BLU 2023 Recap and Exciting Plans for 2024!

Accomplishments in 2023:

In 2023, Black Families Love & Unite (BLU) achieved significant milestones. We hosted a transformative Reparations Convening in partnership with Law for Black Lives, featuring esteemed speakers such as Dorothy Roberts and a distinguished panel from organizations like Drug Policy Alliance, Center for Family Representation, Bronx Defenders, and Justice Gatson. To relive the highlights, check out the video!

Amidst personal struggles, our team demonstrated resilience, dedicating time to planning, brainstorming, and embracing a trial-and-error approach. A major achievement was the mapping out of our strategic plan, setting the stage for structured growth.

Financial Utilization:

Our financial resources were strategically employed to enhance our organizational capacity. We engaged contractors for essential roles, including a content manager and a grants writer. Recognizing the commitment of our organizers, we now provide stipends of $150 per month to acknowledge their invaluable contributions.

Challenges Faced and Lessons Learned:

Throughout 2023, we faced various challenges, but our collective determination never wavered. The experience taught us the importance of slowing down, emphasizing thoughtful planning and reflection.

Growth and Change:

The challenges of 2023 prompted BLU to evolve and develop a more robust structure. As we head into 2024, we carry forward the lessons learned and a refined plan.

Exciting Plans for 2024:

In 2024, BLU is geared up for an impactful year with a focus on building a reparations framework. Our 12-month goal is to create an inclusive space for dialogue, education, and change, centering around the themes of reparations, family policing, and community empowerment.

Key Components:

1. Reparations Convening: A dynamic symposium featuring in-depth discussions on reparations, family policing, and community empowerment.

2. Reparations Report: The cornerstone of our efforts, providing a comprehensive understanding of reparations, historical context, and community-driven recommendations.

3. Reparations Teach-In: An educational tool for wide accessibility, informing and educating about reparations and its role in addressing systemic injustices.

4. Community Talk Backs: Engaging the community for feedback based on the Reparations Report's findings, shaping policy recommendations and future initiatives.

Save the date for our Reparations Meeting on February 24, where we'll kick off this transformative journey.

Thank you for your continued support, and here's to a year of progress and empowerment!

Best regards,
BLU