FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Minneapolis, MN—January 24, 2025—The African American Leadership Forum (The Forum) has released its bold 2025 Policy Priorities, a transformative agenda designed to address systemic inequities and empower Black Minnesotans. Anchored in its flagship Black Agenda for Change, The Forum’s roadmap centers on Economic Prosperity, Generational Wealth (with this year’s focus on Housing), and Education—three pillars that will drive generational transformation as Minnesota’s legislative session begins.

“As we move into 2025, The Forum’s priorities reflect a deep commitment to reimagining systems through a Black-centered lens,” said Amber Jones, managing director of policy impact at The Forum. “This isn’t just about advocating for change—it’s about building a future where Black Minnesotans thrive unapologetically, with strength, resilience, and limitless potential.”

The Black Agenda for Change—a platform of community-driven solutions—drives transformation through bold policies and social innovations rooted in Black-Centered Design. Intentionally multi-sector in nature, it brings together public, private, and community partners to confront systemic inequities with holistic, forward-thinking solutions. In 2024, The Forum focused on Education, Public Safety, and Economic Prosperity. Building on these achievements, the 2025 agenda sharpens its focus on creating lasting economic sovereignty, dismantling barriers to generational wealth, and cultivating liberatory education systems.

Economic mobility is a critical pathway to self-determination, yet Black Minnesotans face entrenched barriers to opportunity. For example, in 2021, Black-owned, non-employer firms averaged sales of $12,000, or around 30 percent, lower per year than those of white-owned, non-employer firms.

The Forum’s economic agenda for 2025 prioritizes:

• Community Benefit Ordinances to empower local ownership and prevent displacement.
• Access to capital through the GroundBreak Coalition: Capital Access and Innovation Fund, unlocking resources for Black entrepreneurs and homeowners.
• Ecosystems that channel wealth directly into Black communities.

“We are redefining what economic empowerment means for Black Minnesotans,” Jones shared. “We are creating new avenues for wealth creation and innovation through initiatives such as our Radical Black Futures Series, which this year will feature an event centered around cannabis and AI.”

On the housing front, homeownership remains one of the most effective ways to build and transfer wealth across generations. Yet Minnesota’s Black homeownership rate lags at just 30%, compared to 77% for white households.

The Forum’s housing priorities include:

• Advocating for rent payment reporting to credit bureaus to strengthen credit scores for aspiring homeowners.
• Promoting employer-sponsored housing savings accounts for first-time Black homeowners.
• Supporting the Our Future Starts at Home constitutional amendment to expand funding for homeownership programs and homelessness prevention.

“Housing isn’t just shelter—it’s power,” Jones stated. “By addressing these inequities head-on, we can unlock pathways to stability and generational wealth for Black families.”

Despite education serving as a gateway to possibilities, disparities in access and outcomes continue to exist. Only 33% of Black students in Minnesota meet reading proficiency standards, compared to 66% of white students.

The Forum’s vision for education includes:

• Creating learning hubs where mentorship rooted in ancestral wisdom meets cutting-edge career pathways.
• Replacing punitive school measures with restorative practices that foster safety, belonging, and academic excellence.

Jones explained, “Our vision for education centers on abundance. It’s about creating spaces where Black students can imagine, innovate, and lead without limitation.”

In 2025, The Forum is also pioneering a revolutionary data tool—the first of its kind in Minnesota—to transform how the social sector addresses racial inequities. Additionally, recent collaborations, including a partnered conversation with the Aspen Institute, will explore solutions that bridge equity, innovation, and policy.

“Data and partnerships are key to dismantling systemic barriers,” Jones noted. “We’re entering a new era where bold strategies and community leadership intersect to drive lasting change.”

About the African American Leadership Forum
The African American Leadership Forum operates as a think-and-do tank, converting research-based thought on social issues into action-oriented agendas and solutions that address the fundamental causes of racial injustice. Our mission is to create a radical future for Black Minnesotans by advancing Black-centered policies and solutions that actualize true liberation. We envision a prosperous future for Black Minnesota communities—a tomorrow that is inclusive, vibrant, fair, and where Black excellence excels in all forms. Inspired by the Afrofuturism movement, we embrace the rich heritage of Black communities and believe in the unlimited potential of the future. We imagine innovative problem-solving to achieve racial harmony while empowering Black communities with resources to manifest an equitable future for themselves.

For further information or media inquiries, please contact:

Dara Beevas
dara@aalftc.org