Kirk Brown

The Ke’nekt Cooperative, a Black-led cooperative retail space in Southwest Atlanta, announces the launch of its “One Acre for Change” campaign—a community-powered effort to raise funds and secure permanent ownership of a commercial building in Southwest Atlanta for the benefit of Black entrepreneurs and cultural workers. This new campaign is about more than buying property—it’s about reclaiming power, building generational wealth, and securing a future rooted in equity and community. We’re not just raising funds—we’re raising a vision of a future where Black businesses can thrive without the constant threat of eviction or erasure,” Born out of the displacement of The Good Hair Shop—an iconic cultural hub for Black Atlantans—The Ke’nekt was founded by entrepreneur and organizer Kiyomi Rollins to protect and preserve Black-owned businesses against the accelerating tides of gentrification. This new campaign is about more than buying property—it’s about reclaiming power, building generational wealth, and securing a future rooted in equity and community. “One Acre for Change is our answer to economic exclusion. We’re not just raising funds—we’re raising a vision of a future where Black businesses can thrive without the constant threat of eviction or erasure,” said Kiyomi Rollins, Founder of The Ke’nekt. Why Now? As infrastructure projects continue to reshape the city, Black communities are being pushed out—economically, culturally, and politically. The Ke’nekt stands in direct resistance to this displacement by creating a sustainable, cooperative model that centers community collaboration and resilience. “This campaign is not just about us—it’s about all of us,” Rollins adds. “We’re honoring the legacy of those who came before, and we’re building for those who come next.” How to Support: Supporters are invited to join the movement by donating, amplifying the campaign, and attending upcoming community events. To give or learn more, visit https://lnkd.in/dcvtQ9id

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So encouraged to see the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta stepping up to support nonprofit stability across our region. The Nonprofit Sector Sustainability Fund will invest in 10 nonprofits through a powerful combination of funding and hands-on capacity building to help organizations strengthen leadership, operations, and long-term resilience. In a moment when many nonprofits are navigating uncertainty, this kind of support is essential to ensuring Atlanta’s most impactful and promising organizations can continue to serve, grow, and adapt. Selected nonprofits will receive $100,000 over two years, along with cohort-based learning, coaching, and technical assistance designed to build lasting organizational health. Applications are due February 27 at 7 p.m. If you’re part of a nonprofit working to deepen your impact and sustainability, this opportunity is worth a close look. Learn more and apply below 👇

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This Woman Knows has announced its November/December 2025 microgrant and seed grant recipients, continuing our direct investment in women-led and youth-founded initiatives. This round’s recipients are S&B Homes, a women-owned real estate investment company addressing housing access in Virginia and North Carolina, and Avery's Helpful Hair Kits, a youth-founded initiative supporting children in foster care with culturally appropriate hair care resources. These grants are part of our ongoing commitment to move resources directly into the hands of founders doing practical, community-centered work. Each cycle reinforces that women are already building solutions — and that targeted funding makes those efforts more sustainable. We’re proud to support this work and to continue growing a grant program rooted in accountability, transparency, and real outcomes. Learn more about the grant program: https://lnkd.in/gPYTJdT4 Blanca Cortez, MBA, CTP

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I had the privilege of joining Atlanta News First to share what we're building with The Same House Community Circle — and why it matters so deeply to me and our entire team. At its core, this is about people. Six incredible organizations across metro Atlanta are already doing transformational work in their communities. With the support of Microsoft, we're giving them more tools, more resources, and a bigger platform to expand what's possible. If you haven't yet heard about the Community Circle, I encourage you to watch and share. The more people who know about this work, the stronger it becomes. I'm grateful to Atlanta News First for helping us tell this story. Link to full segment below: https://lnkd.in/etPD2Mtr

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Attended the Nonprofit Business Agility Series today, co-hosted by Foundation For The Carolinas, United Way of Greater Charlotte, The Lee Institute, and SHARE Charlotte! It was a much-needed space to talk honestly about the resource challenges nonprofits are facing and how to prepare for what’s ahead. What stood out to me most was the urgency around storytelling and shifting the broader narrative across the sector. Leaders know messaging matters, but many feel under-resourced and aren’t sure where to start. There’s a clear appetite for strategic, authentic storytelling. As nonprofits continue adapting in uncertain times, communications should be treated as a pillar of resilience, never an afterthought. So make storytelling intentional and align it with your mission. And build visibility into your response strategy, especially when times are hard. People are paying attention.

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Driving Impact: Key Takeaways from the SGBC Small Business Roundtable The Southern Georgia Black Chambers hosted a highly impactful roundtable focused on critical community issues that intersect with business and health. We are proud to highlight the work of our featured guests: Kristina Cheek, CLC, CD, CD(DONA), CB-PPN, CBS (SISTA GIRL Birth Initiative): Discussed her mission to combat alarming maternal health disparities in rural South Georgia. She detailed how her community-based, Black-led organization provides essential education, doula support, and advocacy, while demonstrating the power of inter-member collaboration with fellow SGBC businesses like Family Insight and AJ Produced It. Adrienne Banks (LIFELINK of Georgia): Presented a powerful case for organ donation, revealing that 70% of Georgians waiting for a kidney transplant are African American. She offered actionable steps to combat the stigma around donation and encouraged our network to educate their families and friends, highlighting the life-saving potential of one single donor. These conversations exemplify the SGBC's commitment to tackling real-world challenges through business and community engagement. Learn from leaders who are making a difference. Our bi-monthly roundtables are a core benefit of membership. Want to position your expertise in front of a network of change-makers? Join the Southern Georgia Black Chambers and apply to be a featured guest! Learn more about membership here: https://lnkd.in/eBr2U_Xj #SGBC #SmallBusinessRoundtable #LinkedIn #BusinessDevelopment #ChamberOfCommerce #CommunityImpact #MaternalHealth #OrganDonation #Leadership #Collaboration #BlackBusiness #SouthGeorgia #sgablackchambers

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Baltimore’s Mayor’s Office of Small and Minority Business Advocacy & Development has partnered with the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc., to enhance access to certification programs, contracting opportunities, and business development resources. This alliance includes the ByBlack Certification Program, which offers no-cost certification to elevate Black-owned businesses, as well as a series of webinars on contracting and certification. https://buff.ly/oOzJtfF

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Proud to share this opportunity for Black-owned small businesses and Black-led nonprofits here in Nashville. Bradley is partnering with the Arts & Business Council’s Volunteer Lawyers & Professionals for the Arts program to host a Black-Owned Small Business & Nonprofit Community Clinic on February 19. This clinic offers pro bono legal consultations covering things like business formation, contracts, tax questions, governance, local regulations, and even intellectual property as capacity allows. It’s designed specifically to support organizations with limited means and majority Black ownership. If you or someone you know could benefit, registration is open now. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/e3HKyRZK Access to the right information can make a real difference.

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Yesterday at Launch Carolinas with GOODSTOCK Consulting, LLC I had the opportunity to sit in a powerful conversation with funders and nonprofit leaders from across North and South Carolina — convened @Bluecross Blueshield NC One visual anchored our conversation: The Water of Systems Change model. It reminds us that what we see at the surface — programs, services, events — is only a small part of the system. Below the waterline are the forces that actually shape outcomes: • Policies • Practices • Resource flows • Relationships • Power dynamics • Mental models And if we don’t address what’s underwater, we are simply reacting to symptoms. In rural communities, transportation is often framed as charity — a ride, a favor, a gap-filler. But through a systems lens, transportation is infrastructure. When mobility fails: • Healthcare outcomes decline • Workforce participation drops • Aging in place becomes unstable • Public dollars shift from prevention to crisis response The biggest takeaway for me: If community voice does not influence resource flow, it is participation — not power. Systems change requires redesigning conditions — not just scaling programs. Grateful to be in rooms where nonprofit leaders and funders are willing to move below the waterline. Because real impact doesn’t happen at the surface. #LaunchCarolinas #SystemsChange #MobilityIsHealthcare #RuralLeadership #NonprofitLeadership #Kramer

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In honor of Women’s History Month, I am excited to share that BoldImpact ATL is hosting a powerful session at Super South later this month. "From Vision to Velocity: Women Leading Atlanta’s Sustainability" is focused on one thing: turning bold ideas into real-world action at a defining moment for our city. As Atlanta prepares to host the World Cup 2026, this session highlights how women leaders are shaping sustainability outcomes that extend far beyond the event itself. I will kick off with a fast-paced lightning round featuring: Jennifer Chirico, PhD + Georgia Tech Office of Sustainability Dr. Quinta Nwanosike Warren, PE, PMP, ENV SP + Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Sandra Elizabeth Leyva Martinez + CHEP Michelle Wiseman + City of Atlanta Sustainability Ambassador Program Tia Robinson + Vertical Activewear Yasha Chaturvedi + Cortland Expect candid insights on leadership, execution, and building momentum at scale. The conversation then shifts to an intimate 1:1 interview with me, led by Sree Ratna Kancherla of Henekom Group, offering a behind-the-scenes look at BoldImpact ATL’s strategy and how the World Cup can serve as a catalyst for lasting local impact. This is about velocity, alignment, and execution - with women leading and mentoring at every level. Together.

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"By Us: The Beauty of Black-Owned" is a section of The Encounter, our newsletter at Enharmonic Encounters LLC, dedicated to spotlighting Black women business owners.   Marissa Davis is the Founder and Principal of Tallawah Consulting, a social impact consultancy that helps companies maximize their impact by leveraging evidence-based practices, innovation, and inclusion to drive their core strategies forward. Having worked across various sectors, including law, tech, public policy, non-profit and business, she recognizes the far-reaching impact leveraging business as a force for good can have on communities and ecosystems, especially those that have been historically overlooked and underinvested. She remains a champion of social entrepreneurship, both as an educator, practitioner, and advisor in the field, and also as Co-Chair of B Local NYC, which shepherds the work of the 180+ B Corps in New York City that is using business to positively impact residents and their communities in the city.   Learn more at https://lnkd.in/dqqif3tN.   Are you a Black woman business owner? We want to get to know you, support you, and feature you on our channels! To learn more about how we support Black women, subscribe to our newsletter: https://lnkd.in/eA3YMZfr   #blackowned #blackwomen #businessforgood #socialimpact #tallawahconsulting

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The Future of Nonprofit Leadership Is Human + AI. We’re thrilled to announce that the Mecklenburg County Nonprofit Capacity-Building Bootcamp returns for the 2025–2026 program year, with an exciting new focus on AI-powered #innovation for #grassroots organizations! In partnership with the #MecklenburgCounty Department of #PublicHealth, Social Architects, LLC will guide a dynamic new cohort of community-based leaders through hands-on workshops, AI integration labs, and personalized executive coaching — all designed to help small and mid-sized #nonprofits accelerate their impact, strengthen operations, and master #grantreadiness in the digital age. 📅 Program Launch: November 13, 2025 📝 Registration: October 15 – November 1, 2025 🌐 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eWTbEE_B #charlottenonprofits #capacitybuilding

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Venture Atlanta 2025 wrapped up another record-breaking year, bringing together founders, investors, and innovators to celebrate Southeast entrepreneurship. The two-day event at the Woodruff Arts Center and Atlanta Symphony Hall showcased the city’s growing influence as a technology and venture capital powerhouse. Now in its 18th year, the conference continues to drive growth and opportunity by connecting visionary startups with investors and corporate leaders. The expanded global participation reflects Venture Atlanta’s rising impact and its role as a catalyst for meaningful business connections. Centered around the theme Growth Through Connection, the 2025 edition spotlighted collaboration, sustainability, and diversity as cornerstones of the region’s thriving innovation ecosystem. The result: a dynamic showcase of the people and ideas shaping the future of tech in the Southeast and beyond. Read the rest of the UrbanGeekz story here https://lnkd.in/d9DDYuw2

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FOR NONPROFITS in Buncombe County NC: Buncombe County Government Strategic Partnership Grant applications close in 2 weeks, on Feb. 20, 2026. One-on-one grant writing consultations with staff are still available. Grant applications must be aligned with County strategic objectives (Community Health, Economic Development, Education, Energy & Environment, Growth & Development, and Public Safety), and alignment with Helene recovery is encouraged and supported by the scoring rubric. This year, the $1 million County grant program has two funding options: Option 1 is for up to $10,000 for one-time projects (not including personnel or operating expenses). Option 2 is for up to $85,000 for general project or program costs, including operating expenses. Visit https://lnkd.in/eyPVmiV3 for information about the process, to learn how to have a consultation about your application, and for full grant guidelines. Yesterday, the Strategic Partnership Grants Committee held a publicly streamed hybrid meeting at County offices. Pictured are some of the committee members and staff who attended in person. I currently chair the committee. I encourage you to read through the guidelines and, if appropriate, to apply.

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Small Businesses matter. United Way of Greater Atlanta understands the value of small business. Read more to learn about Building Resilient Entrepreneurs (BRE).

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Excited to see the launch of the first-of-its-kind Labor Institute at Clark Atlanta University. This initiative will empower Black strategists and advance workforce equity. A vital step towards representation and innovation in our community. https://lnkd.in/gWrv2Hwn

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Exciting news! Eckerd Connects is teaming up with CareSource to expand workforce development opportunities in rural Georgia. With a $10,000 grant, this partnership will break down barriers to education and employment, connect members to career pathways, and provide vital resources like food pantries and life coaching—helping families achieve self-sufficiency and build stronger communities. Learn more: https://brnw.ch/21wVSXF #EckerdConnects #CareSource #WorkforceDevelopment #RuralGeorgia #EmpoweringPotential #BuildingCareers

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Students exposed to CIS earn more as adults, are more likely to be stably employed, and experience greater economic mobility, with effects that rival or exceed those of other well-known education interventions.

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