At RUNWAY, we know that power is not just about capital—it’s about agency, autonomy, and the ability to define our own futures. That’s why power building is central to our work. Read more.

What’s up P? This letter is coming to you from a much older version of yourself. I am 54 now, and I am writing this letter to you, my 14-year-old self. I know you have your heart set on being a high-profile lawyer as an adult.

At its core, Reparative Capital seeks to address and amend historical economic injustices, particularly those inflicted upon Black communities, by providing immediate, tangible resources that empower these communities to thrive.

As I write to you, Babygirl, I want to share a piece of my journey and, more importantly, my vision for the future—a future I’m working toward with all my heart. My work at RUNWAY is not just a job; it’s the fulfillment of a promise I’ve made to myself, to you, and to our community.

Looking back on this year so far, it’s clear that at RUNWAY, we’re building something that’s redefining the financial landscape. The future demands creative energy, a relentless belief that we can and will do more, and a commitment to imagine a world far beyond the limitations we face today. 

I recently learned you were an entrepreneur, but I don’t know if you saw yourself that way. You might’ve said you were simply doing what needed to be done to raise eight children, and honestly, that alone was probably enough to earn you the title.

I’m writing from the year 2024 where I serve as the Creative Director of a financial innovation firm called RUNWAY. I work with a formidable team of Black and Brown financial activists, organizers, creatives, and entrepreneurs…

We can meet where Believe-in-You Money and Reparative Capital converge and create a movement that not only supports Black entrepreneurs but transforms our entire economic system.

Our trip to Chicago was a celebration of the city’s rich entrepreneurial spirit and a commitment to fostering a more just financial ecosystem.

Believe-in-you money—that early, patient, flexible capital that turns Black brilliance into reality—can be the key to accelerate repair, restoration, and a fundamental reimagining of our economy.

Wealth From Within invites you to journey with us as we unearth new narratives around the history of extraction in the South and recognize the vital link between creative entrepreneurship and reparative capital in building community wealth and power.

Reparative capital is more than just financial support—it's about healing, repair, and justice. We believe in supporting the whole person, not just the business. That means recognizing the unique experiences of Black entrepreneurs and providing the resources they need.

As with most things that move into motion at RUNWAY, the visual direction of The RUNWAY ROOTED Fund began with the practice of deep imagination. How do we capture what the ROOTED Fund stands for–Black community wealth and power building; a vessel of restitution; closing the racial wealth gap; etc.– and make it hella beautiful?

Introducing The RUNWAY ROOTED Fund: A National Reparative Finance Fund Empowering Black Communities

Nonprofit financial innovation firm RUNWAY commits to raising $50 million in integrated capital for Black communities across the country

The RUNWAY ROOTED Fund departs from conventional investing paradigms. It is a call to action for investors, funders, and wealth holders who understand the transformative potential of reparative capital and share our commitment to fostering collective wealth and building power in Black communities.

Our trip to Alabama last spring served as a cornerstone event for rooting our work in community, stewardship, and investing in Southern Black entrepreneurship. We shared such beautiful moments and conversations with an incredible delegation made up of local community leaders, creative entrepreneurs, artists, investors, organizers, and ecosystem partners.

Believe-in-You Money is about bringing love, repair, and money together. It’s about how we enter into love, how we work intentionally to repair racial injustice, and how we use the resource of money to transform things around us for the better.

The racial wealth gap is not merely a result of historical injustices but a manifestation of the systemic racism and economic oppression that continues to harm Black communities and communities of color. Addressing wealth disparities in a meaningful and sustainable way requires a fundamental shift in policies, practices, and culture to dismantle inequitable structures and reimagine new economic systems that work for us all.

In the pursuit of economic empowerment, Black entrepreneurs have long navigated a challenging landscape riddled with systemic racism and oppressive structures. The idea of individual wealth, while appealing on the surface, has often left many in our communities marginalized while reinforcing existing disparities. It's time for a major shift in perspective. What if we moved from the confines of individual success to the transformative power of collective wealth?

There’s no skirting around the fact that the U.S. financial system is fundamentally flawed. The financial system has been established using a complex framework of laws, regulations, institutions, and practices to support the economy and serve the people. But, when the system values profit over people or the planet, who gets left behind?