributed $1.2 billion to support more than 2 million teacher requests for classroom resources and experiences. As the most trusted crowdfunding platform for teachers, donors, and district administrators alike, DonorsChoose vets each request, ships the funded resources directly to the classroom, and provides thank yous and reporting to donors and school leaders.
BLACK VOTERS MATTER
Black Voters Matter (BVM) Capacity Building Institute’s mission is to increase civic engagement and power building in predominantly Black communities. Our belief is that effective voting allows a community to determine its own destiny. Towards this end, we work to strengthen the capacity of community-based organizations seeking to expand civic engagement and project support for institutional strengthening.
LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND
The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) is America’s premier legal organization fighting for racial justice. Founded in 1940 under the leadership of Thurgood Marshall. LDF was launched at a time when the nation’s aspirations for equality and due process of law were stifled by widespread, state-sponsored racial inequality. From that era to the present, LDF’s mission has always been transformative: to achieve racial justice, equality, and an inclusive society.
FORMERLY INCARCERATED CONVICTED PEOPLE & FAMILIES MOVEMENT
FICPFM is a base building civil rights network consisting of over 50 civil and human rights organizations led by policy experts, subject matter experts, organizers, thought-leaders, artists, and attorneys who also have conviction histories or are family members who are closely involved with people living with conviction histories.
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE
Since opening Sept. 24, 2016, the National Museum of African American History and Culture has welcomed more than 7.5 million in-person visitors and millions more through its digital presence. The nearly 400,000-square-foot museum is the nation’s largest and most comprehensive cultural destination devoted exclusively to exploring, documenting, and showcasing the African American story and its impact on American and world history.
IDA B. WELLS SOCIETY FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING
It's no secret that newsrooms have a diversity problem. And for investigative news teams, the numbers are even worse, with few people of color on the staff who produce the kinds of in-depth work that helps set the public agenda. The Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting seeks to change that at all levels. We are a news trade organization, founded by award-winning journalists Nikole Hannah-Jones, Ron Nixon, and Topher Sanders, with a mission to increase the ranks, retention, and profile of reporters and editors of color in accountability journalism.
DONORSCHOOSE
DonorsChoose is the leading way to give to public schools. Since 2000, 5 million people and partners have contributed $1.2 billion to support more than 2 million teacher requests for classroom resources and experiences. As the most trusted crowdfunding platform for teachers, donors, and district administrators alike, DonorsChoose vets each request, ships the funded resources directly to the classroom, and provides thank yous and reporting to donors and school leaders.
BLACK VOTERS MATTER
Black Voters Matter (BVM) Capacity Building Institute’s mission is to increase civic engagement and power building in predominantly Black communities. Our belief is that effective voting allows a community to determine its own destiny. Towards this end, we work to strengthen the capacity of community-based organizations seeking to expand civic engagement and project support for institutional strengthening.
LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND
The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) is America’s premier legal organization fighting for racial justice. Founded in 1940 under the leadership of Thurgood Marshall. LDF was launched at a time when the nation’s aspirations for equality and due process of law were stifled by widespread, state-sponsored racial inequality. From that era to the present, LDF’s mission has always been transformative: to achieve racial justice, equality, and an inclusive society.
FORMERLY INCARCERATED CONVICTED PEOPLE & FAMILIES MOVEMENT
FICPFM is a base building civil rights network consisting of over 50 civil and human rights organizations led by policy experts, subject matter experts, organizers, thought-leaders, artists, and attorneys who also have conviction histories or are family members who are closely involved with people living with conviction histories.