Our core values of reducing and eliminating inequity, beginning with the direction of capital and financial solutions, have always driven Cogent Consulting’s work. Cogent and our partners like the Twin Cities Impact Investing Ecosystem are founded on principles of relentless positive change using our privileged resources and networks in the financial sector for good.
Our hearts are broken with events in our home the Twin Cities and global community. While the verdict of guilty on all murder charges for former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin on April 20th is a positive development, racism is far from over. The Cogent team knows it is not enough to be “not racist,” but we and all white people need to be actively anti-racist. We affirm that Black Lives Matter and recommit to that value in the wake of Duante Wright, Adam Toldedo, and Ma’Khia Bryant’s deaths at the hands of police.
We are reaching out to express that our hearts are with our Black friends and colleagues. We also ask our fellow white folks to seek out opportunities to join anti-racist efforts. We have included some places to start in this post.
Listen & Learn
Laylee Amadi of the creatives education podcast “So, Here’s the Thing” featured former Cogent Communications Associate Akua Konadu and her expertise in allyship to Black communities.
Partner
Akua today empowers social media entrepreneurs with personalized strategies. Get in touch with her via her website.
Support
Donate capital and time to a local Community Development Financial Institution like Meda that supports BIPOC.
Support
Order delivery and buy from local Black businesses like Junita’s Jar cookies.
Attend
Support the Center For Economic Inclusion, the first organization dedicated to inclusive economic growth, and attend their events for professionals and businesses who want to take action.
Build Forward Better: the 2021 Twin Cities Impact Investing Ecosystem conference, features a dozen guests with proven social impact strategies, nearly all of who are offering their valuable experiences as BIPOC. Tickets are available now.
Our next Social Entrepreneur Roundtable is May 18. Founder Susan Hammel uses these sessions to connect with professionals new to impact investing, students, businesses, and anyone who may value the perspective of a veteran in the field – plus a chance to network with others.
For grown-ups, back-to-school season means it’s Fall conference season. I’m excited to learn, share and connect at three national events: learn at the 10th Annual Great Plains Institutional Investor Forum, share our Midwest Impact Investing Landscape scan at Impact Engine’s Showcase in Chicago on October 1st, share at the MCF/MCN Annual Conference, and connect at SOCAP October 28-30th. Ping me if you’ll be there as I’d love to catch-up with you.
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