Impact Experience

19/02/2025

In honor of Black History Month, we at Impact Experience are proud to highlight the compelling story of Tony and Belinda Jones, proprietors of Morning Glory Homestead on St. Helena Island, South Carolina. Their journey is a profound testament to the power of narrative in preserving history and promoting economic justice.

The land they cultivate is steeped in history, once part of the McTureus Plantation where Tony's ancestors were enslaved. During the Reconstruction Era, his family reclaimed this land, transforming it into a symbol of resilience and empowerment. Belinda's discovery of her great-great-grandmother's enslavement near Charleston further deepened their connection to this heritage.

Today, the Joneses honor their legacy through sustainable farming and the celebration of Gullah culture—a unique African American heritage that developed in the Lowcountry regions of the southeastern United States, particularly in South Carolina and Georgia. The Gullah people have preserved more of their African linguistic and cultural heritage than any other Black community in the U.S., with distinctive arts, crafts, foodways, music, and language.

Their story underscores the critical importance of narrative
storytelling in keeping Black history alive and relevant. By sharing their journey, we not only honor the past but also shed light on the ongoing challenges faced by Black entrepreneurs, particularly in accessing capital.

As part of our commitment to fostering economic justice, Impact Experience will be returning to South Carolina for our Alumni Retreat, where we will reconnect with fellow alumni, deepen our understanding of racial equity, and recommit to impactful action.

At Impact Experience, we are dedicated to fostering economic justice and environmental sustainability by actively partnering with small business owners in all our engagements. Through our platforms, we uplift and promote their entrepreneurial journeys, amplifying their voices and supporting their efforts to drive lasting impact in their communities. By sharing stories like that of the Jones family, we strive to inspire change and expand support for Black entrepreneurs nationwide.

This Black History Month, let us honor the narratives that illuminate our past and guide us toward a more equitable future.

03/02/2025

🔥 Strategic Financial Engagement in Movement Building: Key Insights from Our Virtual Launch 🔥

Last week we convened a dynamic discussion on actionable strategies to reshape finance as a tool for social justice. Our virtual launch of the case study report, Strategic Financial Engagement in Movement Building, examined practical strategies to align financial systems with racial equity, climate justice, and community-centered investments.

Developed in collaboration with the Wallace Global Fund, this report is the result of research and interviews with movement-building leaders across the U.S. It highlights organizational strategies for engaging financial systems, from long-term relationship builders to direct-impact action groups.

Moderated by our CEO Jenna Anita Nicholas and Yejide Olutosin, MBA, our Director of Business Climate Finance, the event featured thought-provoking insights from esteemed provocateurs Stephone Coward II, Director of Economic Justice of the Hip Hop Caucus and Vanessa Roanhorse, Chief Executive Officer of Roanhorse Consulting—leaders working at the intersection of capital and systemic change.

💡 Key Takeaways from the Convening:
🔹 Finance must be reimagined—capital should serve communities, not just profits.
🔹 Narrative matters—storytelling must be strategic and community-led.
🔹 Trust-based relationships are critical—capital flow depends on long-term connections.
🔹 Over-collaboration can stall action—balance is needed between planning and ex*****on.
🔹 Social justice investments require a mindset shift—investors must accept non-traditional ROI to support equitable financial models.
🔹 Financial trauma is real—we must redefine our relationship with money to build better systems.
🔹 Pushing from both sides is essential—investors and innovators must evolve together for real change.

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated by joining this impactful event.
🎉 A huge shoutout to our incredible team at Impact Experience! We deeply appreciate the leadership and dedication of Olabayo Allen-Taylor, MBA, Robin van der Vegt, Dania Sutton (she/her), Whitney Harris Brown, PhD MBA, and LaKecia Nicole in driving our mission forward.

📖 Read the report and join the movement for financial change. https://docsend.com/view/83g8sn3hip2h9pcf

🤝In case you missed the exciting news—we have launched a paid community on Mighty Networks to deepen collaboration, foster resource sharing, and ensure accountability in movement-building finance. Join this transformative space and be part of the movement. Learn more and sign up here: https://network-8870528.mn.co/

📢Amplify this timely work by sharing our recent press release: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/making-money-work-for-people-and-planet-new-report-reveals-how-communities-can-transform-financial-systems-for-social-justice-302348251.html?tc=eml_cleartime

/PRNewswire/ -- Oakland-based non-profit Impact Experience has unveiled groundbreaking research at a crucial time when financial markets are increasingly...

30/01/2025

✨ Building Bridges: How Maria Lopez Rosas is Driving Equity in Impact Investing ✨

We are thrilled to spotlight Maria Lopez Rosas, a portfolio associate at Illumen Capital, whose work is reshaping the world of impact investing through a powerful lens of equity and community. In a recent conversation on the Impact Experience Podcast, Maria shared her journey, values, and how she’s challenging the status quo of the investing world to uplift marginalized communities.

Maria’s story is deeply personal and rooted in her upbringing in an indigenous community in Oaxaca, where she learned the value of entrepreneurship as a tool for survival and social respect. This foundation has guided her career, from her early research at Stanford on how biases affect educational outcomes to her current work reducing biases in asset allocation at Illumen Capital. Maria and her team are pioneering a unique approach to impact investing by using a bias reduction toolkit that ensures equity is central to every investment decision they make.

Her work is a testament to the power of networks, mentorship, and community support. For Maria, impact investing isn’t just about financial returns; it’s about creating opportunities that lead to generational wealth and long-term transformation for underrepresented communities.

Her advice to young people interested in impact investing? Be bold, seek help, and open doors for others. Her inspiring story is a reminder of the transformative potential of impact investing when rooted in intentionality, collaboration, and a deep commitment to racial and gender equity.

📖 Read the full article co-written by our CEO Jenna Anita Nicholas and COO Olabayo Allen-Taylor, MBA to dive deeper into Maria’s journey and approach: https://medium.com//building-bridges-how-maria-lopez-rosas-is-driving-equity-in-impact-investing-f66d5fa0dd3c

🎙️ Catch the full conversation on the Impact Experience Podcast to hear more about how Maria is making a difference: https://www.impact-experience.com/podcast/episode/7a5fe8ce/elevating-voices-a-conversation-with-maria-lopez-rosas

💡 Let’s celebrate leaders like Maria who are planting the seeds for future generations of impact and equity.

16/01/2025

🌟 Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Through Action and Impact 🌟
As we prepare for MLK Day on Monday, January 20—a day of reflection and action—we honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a visionary leader who championed justice, equity, and the power of community to drive transformative change.

At Impact Experience, we continue to honor Dr. King by showing up, doing the hard work, and engaging in the difficult yet necessary conversations. These efforts are central to our impact engagements in Montgomery, Alabama—the birthplace of the Civil Rights Movement and elsewhere. Montgomery also serves as the gathering place where we convene leaders to create strategies around the impact of access to capital with marginalized communities. Together, we confront how capital and capitalism have historically perpetuated economic inequalities, particularly in the Deep South. Our work explores how these issues affect small businesses, the impact investing industry, and individuals striving to build generational wealth for their families.

Dr. King knew this struggle firsthand. He spoke powerfully about the racial wealth gap, calling for policies to redistribute wealth and provide economic opportunities for all. King critiqued the capitalist system for its role in perpetuating economic inequality. For him, economic justice was not just an aspiration—it was a moral imperative. As we reflect on his words and work, we encourage our community to go beyond remembrance and take meaningful action. Together, let’s continue the journey toward equity and justice that Dr. King envisioned.

💡 How will you honor Dr. King’s legacy through action this year? Let us know in the comments.

09/01/2025

🌍✨ A New Year, A New Opportunity to Create Change ✨🌍

Happy New Year to our Impact Experience community!

This year is already underway, and it’s the perfect time to reflect on what drives us forward.

Your support—your voice, your time, your contributions—has powered our work, and we’re so thankful for you.

💡 Ready to take the next step?

You can donate here: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/impact-experience-institute?ref=sd_widget&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2 or email us at [email protected] to explore other ways to support.

Let’s make 2025 a year of bold action and shared progress. Together, we can co-create the future we want to see.

12/12/2024

🌟 The Power of Multilingual Leadership: Rosita Najmi’s Inspiring Journey 🌟

At Impact Experience, we are thrilled to shine a spotlight on Rosita Najmi, a trailblazer in social impact and global leadership. Drawing on her experiences as an Iranian refugee, cofounder of a nonprofit, Executive Director of Social Impact at Micron Technology and Micron Foundation, and leader at organizations like PayPal and the UPS Foundation, Rosita has redefined what it means to lead in today’s interconnected world.

In her January 2024 TED Talk and during an earlier conversation with our CEO, Jenna Anita Nicholas, from Season 1 of the ImpactEXP podcast, Rosita introduced the concept of multilingual leadership—the ability to adapt, empathize, and fluently navigate the unique languages of corporate, nonprofit, and public sectors.

Her insights challenge us to rethink leadership: It’s not about having one fixed style but learning to meet people and situations where they are, breaking barriers across sectors to create systemic change.

📖 Read more about Rosita’s journey and leadership philosophy in our latest article: https://medium.com//leadership-languages-lessons-from-rosita-najmis-journey-778d5d3f94ff

🎙️ Catch her full conversation from Season1 of ImpactEXP podcast: https://www.impact-experience.com/podcast/episode/7860213e/unlocking-prosperity-boosting-financial-literacy-for-economic-empowerment-with-rosita-najmi and also her TedTalk here: https://www.ted.com/talks/rosita_najmi_what_s_your_leadership_language/transcript?subtitle=en

💡Let’s celebrate leaders like Rosita, who inspire us to build bridges and drive impactful change.

20/11/2024

🌟 Rethinking Innovation: A Conversation with Rob Lalka 🌟

What does it mean to innovate responsibly in a world shaped by rapidly advancing technology? In our latest Medium article, we explore this critical question through the lens of Rob Lalka’s groundbreaking new book, Venture Alchemist: How Big Tech Turned Profits into Power.

Rob, a longtime friend and supporter of Impact Experience, unpacks the intersections of technology, ethics, and the future. From the unintended effects of social media on mental health to the historical roots of Silicon Valley's innovation culture, his book challenges us to think critically about the role of technology in our lives and its far-reaching impacts.

In the Medium article, How Technology Shapes Us: A Fresh Look at Responsibility in Innovation, our CEO Jenna Anita Nicholas and COO Olabayo Allen-Taylor, MBA reflect on their recent conversation with Rob. Together, they unpack key themes from his book, including the impact of social media on mental well-being, the lingering influence of Silicon Valley’s history, and the urgent need for ethical leadership in innovation.

🎧 Don’t miss our podcast conversation where Rob and Jenna expand on these ideas. They discuss fostering technology that uplifts communities, balances ethics with ambition, and leaves a meaningful legacy. This engaging dialogue is packed with actionable insights for anyone passionate about shaping the future of innovation.

📖 Read the Medium article here: https://medium.com//how-technology-shapes-us-a-fresh-look-at-responsibility-in-innovation-3239b85a56b2
🎙️ Listen to the podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182920/episodes/15103337-a-sit-down-with-rob-lalka

12/11/2024

🚀 Our 2023-2024 Impact Report for Impact Experience is now live! 🌍

We are excited to announce the release of Impact Experience’s 2023-2024 Impact Report!

This year's report lays out how we are leveraging both community and data to drive transformative solutions that address systemic inequities, advance climate resilience, and foster sustainable economic opportunities for marginalized populations. From advancing climate justice to fostering racial equity, this report dives into the stories, data, and milestones that highlight the impact we’ve made together. Please head to the link below to view the complete report of our services and the lasting change we’re driving.

Check it out! 👉 👉 https://docsend.com/view/p9xyi95hjgs67c9z

Join us in celebrating the power of collaboration and innovation as we continue to work towards a more equitable and sustainable future. As we build toward next year, your support is incredibly meaningful.
Donate Now. https://secure.givelively.org/donate/impact-experience-institute?ref=sd_widget&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9Oegvv3n6sAtNEzJY0O

SocialImpact #2023-2024 Milestones

07/11/2024

🌍 End-of-Season Podcast with Professor Marshall Ganz: People, Power, and the Path to Change

As we close out our podcast season for this year, we're honored to present a compelling conversation with Professor Marshall Ganz—renowned organizer, academic, and author of 📖 People, Power, Change: Organizing for Democratic Renewal, his latest book, published in August. In this episode, our CEO, Jenna Anita Nicholas, delves deep into Marshall’s journey and insights on grassroots organizing, the transformative power of public narrative, and how storytelling mobilizes collective action for today’s most urgent challenges. 💪✨

🎙️ Key Topics Discussed:
🔹The Power of Public Narrative: Marshall’s impactful framework of “the story of self, us, and now” and why this approach is essential for effective organizing.
🔹The State of Democracy: Insights into the urgent need to defend democratic values amidst today’s complex challenges. 🗳🕊️
🔹Storytelling for Change: How narratives have the power to inspire and mobilize communities toward a shared purpose. ✊🗣️🤝
🔹The Role of Grassroots Action: Understanding how collective movements shape and sustain lasting change. 🌱🤝

🌟Join us as we wrap up the season with a conversation that inspires reflection, action, hope, and solidarity. In these times, watching this podcast allows you to, in Marshall Ganz’s words, "see uncertainty less as a disaster but as an opportunity to be conscious about the choices we make to come together as human beings. Change is the one constant, and we can learn it by action."

✨This episode is packed with valuable takeaways for activists, leaders, and anyone seeking to drive meaningful change. Whether you’re looking to understand the role of personal story in social movements or the strategies behind powerful organizing, this conversation is for you.

🎧Tune in now to be part of the dialogue that aims to inspire and equip us all in the pursuit of equity and change. Let's close this year inspired and ready for action. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182920

📖 Grab your copy of People, Power, Change: Organizing for Democratic Renewal, here. https://bookshop.org/p/books/people-power-and-change-organizing-for-democratic-renewal-marshall-ganz/20658319?sscid=b1k8_9gf2y&utm_source=ShareASale&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=2311213&utm_term=1535322

Join us next season. We’re gearing up for more thought-provoking podcast conversations, featuring a new lineup of impactful voices creating change in communities globally. We can’t wait to share these insights with you!

🌍📢🔥

10/10/2024

💼✨Continuing the Fight for Equity: Breaking Barriers for Latino Entrepreneurs Beyond Latino Heritage Month 🚀💡

As we near the close of Latino Heritage Month, it’s important to remember that while this time of recognition may be ending, the work to break down barriers for Latino entrepreneurs continues. Accessing capital remains one of the biggest challenges for entrepreneurs of color, compounded by the fact that generational wealth is not readily available in Black and Brown communities.

As Arturo Cazares, CEO of the LBAN/Latino Business Action Network, shared on our podcast and at our June 2024 Illumen Capital Impact Experience in Montgomery, AL, breaking down these barriers requires more than just financial support. It’s about building ecosystems of education, tailored growth strategies, research-driven advocacy, and shifting perceptions within financial institutions to create more equitable opportunities.

Our work must persist in building ecosystems of education, mentorship, and advocacy. By doing so, we push forward against the systemic obstacles that limit access to capital and continue creating opportunities for future generations of Latino entrepreneurs.

Listen to our podcast with Arturo. https://lnkd.in/gQP3CKHU

Check out our blog here. https://lnkd.in/g6ntCHSV

09/10/2024

🌟 Explore the Future of Sustainability on the latest episode of the Impact EXP Podcast! Join our CEO, Jenna Anita Nicholas, as she engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Dan Saccardi, the visionary Program Director at Ceres, Inc. 🎙️🌿

In this episode, Dan shares his deep insights into sustainable business practices and systemic change.

📢 Listen as they discuss transformative strategies for businesses to thrive in an environmentally conscious economy and how sustainability serves as a cornerstone for building resilient, equitable futures.

🔗 Tune in now for inspiration and actionable advice from a leader in environmental stewardship. Subscribe to our podcast to continue exploring our journey towards a more sustainable future!

👂 Listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2182920

03/10/2024

The legacies of slavery and colonialism have left profound inequalities across the world, perpetuating economic disparities, social injustices, and systemic discrimination. These historical structures have contributed to ongoing cycles of poverty and marginalization for many communities. In a recent article by our COO Olabayo Allen-Taylor, MBA and CEO Jenna Anita Nicholas, they delve into the global challenge of addressing these issues. Drawing from their 30 years of experience, they highlight that true equity is not only about racial and gender justice but also requires us to focus on class. Through Ava DuVernay’s film "Origin," they emphasize how caste systems and social hierarchies affect us all, no matter the geographical borders.

At Impact Experience, we believe there are powerful ways to bridge the wealth gap by fostering community-driven investments and collective action. By working closely with communities experiencing poverty and injustice, and through partnerships focused on economic value creation, we can make a sustainable impact. This work is essential as we continue to tackle systemic inequality and work toward a more equitable future for all. Read the full article and join us in this conversation. Click below to read more.

The legacies of slavery and colonialism have left deep scars on societies worldwide. These historical injustices have created wealth gaps…