The learning circle will take participants through a learning journey rooted in racial equity in the economic development of King County’s Black communities. King County’s Black communities, including Black, refugees, and descendants of enslaved African people, are centered in this learning circle topics because of the unique history, displacement, and economic disenfranchisement of Black communities in this region. We will work together to deepen our knowledge of economic development, home ownership, and financial literacy in King County’s Black communities and put ideas and strategies into practice.

The Learning Circle curriculum will include:

• Developing shared knowledge to close opportunity gaps for economic development in Black communities
• Exploring individual and collective power
• Learning about available tools and frameworks to embed racial equity in economic development in organizational structure and practices.
• Connecting organizations to build collective impact in King County

Participant Stipends
Each organization can enroll one representative for this leadership development opportunity. Participants will receive a $100 stipend for each ED Now! Learning Circle they participate in.

This program is supported by the Communities of Opportunity Learning Community. Communities of Opportunity is an initiative that was catalyzed in 2014 by King County and the Seattle Foundation uniting with each other and with communities to address inequity; promote leadership; influence changes to institutions, systems, and policies; and seat the base of power within communities. The Learning Community creates spaces for communities and organizations to share their work and gain additional skills across sectors and geographic areas to advance impact across the region.