What We Do

COMMUNITY & NETWORK ORGANIZING

BI believes that centering community to establish self-directed solutions is critical to advance change. This includes strengthening and building the local community infrastructure necessary to support and sustain these efforts long term.

The Community Justice Network for Youth (CJNY) is a national network of more than 125 community-based programs, grassroots organizations, service-providing agencies, residential facilities, and advocacy groups that build the capacity of community organizations to develop effective and culturally appropriate interventions for youth of color and poor communities. BI and a cadre of partners work to support, elevate, organize, and create spaces for the networks’ shared learning, networking, healing, and strategy development.

The Credible Messenger Mentoring Movement (CM3) is an initiative that works to advance impacted community capacity-building and justice transformation through: 1) The establishment of a national credible corps – designed to recruit, develop, prepare, and credential local cadres of credible messengers to engage justice-involved youth, families, and communities in transformative mentoring; while partnering with justice systems to advance transformative justice policies and practices; and 2) The development of a technical assistance and training consultancy, designed to provide preliminary and real-time guidance to local jurisdictions interested in engaging in credible messenger mentoring work. BI works with key partners to develop, incubate, and support the movement.

 

TRAINING & FACILITATION

BI works to support local communities, grassroots, nonprofits, government agencies, and philanthropic partners through various trainings and offerings aimed to strengthen their efforts to advance racial/ethnic justice. BI offers trainings on a variety of curricula, assessments and facilitation tools, customized frameworks, strategic direction and tool development. BI’s team of skilled facilitators support groups working to advance change. Our facilitation focuses on creating a participatory and respectful environment for groups navigating difficult and sensitive discussions regarding race and ethnicity. 

THOUGHT PARTNERSHIP

BI provides in-depth thought partnership to leaders trying to advance racial/ethnic justice and transformational change. As a thought partner, we engage in sharing ideas, challenging discussions, innovating approaches, co-design processes, navigating complex challenges, and strategizing toward change.

COACHING

BI offers customized leadership coaching support focused on strengthening skills and expertise in racial/ethnic equity and inclusion principles and methods of operationalization to advance initiatives working to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities. Coaching support offers access to a confidential, experienced, third-party perspective. This support is designed to increase one’s focus, comfort, and confidence in leading with a racial/ethnic justice lens.