Love, RUNWAY: A Story of Power, Love, and Transparency by Tomme Faust

Mar 11

LOVE, RUNWAY is an ongoing series of original written works by members of the RUNWAY team to remind ourselves and each other of the love we share for our work, our communities, and our people. To continue developing the muscle of reimagining what the world would look like if the economy loved Black people we write love letters to different points in humanity's timeline. We hope these stories will help others connect with our purpose and showcase the richly textured humans behind our work.

You are your ancestors’ wildest dreams. Though it may feel like the world has counted you out, honey, you have no idea of the greatness you will unveil simply by listening to your inner voice and moving toward a world designed for you to thrive—a world where love, joy, and celebration surround you, embracing all the ways you are unapologetically you.

Today, you hold the role of Power Building Strategist and Executive Administrator at RUNWAY. Here, we often return to the question posed by our founder and CEO: What would it look like if the economy loved Black people? For me, this question resonates deeply because I know what it feels like to be unloved—not just as a Black person, but as a queer, non-binary, neurospicy person navigating mental health challenges.

Growing up, you often felt powerless, isolated, and ashamed because of the economic instability you faced. I remember waking up in a shared room with Mom, another mother, and her child in the shelter we lived in, where someone else’s rules dictated our days. I remember the fleeting nature of your imagination and cheerfulness, how it felt like this was the sum of Black stories—a narrative you tried to escape for so long.

But here’s the beauty: Black stories are so vast. The fear and shame you felt once woven into your fabric are now the threads of a new story—a story of power, love, and transparency. It took time to move from behind the shame, and even now, it still chokes you up sometimes. But that is why you tell your story—because it isn’t only yours. It belongs to those with similar experiences and those whose journeys may look entirely different. Together, our collective stories from a throughline that shows how society has systematically worked to disenfranchise and disconnect Blackness in America and across the diaspora.

This is why I do this work, with gratitude in my heart: to remind people to believe in the strength of our ancestral lineage and the vision for our collective liberation. Some days are challenging. It feels like an uphill battle, and hope can feel distant. But I sit with the truth that if my ancestors had given up, where would I be? We are interconnected, and we need each other.

At RUNWAY, we confront the systems that define Blackness as a risk, which is fueled by deeply entrenched racial biases that manifest in things like predatory lending practices, unfair credit assessments, denied investments, and harmful economic policies. This racialized risk perception is not based on actual financial behaviors but rather on systemic racism embedded in historical and current financial structures.

We’re a financial innovation firm, yes, but more than that, we’re builders of liberation. When I first joined as Executive Administrator, my role was to support our team, create connections, and help ease the work of others. I carried out that work joyfully because I knew each person’s assignment was critical to our collective liberation.

Now, in my expanded role as a Power Building Strategist, I get to work even more closely with our communities—expanding our stories and fostering collective action. Through learning opportunities and activations, my work helps connect people to their own power and to each other.

As we deepen our commitment to this work, we will continue to stand firm in our mission—pushing funders and investors to recognize the urgency and importance of investing in Black communities. We invite funders, investors, and ecosystem partners to not only support but actively engage in community wealth-building by sharing and championing our power-building efforts. Additionally, we are offering training for investors, funders, and wealth movers to equip our entire ecosystem with the knowledge and tools necessary to sustain this movement—because knowledge is power.

We also remain dedicated to standing in solidarity with our comrades on the ground, those deeply entrenched in grassroots organizing, and our entrepreneurs. By providing resources such as connections, data, frameworks, and grants, we will strengthen their capacity to push policymakers toward real, reparative action.

I’ve learned that the systems designed to isolate us are no match for our collective power. The work we do at RUNWAY reminds me—and all of us—that we already have what we need in each other. Together, we are building a future where we know what it feels like to be loved through every phase of life.

RUNWAY’s work is about more than finances; it’s about reimagining what’s possible when the economy loves Black people. My personal story and my work remind me that liberation is not a distant dream. It’s a journey we take together, rooted in relationships, purpose, and the unwavering belief that we deserve joy and abundance.