Sept. 23, 2021
WE’VE CHANGED OUR NAME
(NOT AALF, BUT…)
The Alliance of Alliances
is now
United By Black
Powered By All
Led by the African American
Leadership Forum
In the wake of George Floyd’s murder by local police, members of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity (The Boulé) felt an urgent responsibility as Black men to raise their voices and use their privilege as executives to address inequities brewing in Minneapolis.
Last Spring, the group challenged community, nonprofit, and business leaders to go beyond writing letters of concern to taking action. Acknowledging the diversity of Black Minnesotans, they reached out to the African American Leadership Forum (AALF) to ensure that any solutions would be centered on improving conditions and the environment for all of us.
The working group quickly chose a name, the Alliance of Alliances, knowing it was merely a placeholder for something that might have greater meaning for all involved.
As we hired additional staff at AALF to build capacity, we reached out to The Brand Lab, a local nonprofit that mentors talented high school and college marketing students. They worked with our stakeholders to seek out a name and logo that would better reflect this growing movement.
Several names didn’t quite work, but when we hit upon United By Black we knew we were on the right track. United By Black, or UB for short, reflects our commitment to systemic change that meets the needs of the Black community by leveraging AALF’s use of Black-centered design. The tagline, Powered By All, indicates that we are inclusive of those who are aligned with our core values. Not only are these individuals, organizations, and businesses welcome, but they have a meaningful role to play.
Over the coming years of this decade-long endeavor, we’ll work together to define what success looks like. As we move forward, we’ll engage and expand AALF’s network to ensure this work continues to be led by Black Minnesotans.
Stay tuned for more updates on how we’re moving forward with plans to engage Black Minnesotans—and those invested in this community—to understand the greater need as it relates to public safety, housing, education, employment, infrastructure, and healthcare. We aim to get at the root of centuries-long disparities in an effort to heal the past and transform the trajectory of the future. We know this work will not be easy or fast. To make a difference, we need your voice and your commitment. Together, we can raise our collective voices and ensure the world listens to Black Minnesotans.
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United By Black, Powered By All was established in early 2021 by community and business leaders in Minneapolis to address the disparities that led to the murder of George Floyd. UBB PBA is leveraging African American Leadership Forum’s Black Centered Design to positively impact Black Minnesotans through six critical focus areas.
Thank you to the UBB PBA (formerly the Alliance of Alliances) working group that helped bring this idea to AALF
Marc Belton, Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Itasca Project
Lauren Boulware, Morgan Stanley, AALF Board Member
Lynn Casey, Padilla PR (retired), Itasca Project
Ken Charles, Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity
Greg Cunningham, US Bank, Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity
Duchesne Drew, MPR, Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Itasca Project, AALF Board Member
Peter Frosch, Greater MSP
Dr. David Hamlar, U of M, Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity
Kevin Lindsey, Humanities Center of MN, AALF Board Member
Audrey Lucas, McKinsey & Co, Itasca Project
Tim Welsh, US Bank, Itasca Project
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About United By Black, Powered By All (UBB PBA)
United By Black, Powered By All was established in early 2020 by community and business leaders in Minneapolis to address the disparities that led to the murder of George Floyd. UBB PBA is leveraging African American Leadership Forum’s Black Centered Design to positively impact Black Minnesotans through six critical focus areas.
About Black-Centered Design
The Black-Centered Design process involves centering Black people in an intentional way. By engaging the Black community to gain nuanced insights, we are better equipped to solve the issues that most impact our lives.