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<v ->Welcome everyone.</v>

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Wow, I am so excited to be here with all of you today.

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As we kick off the 2022 Social Innovation Summit

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series of events.

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By way of introduction for those of you who I don't know,

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my name is Olivia Allen and I am incredibly proud

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to have the privilege of being the executive vice president

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and head of events at Landmark Ventures.

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I would like to extend a very heartfelt welcome

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to our cherished Social Innovation Summit Community.

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And for those of you who are perhaps getting

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to know us for the first time,

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thank you so much for being here with us today.

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We are genuinely excited to get it to know you.

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Now for our new attendees,

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a little bit about the Social Innovation Summit.

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We are a platform designed to elevate groundbreaking ideas

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and innovative leaders who are making a difference

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and changing the world for better.

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Now, as part of the Social Innovation Summit's

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carefully curated year round calendar events,

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we so honored to partner with the best organizations

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in the world.

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We try to amplify conversations, partnerships,

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and solutions around some of the biggest issues

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facing our communities today.

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Now as mentioned, the Social Innovation Summit

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hosts a number of events throughout the year

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and this year I'd be remiss not to mention

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that our flagships summit will be returning

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in person in Washington DC

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on June 7th through the eighth.

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Today as mentioned, is kicking off our series of events.

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And I am so honored to share this moment with our longtime

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and incredible partners at Comcast NBC Universal.

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Today's really, really important.

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we are discussing the critical nature

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of investing leaders of color and how we can advance

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racial equity through social entrepreneurship.

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Now to facilitate this critical discussion,

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we are welcoming Gwyneth Gaul,

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who is the associate vice president

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of strategic partnerships and community impact

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at Comcast NBC Universal.

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Cheryl Dorsey, who is the chief executive officer

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at Echoing Green and Damon Packwood,

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who's the creator and executive director of Game Heads,

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and also Mel Ochoa,

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who is the chief operating officer at Landmark Ventures.

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This group of people are gonna dive into a conversation

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focused on promising partnerships and initiatives,

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supporting entrepreneurs of color

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and social enterprise work.

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Today is a solutions oriented conversation that will explore

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strategies and approaches for advancing

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a more inclusive economy

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that strengthens the workforce of tomorrow.

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A bit of housekeeping, and then I'm gonna turn it over.

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I'm so excited for the discussion.

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We've sent all of you in attendance

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our digital brochure,

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it has the agenda and our speaker bios,

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and we are taking questions from the audience

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that our speakers will answer

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towards the end of the discussion.

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So please submit your questions

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through the zoom Q and A function throughout the event.

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Now let's get to our program.

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I am so pleased to welcome our moderator

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and the chief operating officer,

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my colleague and friend at Landmark Ventures, Mel Ochoa.

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<v ->Thank you, Olivia, I really appreciate it.</v>

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Welcome everybody at home watching this,

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really glad you are here with us

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and thank you to our wonderful guests.

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Don't forget to submit your questions in the chat function,

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but wait, I have been in the Olympics.

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I have gone down the rabbit hole.

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And so it's really just to talk to anybody right now

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outside of quads and 1260s and halfpipes and everything.

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So it is really nice to get together with other people

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and have a conversation.

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I always think of these webinars

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or these conversations, these moderated times together

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as a dinner conversation,

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you know that question,

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who would you want to invite to dinner?

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And I would absolutely want to invite Cheryl,

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Gwyneth and Damon to dinner.

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We would be having cereal because I'm not a great cook,

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but other than that, it would be a great conversation.

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Cheryl, you are not only an industry leader

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when it comes to social entrepreneurship,

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but you've helped create the industry over decades.

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I have nothing but deep respect for you.

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Gwyneth, you have such deep experience

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in philanthropy over your career

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that you are obviously one of the top national experts

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on the intersection between funding

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and community partnership,

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especially now with your investment portfolio, Comcast,

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and I just saw your digital equity commercial last night

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during the Olympics and your team was doing great work.

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It was beautiful.

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And then Damon, I lived in Oakland for quite some time.

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I love Oakland.

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I've been wanting to meet you for a while.

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You were in the game, no pun intended,

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but pun sort of intended, I wanna look witty,

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not only building an enterprise,

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working hard on the front lines,

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but building an ecosystem for the next generation

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to have more pathways to participation.

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And that's I think why we're all doing this,

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to make sure that those pathways

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to participation are there for the next generation.

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So you are doing the good work.

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So I'm really happy

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that we're having this dinner conversation

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and, you know, pick your cereal, pick your favorite cereal.

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Before we jump into the discussion,

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I wanna highlight the incredible connection and partnership

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between these three organizations.

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Comcast is an early investor

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in Echoing Green's racial equity

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philanthropic fund in 2021 and Game Heads,

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a 2016 echoing green fellow.

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Who's worked truly encapsulates

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the focus and mission of the fund.

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So you three have already been at the table

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having dinner together.

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We're just adding our voices to it.

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So let's kick off the discussion.

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We have a great time together over the next hour,

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reminder to all those watching,

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submit your questions in the chat,

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and we will get to those sort of at the bottom of the hour,

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Cheryl, would love to start with you,

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bring you into the conversation first,

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and I'm actually gonna read this

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because these numbers are incredible.

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I actually didn't know this.

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And I feel like I'm on top of most things.

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So you just announced a three year racial equity

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philanthropic fund, as I just mentioned,

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but here's the incredible part, by 2023,

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your commitment is to launch and scale

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500 social enterprises, improve social innovation

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on ramps for 5,000 emerging leaders

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and engage 10,000 corporate employees.

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Can you share more about the fund?

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How did it start and where is it heading?

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<v ->Yes, so thank you Mel,</v>

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for facilitating and hosting this dinner party.

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I feel like I'm at the cool kids table, so appreciate it.

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Longtime fan of yours, Mel, as I first met you

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as you began your social innovation journey.

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And am grateful to be here with my EG, family,

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Damon and Gwyneth, who I'm sitting here today

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because of Gwyneth's leadership at Comcast

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to help make all of this possible.

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So before I jump into the racial equity philanthropic fund,

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just wanna start with two quick things.

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I always like to start these panels

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with a land acknowledgement.

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I'm coming to you all today from the land of the,

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which means comes from the word,

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which is a town of traders.

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And in this moment, when we're talking about equity,

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racial equity, sort of using land acknowledgement

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as a really important justice and decolonial practice

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is a reminder of how we all need to walk the walk,

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talk the talk every single day.

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So thank you for giving the space to do that.

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And then secondly,

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you are gonna hear me throughout this hour

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actually use the term social innovation,

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which we define at Echoing Green as a process, right?

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A process of developing and deploying effective solutions

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to challenging and systemic social and environmental issues

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in support of social progress.

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It's a broader concept, but also includes

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the work of social entrepreneurs.

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So I just wanted to do some expectation setting on that

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because the field of social innovation,

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which is now tipped into movement building territory,

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this is how fields and movements grow

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as the terminology shifts and grows.

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So that said, thank you for acknowledging

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the fund that we started at Echoing Green,

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The Racial Equity Philanthropic Fund, REPF.

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It was launched last June, June of 2020 after two things,

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the murder of Mr. Floyd on May 25th, 2020,

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as well as sort of the middle of a global pandemic

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that we all have lived through and continue to live through.

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But one that has disproportionately impacted

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communities of color and marginalized communities.

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So it really was, all of us had a reckoning,

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a racial reckoning,

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and how were we gonna respond individually

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and organizationally

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to this historic influence of events,

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an Echoing Green, that has a deep belief in

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and commitment to the movement of social innovation said,

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we recognize how powerful a tool

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for transformational social change social innovation can be.

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And in an increasingly complex world

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with more and more existential problems, we said,

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we've gotta be unapologetic about raising our hand

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to stand alongside things like rights based movements,

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community organizing, advocacy efforts,

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all of these incredibly important strategies

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for driving transformational social change.

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We believe that this was social innovation's moment

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to raise its hand and stand up

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and show how it could be an important additional tool

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and strategy to drive social progress,

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especially as it relates to dismantling oppress forces,

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including structural racism.

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So we set a goal, we said, okay,

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we're gonna try to gather $50 million

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to try to lever up the work that we do.

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This has been so successful because of leaders

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like Gwyneth and Comcast.

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We actually very quickly got to the 50 million

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and have now raised the ceiling to 75 million,

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'cause we believe we can do more good.

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And you laid out the three pillars of the work, Mel,

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it's all about the who, the what and the how.

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So this is all about leaders like Damon.

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We need more talent on the field

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to tackle and solve these structural inequities.

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So we were like, we do great work.

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We've known Damon since he started out with,

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but we need more Damons out there.

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So we agree to lever up the number of social entrepreneurs

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that we identified, vetted and supported

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getting them into the work of social innovation.

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Second piece was recognizing

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social innovation as a field had to really work

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on its movement building days.

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And we all know that movements thrive

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because of the engagement

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and mobilization of young people.

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Social innovation has become a clarion call

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for next generation leaders who have recognized

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that people with gray hair like me

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have messed a lot of this stuff up and we gotta get them

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into the game with their energy,

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their passion and their commitment.

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So some of the work that we had been doing

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on five HBCU campuses, we decided to lever up that work

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and imagine 5,000 young folks who were given permission.

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Creating a permission structure to follow in the footsteps

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of Damon Packwood and others, of opening up a whole new

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frontline and the fight for racial equity.

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And then last but not least, how do we work

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with corporate leaders like Gweneth and you Mel,

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this notion that we talk a lot about allyship in this world,

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it far too often becomes are too performative.

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It doesn't have much meat to it,

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but imagine if you could upscale thousands and thousands

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of business leaders that sit in extraordinary companies

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like Comcast to make them true partners

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in the fight for racial equity.

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That's what social innovation does well

267
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as an Alliance based model for change, right?

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Crowding us all in so we're not talking

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about sort of zero sum opportunities,

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but win-win opportunities about how do we all come together

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to work towards a shared goal?

272
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And a lot of the work at Echoing Green is done

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to wrap supports around entrepreneurs like Damon,

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getting smart people in the room

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to help another really smart person in the room

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who's trying to change the world and doing the kind

277
00:12:21.440 --> 00:12:23.360
of shared, skilled based volunteering

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and connectivity that's required to do this work at scale.

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All of that was wrapped in

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to the racial equity philanthropic fund

281
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and were just thrilled to have Comcast

282
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as an anchor partner and do more to help

283
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and support leading lights like Damon.

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<v ->That's great, yes.</v>

285
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We need more Damons, how do we do that?

286
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We need, maybe it's a science route of replicating Damon,

287
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but you're taking the social innovation route

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of finding other people like Damon and training them up.

289
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So there are a couple pathways there.

290
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What I love about this conversation is that we at Landmark

291
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and Social Innovation Summit,

292
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we we're hearing this more and more of the commitments

293
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that were made two years ago when you started this fund

294
00:13:05.200 --> 00:13:10.180
and now seeing how things have mapped out and really here,

295
00:13:11.030 --> 00:13:13.630
there's a huge anchor that's been placed.

296
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And so seeing that outcome is really inspiring.

297
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As we know that a lot of places have made commitments

298
00:13:21.150 --> 00:13:24.480
and not followed through, Comcast, Echoing Green.

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And then also people like Damon, this is now

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a commitment that has been followed through

301
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and we're seeing the benefits of it.

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We're reaping the rewards of it.

303
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And it's so cool to see.

304
00:13:34.720 --> 00:13:38.210
So really nice to hear that, Gwyneth,

305
00:13:38.210 --> 00:13:41.710
from your perspective, Comcast, NBC Universal,

306
00:13:41.710 --> 00:13:44.000
you were an early investor, as Cheryl mentioned

307
00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:46.474
in the Racial Equity Philanthropic Fund.

308
00:13:46.474 --> 00:13:50.050
As an investor, can you talk about your commitment

309
00:13:50.050 --> 00:13:52.360
to supporting entrepreneurs of color

310
00:13:52.360 --> 00:13:55.012
and communities of color in the social enterprise work

311
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that Cheryl mentioned?

312
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And then also how does supporting this fund

313
00:13:59.280 --> 00:14:01.950
tie into Comcast's broader equity commitment?

314
00:14:01.950 --> 00:14:03.920
Because I know you're doing a lot of things.

315
00:14:03.920 --> 00:14:05.615
You are busy.

316
00:14:05.615 --> 00:14:06.620
(laughing)

317
00:14:06.620 --> 00:14:09.880
<v ->We are, and first and foremost, thank you, Mel.</v>

318
00:14:09.880 --> 00:14:11.810
And the Social Innovation,

319
00:14:11.810 --> 00:14:13.690
for hosting this important conversation.

320
00:14:13.690 --> 00:14:16.886
It's being able to have platforms like this

321
00:14:16.886 --> 00:14:19.360
that can be really transformative.

322
00:14:19.360 --> 00:14:22.920
So thank you to that and thank you for Cheryl

323
00:14:22.920 --> 00:14:25.940
and Damon for taking the time to join us.

324
00:14:25.940 --> 00:14:28.110
So just to take a quick step back, right?

325
00:14:28.110 --> 00:14:29.840
So the history of Comcast

326
00:14:29.840 --> 00:14:32.550
actually starts with an entrepreneur founder.

327
00:14:32.550 --> 00:14:35.150
It's deep in the company's DNA,

328
00:14:35.150 --> 00:14:38.150
to really believe that entrepreneurs spark innovation

329
00:14:38.150 --> 00:14:41.330
that make essential contributions to our communities,

330
00:14:41.330 --> 00:14:43.230
as well as to our economy.

331
00:14:43.230 --> 00:14:46.430
It's why supporting entrepreneurs of color in particular

332
00:14:46.430 --> 00:14:49.500
is central to our overall equity strategy.

333
00:14:49.500 --> 00:14:52.550
We know that their success is really directly tied

334
00:14:52.550 --> 00:14:55.100
to job growth, to community growth

335
00:14:55.100 --> 00:14:57.900
and to economic mobility.

336
00:14:57.900 --> 00:15:00.410
It's why we're investing in entrepreneurs

337
00:15:00.410 --> 00:15:03.480
through Echoing Green that we know will support

338
00:15:03.480 --> 00:15:05.997
the work of hundreds of social entrepreneurs,

339
00:15:05.997 --> 00:15:08.631
and just hearing Cheryl speak its me so excited.

340
00:15:08.631 --> 00:15:11.560
Wheels start turning there's so much more

341
00:15:11.560 --> 00:15:14.863
that we can be doing together so excited

342
00:15:14.863 --> 00:15:16.370
to continue to dig in.

343
00:15:16.370 --> 00:15:17.960
But I think, you know, as you,

344
00:15:17.960 --> 00:15:21.140
you heard from Cheryl as you'll hear from Damon as well,

345
00:15:21.140 --> 00:15:24.061
we can't really just fund our way to equity,

346
00:15:24.061 --> 00:15:27.830
entrepreneurs of color not only need funding and resources,

347
00:15:27.830 --> 00:15:31.110
but they also need support systems for training,

348
00:15:31.110 --> 00:15:33.100
social networks, infrastructure,

349
00:15:33.100 --> 00:15:36.490
to be able to grow and scale their businesses.

350
00:15:36.490 --> 00:15:39.760
I think that's why in part we made such a significant

351
00:15:39.760 --> 00:15:42.719
and early investment in the Racial Equity Philanthropic Fund

352
00:15:42.719 --> 00:15:44.630
because through the fund,

353
00:15:44.630 --> 00:15:46.930
Echoing Green's not only providing just the funding,

354
00:15:46.930 --> 00:15:49.370
but also providing that support and training

355
00:15:49.370 --> 00:15:51.770
like Cheryl talked about for these businesses

356
00:15:51.770 --> 00:15:54.370
to be able to grow and to scale.

357
00:15:54.370 --> 00:15:56.090
So I think, you know, like Echoing Green,

358
00:15:56.090 --> 00:15:58.505
we really believe in a holistic set of supports

359
00:15:58.505 --> 00:16:00.090
for entrepreneurs.

360
00:16:00.090 --> 00:16:02.409
I think another example of our work,

361
00:16:02.409 --> 00:16:06.260
you mentioned we're busy, but through Comcast Rise,

362
00:16:06.260 --> 00:16:08.570
which is providing technology, media,

363
00:16:08.570 --> 00:16:11.300
marketing and grant support for small businesses

364
00:16:11.300 --> 00:16:12.607
all across the country,

365
00:16:12.607 --> 00:16:14.705
that are led by individuals of color.

366
00:16:14.705 --> 00:16:19.705
And I think also as, as a media and technology company,

367
00:16:19.800 --> 00:16:23.850
we believe in bringing these stories and issues to life

368
00:16:23.850 --> 00:16:25.370
through powerful storytelling.

369
00:16:25.370 --> 00:16:28.090
And so very proud that in addition

370
00:16:28.090 --> 00:16:29.230
to our support of the fund,

371
00:16:29.230 --> 00:16:32.100
that we also were supporting a new documentary

372
00:16:32.100 --> 00:16:34.304
that was produced by Echoing Green,

373
00:16:34.304 --> 00:16:38.430
profiled some really incredible leaders like Damon,

374
00:16:38.430 --> 00:16:42.360
a rockstar today, and whose entire businesses

375
00:16:42.360 --> 00:16:45.600
are really focused on creating a more just future

376
00:16:45.600 --> 00:16:47.330
for their communities.

377
00:16:47.330 --> 00:16:50.700
I'd say the documentary is really a wonderful portrait

378
00:16:50.700 --> 00:16:54.250
of hard work, of setbacks, triumphs

379
00:16:54.250 --> 00:16:57.790
and ultimately real resiliency.

380
00:16:57.790 --> 00:17:02.220
It's entitled "Unwavering, the power of black innovation".

381
00:17:02.220 --> 00:17:05.680
And it's gonna be premiered this month across NBC owned

382
00:17:05.680 --> 00:17:09.200
and operated stations, which we're super excited about.

383
00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:11.350
And I'm thrilled to be able to share a clip

384
00:17:11.350 --> 00:17:13.023
of it with all of you now.

385
00:17:13.870 --> 00:17:15.290
<v Narrator>Talk to us about blackness,</v>

386
00:17:15.290 --> 00:17:16.849
what does that look like?

387
00:17:16.849 --> 00:17:18.450
(upbeat music)

388
00:17:18.450 --> 00:17:20.630
<v ->Black people have always been innovators,</v>

389
00:17:20.630 --> 00:17:22.210
it's in our nature to innovate.

390
00:17:22.210 --> 00:17:24.410
It always has been out of necessity.

391
00:17:24.410 --> 00:17:26.300
<v ->Survival and innovation's the same thing.</v>

392
00:17:26.300 --> 00:17:28.430
Someone just said, let's make it a fancy term.

393
00:17:28.430 --> 00:17:30.404
<v ->We've had to cut our own path, but it's hard.</v>

394
00:17:30.404 --> 00:17:32.430
So it needs support.

395
00:17:32.430 --> 00:17:35.820
<v ->The microaggressions, the overt, the covert racism,</v>

396
00:17:35.820 --> 00:17:37.990
all of that can leave a chip on your shoulder

397
00:17:37.990 --> 00:17:40.470
and it can change the way that you show up in this world.

398
00:17:40.470 --> 00:17:42.030
<v ->When nobody else believes in a black leader,</v>

399
00:17:42.030 --> 00:17:43.270
usually their business dies.

400
00:17:43.270 --> 00:17:46.820
<v ->They're conversations that you can't have with funders.</v>

401
00:17:46.820 --> 00:17:49.800
And so for the first time, it was an opportunity

402
00:17:49.800 --> 00:17:51.470
to have an honest conversation,

403
00:17:51.470 --> 00:17:54.700
but it came at us watching the murder

404
00:17:54.700 --> 00:17:56.673
of so many innocent black men.

405
00:18:03.830 --> 00:18:05.550
<v ->To have people actually tell you that,</v>

406
00:18:05.550 --> 00:18:06.710
I wanna give you money

407
00:18:06.710 --> 00:18:08.820
'cause I feel guilty is like, yo man,

408
00:18:08.820 --> 00:18:11.510
that's not philanthropy, it's not about guilt.

409
00:18:11.510 --> 00:18:15.410
It's about recognizing that we need to even things out.

410
00:18:15.410 --> 00:18:18.420
<v ->We are sitting in a moment in which black people,</v>

411
00:18:18.420 --> 00:18:20.300
we're the flavor, but look, we always been the flavor.

412
00:18:20.300 --> 00:18:22.310
We know we've always been the flavor.

413
00:18:22.310 --> 00:18:23.840
It's just that everybody else is discovering

414
00:18:23.840 --> 00:18:25.530
that we're the flavor of this moment.

415
00:18:25.530 --> 00:18:27.710
<v Man>As someone that's been doing this work,</v>

416
00:18:27.710 --> 00:18:29.760
you know that black lives has mattered

417
00:18:29.760 --> 00:18:31.630
before George Floyd died.

418
00:18:31.630 --> 00:18:33.480
<v Man 2>Black innovation is happening everywhere.</v>

419
00:18:33.480 --> 00:18:35.080
It's always happened everywhere, the question is,

420
00:18:35.080 --> 00:18:36.550
is do we have access to capital?

421
00:18:36.550 --> 00:18:37.860
Do we have access to social capital?

422
00:18:37.860 --> 00:18:40.710
Do we have access to the supports and the larger community

423
00:18:40.710 --> 00:18:43.049
of belief that we're worthy of investing?

424
00:18:43.049 --> 00:18:45.760
<v ->What does a black community look like?</v>

425
00:18:45.760 --> 00:18:50.203
With power and autonomy over its own destiny.

426
00:18:59.380 --> 00:19:01.530
<v ->Wow, that is powerful, thank you Gwyneth.</v>

427
00:19:02.890 --> 00:19:05.170
So just wanna remind everybody that you're gonna be able

428
00:19:05.170 --> 00:19:09.510
to see that across NBC properties very soon.

429
00:19:09.510 --> 00:19:12.610
So I'm looking forward to watching that as well.

430
00:19:12.610 --> 00:19:14.530
Damon, would love to bring you into the conversation

431
00:19:14.530 --> 00:19:16.330
now that you got that wonderful introduction

432
00:19:16.330 --> 00:19:18.490
through the documentary.

433
00:19:18.490 --> 00:19:21.500
I feel like you're not only a social innovator,

434
00:19:21.500 --> 00:19:22.810
but you're a movie star now,

435
00:19:22.810 --> 00:19:25.050
you're gonna get on a plane down to Hollywood

436
00:19:25.050 --> 00:19:27.420
and do a pilot of some sort.

437
00:19:27.420 --> 00:19:29.901
I'm excited to see your work,

438
00:19:29.901 --> 00:19:31.910
but I wanna bring you into the conversation.

439
00:19:31.910 --> 00:19:35.070
I love what you said about the guilt aspect

440
00:19:35.070 --> 00:19:38.440
about philanthropy and some of that that we're seeing now,

441
00:19:38.440 --> 00:19:40.890
but also some true, deep commitments

442
00:19:40.890 --> 00:19:41.980
from people like Gwyneth

443
00:19:41.980 --> 00:19:44.905
and NBC or Comcast NBC universal, and also Cheryl

444
00:19:44.905 --> 00:19:49.905
who has done a life's work around this mission.

445
00:19:51.010 --> 00:19:54.110
So just as a reminder to people, in your bio,

446
00:19:54.110 --> 00:19:57.180
you were a 2016 Echoing Green fellow and your work

447
00:19:57.180 --> 00:19:59.670
is exactly the type of work being supported

448
00:19:59.670 --> 00:20:02.370
by the Racial Equity Philanthropic Fund.

449
00:20:02.370 --> 00:20:04.950
Just so people can have a perspective of Game Heads.

450
00:20:04.950 --> 00:20:08.100
What led you to founding this company?

451
00:20:08.100 --> 00:20:11.020
And also just how is the funding from Echoing Green

452
00:20:11.020 --> 00:20:13.720
and the influx of funding for your organization

453
00:20:13.720 --> 00:20:14.840
that you received in 2020.

454
00:20:14.840 --> 00:20:16.250
helped you scale the organization

455
00:20:16.250 --> 00:20:17.360
and welcome more kids into it.

456
00:20:17.360 --> 00:20:19.610
It seems like you're really at that phase

457
00:20:19.610 --> 00:20:23.943
of building out and scaling and just growing considerably.

458
00:20:25.410 --> 00:20:28.270
<v ->Yeah, hello everybody.</v>

459
00:20:28.270 --> 00:20:29.190
Thank you for having me.

460
00:20:29.190 --> 00:20:31.913
This is an honor, this is great.

461
00:20:33.478 --> 00:20:34.950
I'm glad to be here.

462
00:20:34.950 --> 00:20:38.920
When we started the program,

463
00:20:38.920 --> 00:20:43.920
the funny thing is the bay area was going through this,

464
00:20:45.370 --> 00:20:46.910
very interesting transition period

465
00:20:46.910 --> 00:20:49.590
where the tech companies in the bay area

466
00:20:49.590 --> 00:20:51.447
were really disrupting sort of black and brown communities

467
00:20:51.447 --> 00:20:55.650
and just general working class communities.

468
00:20:55.650 --> 00:20:57.650
I'm a San Francisco native.

469
00:20:57.650 --> 00:20:59.410
So I saw it happen in San Francisco.

470
00:20:59.410 --> 00:21:01.350
We know it happened in east Palo Alto.

471
00:21:01.350 --> 00:21:04.500
And then I had moved to Oakland and I was kind of fortunate.

472
00:21:04.500 --> 00:21:07.300
I lived in downtown Oakland.

473
00:21:07.300 --> 00:21:10.300
So there was this sort of tech diversity movement

474
00:21:10.300 --> 00:21:11.870
happening in downtown Oakland.

475
00:21:11.870 --> 00:21:14.340
And it was like a couple of blocks from my house.

476
00:21:14.340 --> 00:21:16.500
So I would like walk up the street and like,

477
00:21:16.500 --> 00:21:19.784
hang out at these like popups with people and what have you.

478
00:21:19.784 --> 00:21:24.170
And, I had spent some time doing video game journalism.

479
00:21:24.170 --> 00:21:27.870
I've been a educator for 27 years now.

480
00:21:27.870 --> 00:21:30.560
So it wasn't like I didn't know the space.

481
00:21:30.560 --> 00:21:31.610
You know, I think at the time

482
00:21:31.610 --> 00:21:34.640
I was working on my master's degree in interactive design

483
00:21:35.530 --> 00:21:39.310
and there was this big movement in the east bay

484
00:21:39.310 --> 00:21:42.947
of creating this tech diversity movement

485
00:21:42.947 --> 00:21:45.710
to combat the disruption, you know,

486
00:21:45.710 --> 00:21:49.400
which is how about we training up the next generation

487
00:21:49.400 --> 00:21:52.400
so that they can, you know, transition

488
00:21:52.400 --> 00:21:55.450
into the tech industry and continue to thrive

489
00:21:55.450 --> 00:21:56.720
and live here in the bay area.

490
00:21:56.720 --> 00:21:58.110
Like a lot of people think that we were trying

491
00:21:58.110 --> 00:22:00.760
to diversify those industries.

492
00:22:00.760 --> 00:22:03.508
Our actual interests were the communities,

493
00:22:03.508 --> 00:22:06.730
we wanted the students and the young people

494
00:22:06.730 --> 00:22:10.110
to be able to stay in their communities and thrive.

495
00:22:10.110 --> 00:22:11.700
And then secondary was, yeah,

496
00:22:11.700 --> 00:22:15.010
these industries need more diverse bodies, right.

497
00:22:15.010 --> 00:22:17.283
They need diversity in these industries.

498
00:22:18.480 --> 00:22:19.313
And it was interesting.

499
00:22:19.313 --> 00:22:21.980
It's actually a really awesome story that I'm like,

500
00:22:21.980 --> 00:22:24.440
I hope somebody don't tell this story 100 years from now,

501
00:22:24.440 --> 00:22:26.070
call it Hidden Figures Two.

502
00:22:26.070 --> 00:22:27.420
'Cause it is probably gonna happen.

503
00:22:27.420 --> 00:22:31.270
Like I remember Van Jones was, you know,

504
00:22:31.270 --> 00:22:33.410
like called us all in a meeting.

505
00:22:33.410 --> 00:22:34.243
<v ->Oh wow.</v>

506
00:22:34.243 --> 00:22:35.930
<v ->At the time they thought that I was working</v>

507
00:22:35.930 --> 00:22:38.290
on my PhD at UC Berkeley.

508
00:22:38.290 --> 00:22:40.290
So they invited me to the meeting and it was like

509
00:22:40.290 --> 00:22:42.810
this like secret meeting in San Francisco.

510
00:22:42.810 --> 00:22:45.300
And I'm like, I'm actually, yeah.

511
00:22:45.300 --> 00:22:48.140
I am working on my PhD in computer science.

512
00:22:48.140 --> 00:22:50.750
You're absolutely right, like where's this meeting at?

513
00:22:50.750 --> 00:22:54.980
So I think like Chris Tucker called into the meeting

514
00:22:54.980 --> 00:22:57.930
and like they were communicating with Prince

515
00:22:57.930 --> 00:23:01.360
during the meeting and it was like folks

516
00:23:01.360 --> 00:23:02.970
from the KPort Center was there.

517
00:23:02.970 --> 00:23:05.670
And Kimberly Bryant from Black Girls Code was there.

518
00:23:05.670 --> 00:23:08.940
And the brothers from Hidden Genius Project was there

519
00:23:08.940 --> 00:23:11.960
and Harris and like all these rock stars.

520
00:23:11.960 --> 00:23:13.560
<v ->Wow, that is a power lunch.</v>

521
00:23:13.560 --> 00:23:15.790
<v ->Yeah, so I think, you know,</v>

522
00:23:15.790 --> 00:23:17.690
fast forward a couple of years I realized

523
00:23:17.690 --> 00:23:20.850
that the big push was on computer science.

524
00:23:20.850 --> 00:23:23.740
And I was like, computer science is hard.

525
00:23:23.740 --> 00:23:28.740
You know, computer science requires resources and STEM.

526
00:23:29.000 --> 00:23:32.340
And if you don't have those sources in public education

527
00:23:32.340 --> 00:23:34.200
and generationally, you're gonna struggle

528
00:23:34.200 --> 00:23:35.200
with computer science.

529
00:23:35.200 --> 00:23:37.870
So I was like, well, what's the next best thing?

530
00:23:37.870 --> 00:23:39.980
And for me that was video games.

531
00:23:39.980 --> 00:23:42.233
I was like, if there's one thing that

532
00:23:42.233 --> 00:23:47.220
communities of color thrive at, its culture and art.

533
00:23:47.220 --> 00:23:50.580
And so what is the closest thing to like culture

534
00:23:50.580 --> 00:23:52.753
and art within tech, it's video games.

535
00:23:54.730 --> 00:23:56.200
And so I had all the data,

536
00:23:56.200 --> 00:23:59.680
like we knew that the gaming industry was like going to have

537
00:23:59.680 --> 00:24:02.490
to address its lack of diversity.

538
00:24:02.490 --> 00:24:06.290
We knew that video game players were gonna be more diverse

539
00:24:06.290 --> 00:24:08.500
in the next couple years because the census data

540
00:24:08.500 --> 00:24:11.140
was showing that we're gonna be a minority,

541
00:24:11.140 --> 00:24:13.140
majority country in a couple years,

542
00:24:13.140 --> 00:24:17.380
we knew that international communities were gonna go online.

543
00:24:17.380 --> 00:24:18.390
And when they went online,

544
00:24:18.390 --> 00:24:20.510
they were gonna start playing video games.

545
00:24:20.510 --> 00:24:24.090
And that was like Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, Kenya, Nigeria.

546
00:24:24.090 --> 00:24:25.223
We had all this data.

547
00:24:26.450 --> 00:24:28.453
Nobody would pay attention to us though.

548
00:24:29.310 --> 00:24:32.663
Until my wife was like, you should apply to Echoing Green.

549
00:24:33.764 --> 00:24:36.217
And I was like, we don't do green jobs.

550
00:24:36.217 --> 00:24:37.919
What are you talking about?

551
00:24:37.919 --> 00:24:39.225
Like, we don't do green jobs.

552
00:24:39.225 --> 00:24:40.220
Like, what are you talking about?

553
00:24:40.220 --> 00:24:42.154
She's like, no, it's not green.

554
00:24:42.154 --> 00:24:44.422
I mean, they do some green, but it's not green.

555
00:24:44.422 --> 00:24:45.520
You should apply.

556
00:24:45.520 --> 00:24:48.126
And I was like, I don't know what you're talking about.

557
00:24:48.126 --> 00:24:49.630
She was like, just apply, right.

558
00:24:49.630 --> 00:24:52.900
So I applied and I got through the first round and I was

559
00:24:52.900 --> 00:24:54.710
like, hey, I got through the first round.

560
00:24:54.710 --> 00:24:56.610
So then I got through the second round.

561
00:24:56.610 --> 00:24:58.410
They were like, hey, we're gonna fly you out

562
00:24:58.410 --> 00:24:59.243
to New York.

563
00:24:59.243 --> 00:25:01.430
I'm like, wait a minute, I haven't won anything

564
00:25:01.430 --> 00:25:03.880
and you're flying me out to New York.

565
00:25:03.880 --> 00:25:06.080
I was like, what is this?

566
00:25:06.080 --> 00:25:11.080
So I go to New York and I meet some of the most amazing,

567
00:25:11.520 --> 00:25:13.290
a lot of people that's on that documentary.

568
00:25:13.290 --> 00:25:17.100
Like Deana, I met, you know,

569
00:25:18.100 --> 00:25:20.100
a lot of people in the documentary I met

570
00:25:20.970 --> 00:25:23.470
when we were in New York.

571
00:25:23.470 --> 00:25:26.523
And I remember, I was like, oh, I gotta get this fellowship.

572
00:25:27.650 --> 00:25:29.160
I was like, I gotta get this fellowship.

573
00:25:29.160 --> 00:25:32.033
I don't quite know what it is yet but I gotta get it.

574
00:25:32.910 --> 00:25:35.160
And they'll tell you, like I was in the hallway practicing.

575
00:25:35.160 --> 00:25:38.350
I wouldn't talk to nobody, I was like really focused.

576
00:25:38.350 --> 00:25:41.817
And then I got it and I remember when I got it,

577
00:25:41.817 --> 00:25:43.640
I still didn't get it.

578
00:25:43.640 --> 00:25:46.400
And they invite you to this retreat.

579
00:25:46.400 --> 00:25:48.575
I remember Cheryl was like, Damon,

580
00:25:48.575 --> 00:25:51.680
Cheryl explained everybody what it was

581
00:25:51.680 --> 00:25:55.166
finally after you got it, and I said, oh,

582
00:25:55.166 --> 00:25:59.600
so this is a community of people who like, are radicals.

583
00:25:59.600 --> 00:26:01.030
<v ->Do big things.</v>

584
00:26:01.030 --> 00:26:01.863
<v ->He said, yes.</v>

585
00:26:01.863 --> 00:26:04.210
I said, yes, I'm right where I need to be.

586
00:26:04.210 --> 00:26:06.548
So anyway, that's a long winded way.

587
00:26:06.548 --> 00:26:08.525
<v ->Sorry, that's great.</v>

588
00:26:08.525 --> 00:26:13.525
Well, community, I've known a lot of fellows,

589
00:26:13.880 --> 00:26:16.580
and community is one of the biggest aspects of it,

590
00:26:16.580 --> 00:26:20.700
coming together, sharing experiences globally, right.

591
00:26:20.700 --> 00:26:22.470
So you're learning from people who are doing things

592
00:26:22.470 --> 00:26:25.150
in Sub-Saharan Africa, in Haiti

593
00:26:25.150 --> 00:26:28.470
and you know, in the US, so that's amazing.

594
00:26:28.470 --> 00:26:29.947
You know, one other thing,

595
00:26:29.947 --> 00:26:33.563
just while you have a moment, beyond funding,

596
00:26:34.870 --> 00:26:36.780
I'm sure, just for any entrepreneur,

597
00:26:36.780 --> 00:26:40.630
there are a ton of barriers to entry in terms of success.

598
00:26:40.630 --> 00:26:42.470
How do you see the current landscape

599
00:26:42.470 --> 00:26:44.380
of entrepreneurs of color?

600
00:26:44.380 --> 00:26:45.910
You know, where else do we,

601
00:26:45.910 --> 00:26:50.120
all of us need to double down on support.

602
00:26:50.120 --> 00:26:53.070
Like in the documentary, social capital was mentioned,

603
00:26:53.070 --> 00:26:56.120
but there's so many other things that Cheryl and Gwyneth

604
00:26:56.120 --> 00:26:59.650
and others really need to know about and be aware of.

605
00:26:59.650 --> 00:27:02.050
So that entrepreneurs like you are succeeding

606
00:27:02.050 --> 00:27:04.113
and barriers don't exist.

607
00:27:05.630 --> 00:27:08.970
<v ->Yeah, I mean, that's tough.</v>

608
00:27:08.970 --> 00:27:12.060
You know, how much time do we have?

609
00:27:12.060 --> 00:27:14.423
Obviously the capital is important,

610
00:27:16.140 --> 00:27:17.540
but it goes beyond capital.

611
00:27:17.540 --> 00:27:20.090
It goes mentorship.

612
00:27:20.090 --> 00:27:22.610
You know, when you get to this stage in your career,

613
00:27:22.610 --> 00:27:25.700
it's hard to find in people that can mentor you

614
00:27:25.700 --> 00:27:28.380
or can relate to what you're going through.

615
00:27:28.380 --> 00:27:31.950
Networking, best practices.

616
00:27:31.950 --> 00:27:36.260
A lot of innovators of color

617
00:27:36.260 --> 00:27:39.260
are trying things for the first time.

618
00:27:39.260 --> 00:27:42.550
We didn't know anybody doing something similar

619
00:27:42.550 --> 00:27:45.080
to what we're doing and so, you know,

620
00:27:45.080 --> 00:27:47.480
we had to just kind of figure it out as we went.

621
00:27:49.730 --> 00:27:53.683
A shoulder, I mean, spiritual council.

622
00:27:54.590 --> 00:27:58.300
I don't get an opportunity to tell people about like,

623
00:27:58.300 --> 00:28:00.380
people don't want to hear about what you gotta go through.

624
00:28:00.380 --> 00:28:01.990
Like, that's the tough part.

625
00:28:01.990 --> 00:28:04.130
Like people don't want to hear,

626
00:28:04.130 --> 00:28:05.530
they wanna hear the good stories,

627
00:28:05.530 --> 00:28:08.146
rhey don't want to hear about the challenges.

628
00:28:08.146 --> 00:28:09.529
It's very rare that people say,

629
00:28:09.529 --> 00:28:12.420
I want to know about the legitimate challenges

630
00:28:12.420 --> 00:28:14.690
that you're experiencing, that's rare.

631
00:28:14.690 --> 00:28:18.106
And it's very difficult

632
00:28:18.106 --> 00:28:21.910
to compartmentalize that all the time.

633
00:28:21.910 --> 00:28:23.440
You need to kind of let that out.

634
00:28:23.440 --> 00:28:27.820
So it's a lot of things that social innovators,

635
00:28:27.820 --> 00:28:30.350
particularly social innovators of color need.

636
00:28:30.350 --> 00:28:31.183
<v ->Yeah, yeah.</v>

637
00:28:31.183 --> 00:28:32.980
And the reason I ask that or bring that up is because so

638
00:28:32.980 --> 00:28:35.110
many people who are watching,

639
00:28:35.110 --> 00:28:37.560
they think it's all about capital and you know,

640
00:28:37.560 --> 00:28:39.450
that capital leading to generational wealth,

641
00:28:39.450 --> 00:28:41.740
it is about capital, absolutely, 100%.

642
00:28:41.740 --> 00:28:44.850
Put more money into entrepreneurs of color,

643
00:28:44.850 --> 00:28:49.030
entrepreneurs anywhere, intrepreneurs, put more money in,

644
00:28:49.030 --> 00:28:52.640
but it is all these wraparound support systems

645
00:28:52.640 --> 00:28:54.351
that entrepreneurs need and communities need

646
00:28:54.351 --> 00:28:57.410
that a lot of people don't always realize,

647
00:28:57.410 --> 00:28:59.863
oh, well, we can help in that way, sure.

648
00:29:00.877 --> 00:29:03.210
Let me make a phone call or shoot an email over them.

649
00:29:03.210 --> 00:29:07.120
So wanna make sure that people know that, Cheryl,

650
00:29:07.120 --> 00:29:09.779
before we get to some audience Q and A,

651
00:29:09.779 --> 00:29:12.270
when you think about the effort to support

652
00:29:12.270 --> 00:29:15.720
a broader movement for sustained change,

653
00:29:15.720 --> 00:29:17.580
where are you seeing bright spots?

654
00:29:17.580 --> 00:29:19.710
Particularly in the area of support

655
00:29:19.710 --> 00:29:21.321
for diverse founders and leaders,

656
00:29:21.321 --> 00:29:24.480
and where are some of the biggest areas of opportunity?

657
00:29:24.480 --> 00:29:26.563
Where do we still need to double down.

658
00:29:30.520 --> 00:29:32.390
<v ->Great and important question.</v>

659
00:29:32.390 --> 00:29:37.390
And I do think that there are bright spots, right?

660
00:29:37.880 --> 00:29:41.900
So I think part of, again,

661
00:29:41.900 --> 00:29:46.900
I'll back to the power of social innovation, right?

662
00:29:47.540 --> 00:29:52.540
And I think that it's particularly a powerful lens and frame

663
00:29:53.630 --> 00:29:57.200
because it's centers both innovation and proximity,

664
00:29:57.200 --> 00:30:00.040
it really puts the entrepreneur at the center, right.

665
00:30:00.040 --> 00:30:01.770
It sort is what does Damon need?

666
00:30:01.770 --> 00:30:03.340
What does Game Heads need?

667
00:30:03.340 --> 00:30:07.120
And I think that this narrative frame

668
00:30:07.120 --> 00:30:08.510
around social entrepreneurship

669
00:30:08.510 --> 00:30:11.471
has been a really wonderful way of finally centering

670
00:30:11.471 --> 00:30:14.150
the entrepreneur and his journey.

671
00:30:14.150 --> 00:30:16.030
So I think that's certainly one thing.

672
00:30:16.030 --> 00:30:21.030
I also think another bright spot is how corporations

673
00:30:22.450 --> 00:30:24.900
are thinking about their approach

674
00:30:24.900 --> 00:30:27.430
to CSR in this moment, right?

675
00:30:27.430 --> 00:30:29.260
So a lot of the work, and Gweneth does is

676
00:30:29.260 --> 00:30:30.093
better than all of us,

677
00:30:30.093 --> 00:30:31.950
this sort of this question of alignment.

678
00:30:31.950 --> 00:30:35.610
Like how do you align the work of your philanthropy

679
00:30:35.610 --> 00:30:38.020
with sort of your business operation units,

680
00:30:38.020 --> 00:30:40.730
as well as sort of the core value proposition

681
00:30:40.730 --> 00:30:44.270
and focus of your business, like getting an alignment

682
00:30:44.270 --> 00:30:47.360
and turning that in a way to drive resources

683
00:30:47.360 --> 00:30:49.620
and attention to entrepreneurs of color,

684
00:30:49.620 --> 00:30:52.129
social entrepreneurs of color, really important.

685
00:30:52.129 --> 00:30:55.760
And those are conversations that are happening

686
00:30:55.760 --> 00:30:57.550
and it's translating into action.

687
00:30:57.550 --> 00:30:59.230
And again, I think the partnership

688
00:30:59.230 --> 00:31:02.227
with Gwyneth and Comcast is a brilliant example

689
00:31:02.227 --> 00:31:05.380
of the myriad of resources they bring to bear.

690
00:31:05.380 --> 00:31:08.780
I, in particular, in addition to financial support,

691
00:31:08.780 --> 00:31:11.490
I think they've done two things really brilliantly.

692
00:31:11.490 --> 00:31:13.935
One is they've leveraged and leveraged

693
00:31:13.935 --> 00:31:16.750
their storytelling ability, right?

694
00:31:16.750 --> 00:31:19.840
We are able to show the clip around unwavering

695
00:31:19.840 --> 00:31:21.380
the power of black innovation,

696
00:31:21.380 --> 00:31:23.840
because you've got a company that is world class

697
00:31:23.840 --> 00:31:26.190
and best in class at telling stories.

698
00:31:26.190 --> 00:31:29.510
So I think that's a wonderful way of doing what you do best

699
00:31:29.510 --> 00:31:30.870
and then applying it to the work

700
00:31:30.870 --> 00:31:32.640
of social innovators like Damon.

701
00:31:32.640 --> 00:31:35.040
And then I think the last piece,

702
00:31:35.040 --> 00:31:36.250
and you all have mentioned is,

703
00:31:36.250 --> 00:31:38.360
the power of community building, right?

704
00:31:38.360 --> 00:31:40.540
Echoing Green is a community, we are a family.

705
00:31:40.540 --> 00:31:42.365
We believe in the power of building power

706
00:31:42.365 --> 00:31:47.160
amongst a portfolio of folks.

707
00:31:47.160 --> 00:31:50.070
But, you know, Comcast has been able to bring together

708
00:31:50.070 --> 00:31:52.460
a broader set of folks that I've met

709
00:31:52.460 --> 00:31:56.050
for the first time and allows us to sort of expand

710
00:31:56.050 --> 00:31:59.460
our sphere of concern beyond the Echoing Green community.

711
00:31:59.460 --> 00:32:01.479
And again, they're able to set a table,

712
00:32:01.479 --> 00:32:04.050
given who they are and how they walk through of the world.

713
00:32:04.050 --> 00:32:06.947
So I think those are a couple of right spots

714
00:32:06.947 --> 00:32:08.470
about how we're all sort of reexamining

715
00:32:08.470 --> 00:32:10.385
and rethinking about how can we do

716
00:32:10.385 --> 00:32:14.380
things differently to get more things done.

717
00:32:14.380 --> 00:32:15.213
Yeah, great.

718
00:32:15.213 --> 00:32:16.820
And then you asked me, sorry, Mel,

719
00:32:16.820 --> 00:32:19.520
like what more needs to be done?

720
00:32:19.520 --> 00:32:20.840
And I'm gonna pick up what Damon,

721
00:32:20.840 --> 00:32:22.810
like these innovators need money,

722
00:32:22.810 --> 00:32:24.350
right, now, Echoing Green,

723
00:32:24.350 --> 00:32:27.050
we're our best in class talent spotters.

724
00:32:27.050 --> 00:32:29.410
By the time you become a fellow like Damon,

725
00:32:29.410 --> 00:32:31.980
we've gone through thousands of social business plans

726
00:32:31.980 --> 00:32:34.000
and we select less than 1%.

727
00:32:34.000 --> 00:32:37.040
But the fact that we have still found capital disparities

728
00:32:37.040 --> 00:32:39.770
between our leaders of color and our white leaders,

729
00:32:39.770 --> 00:32:41.510
and then sort of the capital gap

730
00:32:41.510 --> 00:32:43.990
that these organizations are experiencing.

731
00:32:43.990 --> 00:32:46.480
It's unacceptable, so when I look at Damon,

732
00:32:46.480 --> 00:32:49.780
they're probably like 400 innovators in our community

733
00:32:49.780 --> 00:32:51.210
that are led by people of color

734
00:32:51.210 --> 00:32:52.850
that are working on racial equity.

735
00:32:52.850 --> 00:32:56.503
If we had the opportunity to just upsize their budgets,

736
00:32:57.499 --> 00:32:58.860
those below a million, get them to a million,

737
00:32:58.860 --> 00:32:59.959
between one and five million, get them up to five,

738
00:32:59.959 --> 00:33:04.670
they could absorb annually one and a half billion dollars.

739
00:33:04.670 --> 00:33:07.300
Think about the impact we're leaving on the table

740
00:33:07.300 --> 00:33:08.960
because we're asking Damon and his team

741
00:33:08.960 --> 00:33:12.040
to go out into the world, not fully capitalized

742
00:33:12.040 --> 00:33:14.510
to do the work we know they're capable of doing,

743
00:33:14.510 --> 00:33:15.550
that's the gap.

744
00:33:15.550 --> 00:33:17.340
That's where we need to go.

745
00:33:17.340 --> 00:33:19.377
And that's the work we've all gotta figure out

746
00:33:19.377 --> 00:33:21.320
how to make this marketplace

747
00:33:21.320 --> 00:33:23.620
work better from leaders like Damon.

748
00:33:23.620 --> 00:33:24.750
<v ->Well said, well said.</v>

749
00:33:24.750 --> 00:33:27.780
So let's open up to some audience questions,

750
00:33:27.780 --> 00:33:29.870
again, for those watching,

751
00:33:29.870 --> 00:33:31.910
please continue to submit your questions,

752
00:33:31.910 --> 00:33:34.040
but we have a few here, we'd love to,

753
00:33:34.040 --> 00:33:36.470
I think this is for everyone,

754
00:33:36.470 --> 00:33:38.920
but I would love to start with Gweneth.

755
00:33:38.920 --> 00:33:42.000
What have you learned as you created culturally specific

756
00:33:42.000 --> 00:33:44.170
initiatives for entrepreneurs of color,

757
00:33:44.170 --> 00:33:46.280
what has worked well and what hasn't?

758
00:33:46.280 --> 00:33:48.330
This is from Genesis, Genesis welcome.

759
00:33:48.330 --> 00:33:50.860
Thank you for joining us, hope you're having a great day.

760
00:33:50.860 --> 00:33:53.783
So Gwyneth, what have you learned?

761
00:33:55.200 --> 00:33:57.514
<v ->Wow, that's a big question.</v>

762
00:33:57.514 --> 00:33:59.760
I think at Comcast, right,

763
00:33:59.760 --> 00:34:02.640
we've been deeply committed to digital equity

764
00:34:03.482 --> 00:34:04.410
for many years.

765
00:34:04.410 --> 00:34:07.480
And as we think about investing in entrepreneurs,

766
00:34:07.480 --> 00:34:11.520
particularly entrepreneurs of color, it is new

767
00:34:11.520 --> 00:34:16.210
for our philanthropic commitments and new as we launch

768
00:34:16.210 --> 00:34:18.010
initiatives like Comcast Rise.

769
00:34:18.010 --> 00:34:20.350
So I would say we are very much

770
00:34:20.350 --> 00:34:23.740
still in learning mode and very much in a open-minded,

771
00:34:23.740 --> 00:34:26.685
wanting to be our best selves mode,

772
00:34:26.685 --> 00:34:31.000
but I think you have to be intentional

773
00:34:31.000 --> 00:34:33.243
in making these investments.

774
00:34:34.230 --> 00:34:37.770
It's not just about providing support,

775
00:34:37.770 --> 00:34:42.770
but it's, I think providing trust, open dialogue,

776
00:34:43.750 --> 00:34:45.550
being able to have those open

777
00:34:45.550 --> 00:34:48.593
and honest conversations with your grantees,

778
00:34:50.261 --> 00:34:53.660
because there are different needs that are emerging

779
00:34:53.660 --> 00:34:55.810
and we have to be able to be responsive.

780
00:34:55.810 --> 00:34:59.410
So I would say definitely still in learning mode,

781
00:34:59.410 --> 00:35:04.010
but intentionality I think is really, really critical.

782
00:35:04.010 --> 00:35:05.310
<v ->Yeah, great.</v>

783
00:35:05.310 --> 00:35:07.507
Damon would love your answers, Damon, you know,

784
00:35:07.507 --> 00:35:10.090
you're creating culture specific initiatives

785
00:35:10.090 --> 00:35:13.340
in terms of the program that you're developing.

786
00:35:13.340 --> 00:35:16.993
What have you learned when it comes to communities of color?

787
00:35:17.963 --> 00:35:20.420
<v ->Can you be more specific?</v>

788
00:35:20.420 --> 00:35:23.670
<v ->Yeah, I think, I don't want make a blanket statement,</v>

789
00:35:23.670 --> 00:35:25.030
but are there things you're learning

790
00:35:25.030 --> 00:35:27.510
that need to be considerations

791
00:35:27.510 --> 00:35:29.660
for specific communities over others,

792
00:35:29.660 --> 00:35:32.780
as you build out a program that is maybe a gateway

793
00:35:32.780 --> 00:35:34.130
into the gaming industry

794
00:35:34.130 --> 00:35:36.733
or at least tech at large, et cetera.

795
00:35:37.760 --> 00:35:39.530
<v ->Yeah, I think what we've learned over the years</v>

796
00:35:39.530 --> 00:35:41.053
is that it's not the training.

797
00:35:42.100 --> 00:35:44.780
The training is the easy part, it's the wraparound services

798
00:35:44.780 --> 00:35:47.560
that's the most important and you know,

799
00:35:47.560 --> 00:35:51.320
that's the educational counseling and access to hardware

800
00:35:51.320 --> 00:35:54.030
and software is big, 'cause it's very expensive.

801
00:35:54.030 --> 00:35:56.764
You know, the video game industry is a luxury industry

802
00:35:56.764 --> 00:35:59.434
that requires knowledge of luxury tools.

803
00:35:59.434 --> 00:36:03.810
But lately the thing that's been the most standout

804
00:36:03.810 --> 00:36:06.650
is mental health, mental health services,

805
00:36:06.650 --> 00:36:10.903
especially since the pandemic have been tremendous.

806
00:36:12.107 --> 00:36:13.930
And that's kind of like been our major focus

807
00:36:13.930 --> 00:36:16.240
the last two years is focusing on our students

808
00:36:16.240 --> 00:36:17.740
and our staff's mental health.

809
00:36:19.000 --> 00:36:19.863
<v ->Yeah, okay.</v>

810
00:36:20.751 --> 00:36:21.790
And Cheryl, what are you learning?

811
00:36:21.790 --> 00:36:23.910
You, you have a broad lens

812
00:36:23.910 --> 00:36:27.343
on a lot of social innovators out there.

813
00:36:29.430 --> 00:36:33.770
<v ->Yeah, so I think that we're all seeing a couple of things.</v>

814
00:36:33.770 --> 00:36:38.770
So I would say through the lens of the pandemic,

815
00:36:40.460 --> 00:36:42.910
communities of color in particular

816
00:36:42.910 --> 00:36:44.820
have sort of gone back to their roots

817
00:36:44.820 --> 00:36:48.730
around the power of mutual aid configurations, right.

818
00:36:48.730 --> 00:36:52.910
Sort of long history of communities coming together

819
00:36:52.910 --> 00:36:55.820
to survive, to thrive, to support one another.

820
00:36:55.820 --> 00:36:57.950
I think we've seen a real resurgence

821
00:36:57.950 --> 00:37:00.910
of that during the pandemic and you know,

822
00:37:00.910 --> 00:37:03.500
folks are doing more with less, but they're doing it

823
00:37:03.500 --> 00:37:06.431
because of their commitment to and love for community.

824
00:37:06.431 --> 00:37:09.850
I think that's one thing, I think the other thing is, again,

825
00:37:09.850 --> 00:37:11.810
I drank the Kool-Aid a long time ago

826
00:37:11.810 --> 00:37:13.040
around social innovation,

827
00:37:13.040 --> 00:37:15.240
but because of its alliance based nature

828
00:37:15.240 --> 00:37:17.750
and focus on sort of problem solving, executing,

829
00:37:17.750 --> 00:37:21.550
building, it is a wonderful way to bring

830
00:37:21.550 --> 00:37:24.250
historically strange bedfellows to the table

831
00:37:24.250 --> 00:37:25.740
to sit down together.

832
00:37:25.740 --> 00:37:29.560
No discussion of political ideology, no differentiator.

833
00:37:29.560 --> 00:37:33.630
You're just working on a common theme problem or issue.

834
00:37:33.630 --> 00:37:35.870
And there are a lot of scholars now in this era

835
00:37:35.870 --> 00:37:37.630
of sort of democratic backsliding.

836
00:37:37.630 --> 00:37:40.390
It's like, we're so tribal at this point,

837
00:37:40.390 --> 00:37:42.460
we gotta stop to talking about the, like,

838
00:37:42.460 --> 00:37:44.756
let's just put one foot in front of the other,

839
00:37:44.756 --> 00:37:47.210
fill a pothole, solve a problem,

840
00:37:47.210 --> 00:37:49.747
work together and sort of this,

841
00:37:49.747 --> 00:37:52.323
do you know Michael Brown at city?

842
00:37:53.673 --> 00:37:54.506
You talk about in action tank,

843
00:37:54.506 --> 00:37:56.430
just make the road by walking.

844
00:37:56.430 --> 00:38:00.380
Do the work over time, trust is forged and built,

845
00:38:00.380 --> 00:38:03.400
which then creates space to have the more difficult

846
00:38:03.400 --> 00:38:06.900
and uncomfortable conversations that we all need to have.

847
00:38:06.900 --> 00:38:09.140
If we're gonna figure out a way to live together

848
00:38:09.140 --> 00:38:12.840
in this multiracial society, I hope we can get there.

849
00:38:12.840 --> 00:38:16.520
But I think doing some of this work together is one avenue

850
00:38:16.520 --> 00:38:19.420
to build those trusted relationships

851
00:38:19.420 --> 00:38:20.830
as you all were saying.

852
00:38:20.830 --> 00:38:22.459
<v ->Yeah and Mel, I would just add,</v>

853
00:38:22.459 --> 00:38:25.620
I think with trust, you know,

854
00:38:25.620 --> 00:38:27.710
there's a few things when I think about Comcast

855
00:38:27.710 --> 00:38:29.726
as a corporate funder, right?

856
00:38:29.726 --> 00:38:34.500
The ability to provide flexible resources

857
00:38:34.500 --> 00:38:37.500
and funding to entrepreneurs of color

858
00:38:37.500 --> 00:38:40.320
or to leaders of color in general is critical.

859
00:38:40.320 --> 00:38:42.570
We know these leaders are A,

860
00:38:42.570 --> 00:38:44.450
underfunded than their white counterparts

861
00:38:44.450 --> 00:38:47.420
and B, have far less unrestricted assets

862
00:38:47.420 --> 00:38:48.550
than their white counterparts.

863
00:38:48.550 --> 00:38:51.940
And so how do we build upon that trust and really ensure

864
00:38:51.940 --> 00:38:56.150
that they have the tools, the resources to be successful.

865
00:38:56.150 --> 00:39:00.050
And I think as a corporation, our dollars

866
00:39:00.050 --> 00:39:02.740
are not always the biggest thing that we can bring to bear,

867
00:39:02.740 --> 00:39:04.400
but our platforms, our people,

868
00:39:04.400 --> 00:39:08.100
the other resources that we can engage in.

869
00:39:08.100 --> 00:39:09.390
And so really, again,

870
00:39:09.390 --> 00:39:11.540
kind of being intentional about how do we bring

871
00:39:11.540 --> 00:39:15.180
some of our incredible people as mentors,

872
00:39:15.180 --> 00:39:19.110
as Damon was talking about or leveraging our platforms

873
00:39:19.110 --> 00:39:21.300
as Cheryl mentioned with the documentary.

874
00:39:21.300 --> 00:39:24.020
So I think being again intentional

875
00:39:24.020 --> 00:39:26.300
in bringing multiple resources to bear.

876
00:39:26.300 --> 00:39:27.541
<v ->Yeah.</v>

877
00:39:27.541 --> 00:39:28.962
<v ->And yeah, go ahead.</v>

878
00:39:28.962 --> 00:39:31.267
<v ->I'll echo that, that's probably been</v>

879
00:39:31.267 --> 00:39:32.260
the most exciting thing about the work I've done

880
00:39:32.260 --> 00:39:35.682
over the last couple of years is working with people

881
00:39:35.682 --> 00:39:39.570
who I didn't anticipate being allies

882
00:39:39.570 --> 00:39:41.167
or being like stakeholders or being a part of our community

883
00:39:41.167 --> 00:39:44.591
and having an opportunity.

884
00:39:44.591 --> 00:39:47.210
It actually, our support from corporate

885
00:39:47.210 --> 00:39:52.210
started with employees who convinced their companies

886
00:39:52.340 --> 00:39:53.810
that we were doing good work

887
00:39:53.810 --> 00:39:56.370
and it was a diverse group of people,

888
00:39:56.370 --> 00:39:59.230
and some of them even international in Canada and Denmark.

889
00:39:59.230 --> 00:40:02.731
So that's actually has been my experience as well.

890
00:40:02.731 --> 00:40:03.564
And it's been a part

891
00:40:03.564 --> 00:40:05.490
of like the social entrepreneurship piece.

892
00:40:05.490 --> 00:40:07.260
That's been really exciting.

893
00:40:07.260 --> 00:40:08.848
<v ->That's so nice to hear.</v>

894
00:40:08.848 --> 00:40:11.240
I think it just a lot more active employee engagement

895
00:40:11.240 --> 00:40:13.180
around the issues around us and in our communities.

896
00:40:13.180 --> 00:40:15.410
We've definitely seen that over the last couple years,

897
00:40:15.410 --> 00:40:18.110
more than ever, and I'm glad you're seeing it as well.

898
00:40:19.260 --> 00:40:20.093
We have another question here

899
00:40:20.093 --> 00:40:22.454
that I think it's an interesting one.

900
00:40:22.454 --> 00:40:23.700
I'm trying to choose some broad questions.

901
00:40:23.700 --> 00:40:26.050
That'll help a lot of viewers.

902
00:40:26.050 --> 00:40:28.510
This is from an anonymous attendee.

903
00:40:28.510 --> 00:40:30.100
So I apologize for not knowing your name,

904
00:40:30.100 --> 00:40:33.780
but when embarking on a racial equity conversation

905
00:40:33.780 --> 00:40:36.230
with new organizations and contacts,

906
00:40:36.230 --> 00:40:38.610
what do you suggest is the key to creating

907
00:40:38.610 --> 00:40:41.793
that equitable, quote, unquote equitable dialogue?

908
00:40:44.565 --> 00:40:46.580
It seems like it would be sometimes

909
00:40:46.580 --> 00:40:51.200
a sensitive conversation when you wanna introduce equity

910
00:40:51.200 --> 00:40:53.349
into some of the work that you're doing.

911
00:40:53.349 --> 00:40:56.660
Gweneth, I don't wanna put you on the spot,

912
00:40:56.660 --> 00:40:59.950
but I think you probably the the most conversations

913
00:41:00.929 --> 00:41:02.668
<v ->You're going to anyways, aren't you.</v>

914
00:41:02.668 --> 00:41:04.143
<v ->Bring in a lot of other partners.</v>

915
00:41:06.476 --> 00:41:10.333
<v ->You know, so I think,</v>

916
00:41:11.380 --> 00:41:14.710
when we're thinking about equity

917
00:41:14.710 --> 00:41:17.070
and bringing together folks,

918
00:41:17.070 --> 00:41:20.510
we A, need to meet people where they are, I think,

919
00:41:20.510 --> 00:41:23.300
and not hold expectations for them to be someplace

920
00:41:23.300 --> 00:41:27.150
that they might not be, B create space

921
00:41:29.353 --> 00:41:32.590
and an opportunity to have a conversation and a dialogue

922
00:41:32.590 --> 00:41:35.520
and create that trust and understanding.

923
00:41:35.520 --> 00:41:38.010
I think, we at Comcast at least,

924
00:41:38.010 --> 00:41:40.920
we have an incredible opportunity

925
00:41:40.920 --> 00:41:44.490
to set the table as Cheryl mentioned.

926
00:41:44.490 --> 00:41:47.300
And I think we can leverage

927
00:41:47.300 --> 00:41:49.790
that ability to convene and bring people together

928
00:41:49.790 --> 00:41:52.500
in a really unique way that hopefully

929
00:41:52.500 --> 00:41:55.920
can break down some of those barriers, create some trust

930
00:41:57.204 --> 00:41:59.110
and be able to have some of these conversations

931
00:41:59.110 --> 00:42:01.580
in an open and honest way.

932
00:42:01.580 --> 00:42:02.513
<v ->Yeah, yeah.</v>

933
00:42:04.080 --> 00:42:05.900
Damon or Cheryl, again,

934
00:42:05.900 --> 00:42:08.610
I don't like the open end questions,

935
00:42:08.610 --> 00:42:10.570
I don't wanna put you on the spot, but you know,

936
00:42:10.570 --> 00:42:13.010
introducing equity into the conversations, Damon,

937
00:42:13.010 --> 00:42:14.560
especially with your work,

938
00:42:14.560 --> 00:42:16.220
you're playing both sides of it,

939
00:42:16.220 --> 00:42:17.840
of you're working in the tech sector,

940
00:42:17.840 --> 00:42:19.240
you're working in the gaming industry.

941
00:42:19.240 --> 00:42:23.890
So that's just, that's a whole silo in its own,

942
00:42:23.890 --> 00:42:26.360
but how do you introduce that equity conversation

943
00:42:26.360 --> 00:42:28.410
when you are working with other partners?

944
00:42:29.830 --> 00:42:30.840
<v ->Yeah, that's hard.</v>

945
00:42:30.840 --> 00:42:33.920
I don't even know that I am an expert at that.

946
00:42:33.920 --> 00:42:36.203
That might be a better one for Cheryl.

947
00:42:37.180 --> 00:42:40.020
I had a conversation with somebody just this week

948
00:42:40.020 --> 00:42:44.930
actually about students applying for internship positions

949
00:42:44.930 --> 00:42:49.010
and trying to get them to understand the amount of work

950
00:42:49.010 --> 00:42:51.280
that a student that comes from a low income community,

951
00:42:51.280 --> 00:42:55.014
the amount of work they have to do to get prepared yeah.

952
00:42:55.014 --> 00:42:59.541
To not only apply, but to be eligible

953
00:42:59.541 --> 00:43:02.280
and how important it is for them to have

954
00:43:02.280 --> 00:43:06.580
a good experience throughout the application process,

955
00:43:06.580 --> 00:43:09.550
if they get the internship, throughout the internship,

956
00:43:09.550 --> 00:43:13.280
but then also like how important it is for like your team

957
00:43:13.280 --> 00:43:15.760
to receive cultural competency training.

958
00:43:15.760 --> 00:43:17.250
Because if you're gonna ask them a question

959
00:43:17.250 --> 00:43:20.000
that question should be rooted in, you know,

960
00:43:20.000 --> 00:43:21.910
like you should know how to speak to them.

961
00:43:21.910 --> 00:43:23.160
You know what I'm saying?

962
00:43:24.512 --> 00:43:25.345
And that can be difficult.

963
00:43:25.345 --> 00:43:28.077
I have found that the best way to do it is to be polite,

964
00:43:28.077 --> 00:43:32.220
to be humble, but also be honest.

965
00:43:32.220 --> 00:43:33.850
I think that that's the best thing to do

966
00:43:33.850 --> 00:43:35.560
and to speak to them directly.

967
00:43:35.560 --> 00:43:39.810
I know a lot of people that like to speak to everybody else,

968
00:43:39.810 --> 00:43:42.830
it's like go to them directly, like model good behavior,

969
00:43:42.830 --> 00:43:45.270
go to them directly and tell you how,

970
00:43:45.270 --> 00:43:46.800
tell them how you feel.

971
00:43:46.800 --> 00:43:50.040
Sometimes you'll get good results, and sometimes you won't,

972
00:43:50.040 --> 00:43:53.600
but it's good that that dialogue is happening consistently

973
00:43:53.600 --> 00:43:55.970
because after a while you hope that it creates

974
00:43:55.970 --> 00:43:58.540
a trend in people's mindsets.

975
00:43:58.540 --> 00:43:59.373
<v ->Yeah.</v>

976
00:44:00.390 --> 00:44:02.870
<v ->Look, I think all of this is really good advice</v>

977
00:44:02.870 --> 00:44:04.614
from Damon and Gweneth.

978
00:44:04.614 --> 00:44:05.876
I'll add just a couple of things.

979
00:44:05.876 --> 00:44:07.340
So I think increasingly, and this goes back

980
00:44:07.340 --> 00:44:09.180
to some of the research Echoing Green did

981
00:44:09.180 --> 00:44:11.100
with our friends at the Bridge Band Group,

982
00:44:11.100 --> 00:44:15.070
where it was increasingly clear for all of us in the world

983
00:44:15.070 --> 00:44:17.448
of social impact, to get more impact,

984
00:44:17.448 --> 00:44:20.620
you had to run straight through racial equity and equity,

985
00:44:20.620 --> 00:44:22.413
especially in the US context.

986
00:44:22.413 --> 00:44:27.413
So just saying we are all trying to optimize around impact.

987
00:44:27.970 --> 00:44:31.270
It is just the strategic, smart, effective thing to do.

988
00:44:31.270 --> 00:44:33.650
And I think that's a very powerful argument.

989
00:44:33.650 --> 00:44:35.980
I also think people start to spin their wheels

990
00:44:35.980 --> 00:44:38.200
because it seems so difficult and hard saying,

991
00:44:38.200 --> 00:44:40.880
there's been folks who are on this journey for years,

992
00:44:40.880 --> 00:44:43.380
and there are lots of best practices we already know about.

993
00:44:43.380 --> 00:44:46.410
So you don't have to create anything de Novo just learn.

994
00:44:46.410 --> 00:44:49.770
And we can share a lot of those best practices

995
00:44:49.770 --> 00:44:53.230
of doing the work of social impact

996
00:44:53.230 --> 00:44:54.520
through the lens of equity.

997
00:44:54.520 --> 00:44:57.630
I also think really grappling with language.

998
00:44:57.630 --> 00:45:00.120
I mean, we've all seen how we're weaponizing language

999
00:45:00.120 --> 00:45:04.330
at the moment, CRT, other things, but you know,

1000
00:45:04.330 --> 00:45:06.300
concepts like white supremacy,

1001
00:45:06.300 --> 00:45:08.660
but just sort of breaking things down and say, well,

1002
00:45:08.660 --> 00:45:12.350
white supremacy is a sociopolitical economic system,

1003
00:45:12.350 --> 00:45:14.300
a very powerful ideology,

1004
00:45:14.300 --> 00:45:17.890
but it really is about sort of centering whiteness

1005
00:45:17.890 --> 00:45:20.730
and making people of color deviants from that norm.

1006
00:45:20.730 --> 00:45:21.940
Like, that's what that means.

1007
00:45:21.940 --> 00:45:24.375
It's not calling you or you, or you

1008
00:45:24.375 --> 00:45:27.550
a racist or white supremacist,

1009
00:45:27.550 --> 00:45:31.400
but like literally going back to basics through descriptive,

1010
00:45:31.400 --> 00:45:34.180
educational opportunities to sort of walk through

1011
00:45:34.180 --> 00:45:36.650
some of these concepts that then allow you

1012
00:45:38.700 --> 00:45:39.970
to sort of engage.

1013
00:45:39.970 --> 00:45:44.180
And I do think engagement is hard because it's personal

1014
00:45:44.180 --> 00:45:45.280
and it's fraught.

1015
00:45:45.280 --> 00:45:47.920
So whenever it can be facilitated by folks

1016
00:45:47.920 --> 00:45:52.220
who are really good facilitators, I think that really helps.

1017
00:45:52.220 --> 00:45:55.980
And then the last thing I always say, and I guess it helps,

1018
00:45:55.980 --> 00:45:59.190
you and I, Damon, you know, folks of color saying like,

1019
00:45:59.190 --> 00:46:02.020
none of us are to blame for what's happening today,

1020
00:46:02.020 --> 00:46:04.420
but we're all responsible, we're all responsible.

1021
00:46:04.420 --> 00:46:06.970
So can we just sort of put that aside

1022
00:46:06.970 --> 00:46:08.420
and let's get back to work.

1023
00:46:08.420 --> 00:46:12.770
So sort of again, creating those spaces and opportunity

1024
00:46:12.770 --> 00:46:16.633
to keep the conversation going, I think is super helpful.

1025
00:46:19.550 --> 00:46:22.738
<v ->I think he's gonna be better at explaining it.</v>

1026
00:46:22.738 --> 00:46:25.200
(laughing)

1027
00:46:25.200 --> 00:46:26.650
<v ->Hard to beat, hard to beat.</v>

1028
00:46:29.376 --> 00:46:33.000
<v ->So this is a question from Tara.</v>

1029
00:46:33.000 --> 00:46:34.780
I think this is the Tara up in Hartford.

1030
00:46:34.780 --> 00:46:37.100
One of our partners, welcome,

1031
00:46:37.100 --> 00:46:39.458
great point about wraparound services.

1032
00:46:39.458 --> 00:46:40.980
We often hear from entrepreneurs though,

1033
00:46:40.980 --> 00:46:43.440
that they receive lots of mentoring and training,

1034
00:46:43.440 --> 00:46:45.430
but funders and or investors

1035
00:46:45.430 --> 00:46:47.130
are less willing to provide capital.

1036
00:46:47.130 --> 00:46:49.130
This is really the heart of our conversation today.

1037
00:46:49.130 --> 00:46:51.050
So this is a perfect question.

1038
00:46:51.050 --> 00:46:53.890
This means developing special funds and or philanthropy

1039
00:46:53.890 --> 00:46:56.050
to provide that financial investment.

1040
00:46:56.050 --> 00:46:58.330
How do we encourage the investor community

1041
00:46:58.330 --> 00:47:01.270
to further invest in diverse social entrepreneurs?

1042
00:47:01.270 --> 00:47:02.258
They often seem to be missing from the conversation.

1043
00:47:02.258 --> 00:47:06.070
Wow, exactly on point.

1044
00:47:06.070 --> 00:47:08.770
So not even put anyone on the spot,

1045
00:47:08.770 --> 00:47:10.293
whoever wants to answer first.

1046
00:47:12.520 --> 00:47:15.600
<v ->Well, this is something that is very</v>

1047
00:47:16.720 --> 00:47:20.830
central to my experience as an entrepreneur,

1048
00:47:20.830 --> 00:47:23.770
what I will say is providing things like mentorship

1049
00:47:23.770 --> 00:47:25.520
and support, wraparound services

1050
00:47:25.520 --> 00:47:27.460
and things like that is capital.

1051
00:47:27.460 --> 00:47:29.250
Because if somebody were to give you funding,

1052
00:47:29.250 --> 00:47:31.070
you'd have to pay for that, right?

1053
00:47:31.070 --> 00:47:35.210
So you have to acknowledge that, I often tell people,

1054
00:47:35.210 --> 00:47:37.460
put a dollar sign to that kind of stuff,

1055
00:47:37.460 --> 00:47:39.730
'cause that does equal funding.

1056
00:47:39.730 --> 00:47:41.600
So if somebody says they're gonna volunteer

1057
00:47:41.600 --> 00:47:42.440
and their mentors,

1058
00:47:42.440 --> 00:47:45.970
like how many hours would they get paid per hour?

1059
00:47:45.970 --> 00:47:48.190
Like how much money would they get paid per hour,

1060
00:47:48.190 --> 00:47:49.380
put a dollar sign on it.

1061
00:47:49.380 --> 00:47:51.570
So you understand the value of it,

1062
00:47:51.570 --> 00:47:54.120
right? Because there is value there.

1063
00:47:54.120 --> 00:47:57.030
Having said that, there is a need

1064
00:47:57.030 --> 00:48:02.030
for actual capital and in our experiences to be frank,

1065
00:48:04.380 --> 00:48:08.114
I think that probably 90, 95% of the money

1066
00:48:08.114 --> 00:48:12.320
that we've received has not come from foundations.

1067
00:48:12.320 --> 00:48:14.760
As a matter of fact, the amount of work

1068
00:48:14.760 --> 00:48:18.770
that I've had to put into applying the grants

1069
00:48:18.770 --> 00:48:22.393
versus the amount that I've gotten is insane.

1070
00:48:23.580 --> 00:48:27.460
And so it is something that at least on my end,

1071
00:48:27.460 --> 00:48:29.141
because I'm not,

1072
00:48:29.141 --> 00:48:33.670
on the other side of it that Cheryl's on

1073
00:48:33.670 --> 00:48:34.770
or that Gwyneth is on.

1074
00:48:34.770 --> 00:48:39.770
But on my side, it has been extremely difficult

1075
00:48:39.950 --> 00:48:42.610
to convince foundations that it is important

1076
00:48:42.610 --> 00:48:46.260
to give us actual capital so that we can

1077
00:48:47.200 --> 00:48:50.320
pay our staff or have like healthcare benefits

1078
00:48:50.320 --> 00:48:52.410
or there's certain things that we just have to pay for,

1079
00:48:52.410 --> 00:48:55.210
licenses, insurance or what have you.

1080
00:48:55.210 --> 00:48:57.343
That is very, very challenging.

1081
00:49:00.720 --> 00:49:03.980
<v ->Gwyneth, how do you bring more corporate partners,</v>

1082
00:49:03.980 --> 00:49:07.030
investors into what you're doing so well

1083
00:49:07.030 --> 00:49:08.500
on the Comcast side?

1084
00:49:08.500 --> 00:49:10.590
<v ->You know, we're trying to, for sure.</v>

1085
00:49:10.590 --> 00:49:14.250
I think there's appetite and some moment for sure.

1086
00:49:14.250 --> 00:49:15.400
And I would say, you know, it's not,

1087
00:49:15.400 --> 00:49:17.850
and or when we think about capital,

1088
00:49:17.850 --> 00:49:20.590
it should be at capital versus mentorship

1089
00:49:20.590 --> 00:49:22.070
or wraparound, it should be both.

1090
00:49:22.070 --> 00:49:25.050
And so how do we structure it that way?

1091
00:49:25.050 --> 00:49:27.450
So whether it's through our work at Comcast Rise

1092
00:49:27.450 --> 00:49:29.210
and providing grants to small businesses,

1093
00:49:29.210 --> 00:49:33.000
but in addition to that, providing one-on-one mentorship,

1094
00:49:33.000 --> 00:49:36.450
coaching, resources, so that it's the both,

1095
00:49:36.450 --> 00:49:39.380
how do we think about that in our grant portfolio as well,

1096
00:49:39.380 --> 00:49:43.250
providing really much needed programmatic support,

1097
00:49:43.250 --> 00:49:46.780
but also to Damon's point how we provide the resources

1098
00:49:46.780 --> 00:49:49.490
needed to keep the lights on, to pay health insurance.

1099
00:49:49.490 --> 00:49:51.130
How do we not be too restricted

1100
00:49:51.130 --> 00:49:53.783
as funders and be thoughtful?

1101
00:49:53.783 --> 00:49:56.784
So I think, we can quickly go down the path

1102
00:49:56.784 --> 00:50:00.160
of it has to be capital or it has to be mentorship,

1103
00:50:00.160 --> 00:50:01.110
but I think we should be really

1104
00:50:01.110 --> 00:50:02.983
thinking about it holistically.

1105
00:50:03.980 --> 00:50:07.800
So those would be my thoughts.

1106
00:50:07.800 --> 00:50:09.370
<v ->Great.</v>

1107
00:50:09.370 --> 00:50:10.380
Cheryl, are you still there?

1108
00:50:10.380 --> 00:50:11.810
I think we lost you for a second.

1109
00:50:11.810 --> 00:50:16.340
You might be coming back in, but in the mean time,

1110
00:50:16.340 --> 00:50:19.140
as we wrap things up, Damon, how do people get involved?

1111
00:50:20.726 --> 00:50:22.700
How can people listening in further engage

1112
00:50:22.700 --> 00:50:23.893
with your organization?

1113
00:50:25.370 --> 00:50:26.610
<v ->I mean, one, contact me.</v>

1114
00:50:26.610 --> 00:50:31.420
I mean, my address is on the website, so, but you know,

1115
00:50:31.420 --> 00:50:33.388
I mean, we always tell people,

1116
00:50:33.388 --> 00:50:38.388
like I was saying earlier, we look at involvement,

1117
00:50:39.890 --> 00:50:41.470
we look at everything across the board.

1118
00:50:41.470 --> 00:50:44.040
So I'm like, if you want to get involved

1119
00:50:44.040 --> 00:50:45.680
in our organization and you want to do it

1120
00:50:45.680 --> 00:50:47.950
at a small scale and you don't have that much time

1121
00:50:47.950 --> 00:50:50.260
and you wanna donate, go ahead.

1122
00:50:50.260 --> 00:50:54.220
You want to donate your time, that's also valuable.

1123
00:50:54.220 --> 00:50:57.660
If you wanna work on a bigger project that might, you know,

1124
00:50:57.660 --> 00:50:59.030
require a couple of months,

1125
00:50:59.030 --> 00:51:01.480
like let's sit down and have some meetings.

1126
00:51:01.480 --> 00:51:05.310
If you have young folks that are interested in the program

1127
00:51:05.310 --> 00:51:09.120
and they want to apply,

1128
00:51:09.120 --> 00:51:12.330
you can look at our Twitter page, it's pinned at the top.

1129
00:51:12.330 --> 00:51:14.640
There's an application form you can go to as well.

1130
00:51:14.640 --> 00:51:16.740
So we tend to be really open.

1131
00:51:16.740 --> 00:51:19.760
Like we understand that our community is our students,

1132
00:51:19.760 --> 00:51:21.170
the communities that we serve

1133
00:51:21.170 --> 00:51:23.830
and the video game industry and parents.

1134
00:51:23.830 --> 00:51:26.570
So we wanna be able to talk to everybody and ask them,

1135
00:51:26.570 --> 00:51:30.900
like, how do we work together to create the best experience

1136
00:51:30.900 --> 00:51:32.850
for our young folks?

1137
00:51:32.850 --> 00:51:37.100
And so that can start with things that we already do,

1138
00:51:37.100 --> 00:51:39.530
or it can start with something that's new,

1139
00:51:39.530 --> 00:51:41.610
and we're open to those conversations.

1140
00:51:41.610 --> 00:51:45.050
So, okay, that's kind of generally how I tell people

1141
00:51:45.050 --> 00:51:46.400
if they want to get involved.

1142
00:51:46.400 --> 00:51:48.807
<v ->So is everyone should go to their website.</v>

1143
00:51:48.807 --> 00:51:53.600
Cheryl, in 30 seconds, how do people get involved

1144
00:51:53.600 --> 00:51:54.433
in Echoing Green?

1145
00:51:54.433 --> 00:51:56.610
And then on that last question,

1146
00:51:56.610 --> 00:51:58.170
how are you pulling in other investors?

1147
00:51:58.170 --> 00:51:59.560
And then we'll have Gwyneth,

1148
00:51:59.560 --> 00:52:01.700
if you wanna provide some final remarks.

1149
00:52:01.700 --> 00:52:05.180
And then I think Olivia is gonna come back in, so Cheryl.

1150
00:52:05.180 --> 00:52:08.550
<v ->Yeah, look, I mean, this access to capital issue is real.</v>

1151
00:52:08.550 --> 00:52:11.770
We have been telling the sector that we've been de-risking

1152
00:52:11.770 --> 00:52:14.780
and I dislike that term because it, again,

1153
00:52:14.780 --> 00:52:17.470
is pejorative in a way that it should not be

1154
00:52:17.470 --> 00:52:20.120
for these amazing innovators, but we've tried our best

1155
00:52:20.120 --> 00:52:22.298
to de-risk these extraordinary leaders.

1156
00:52:22.298 --> 00:52:26.820
The sector has not been as responsive because they're just,

1157
00:52:26.820 --> 00:52:28.950
there's not enough equity in the system.

1158
00:52:28.950 --> 00:52:32.570
So part of our response is to build a collaborative fund,

1159
00:52:32.570 --> 00:52:34.370
like the Racial Equity Philanthropic Fund,

1160
00:52:34.370 --> 00:52:37.300
where we get anchor partners, like Comcast,

1161
00:52:37.300 --> 00:52:40.730
who have been leaders on this, sitting around at the table,

1162
00:52:40.730 --> 00:52:42.207
working together collaboratively

1163
00:52:42.207 --> 00:52:44.910
and sending signals to the rest of the field,

1164
00:52:44.910 --> 00:52:47.180
that this is the way we've gotta work together.

1165
00:52:47.180 --> 00:52:50.261
I would say, stay tuned, part of the work we're doing,

1166
00:52:50.261 --> 00:52:51.320
and Comcast has been a lead on this,

1167
00:52:51.320 --> 00:52:54.270
is to move further downstream and say,

1168
00:52:54.270 --> 00:52:57.160
we are so good at the vetting and sourcing.

1169
00:52:57.160 --> 00:52:59.140
We assume that there would be friction,

1170
00:52:59.140 --> 00:53:01.710
frictionless handoff to later stage funders,

1171
00:53:01.710 --> 00:53:04.040
because we're so good at spotting this talent,

1172
00:53:04.040 --> 00:53:05.010
hasn't shown up that way.

1173
00:53:05.010 --> 00:53:07.620
So we have now created a trache of funding

1174
00:53:07.620 --> 00:53:09.930
up to $12 million over the next couple of years.

1175
00:53:09.930 --> 00:53:12.620
So we can go back to Damon who says, I got a growth plan.

1176
00:53:12.620 --> 00:53:14.380
I'm ready to go.

1177
00:53:14.380 --> 00:53:18.010
Can you help me without sort of all of the hoops

1178
00:53:18.010 --> 00:53:19.430
that he says he has to jump through

1179
00:53:19.430 --> 00:53:22.090
to these foundations and others, when he shouldn't have to,

1180
00:53:22.090 --> 00:53:23.870
'cause he's been pre-vetted prequalified,

1181
00:53:23.870 --> 00:53:25.120
all that kind of stuff.

1182
00:53:25.120 --> 00:53:28.130
And then the last thing is we are starting to recognize,

1183
00:53:28.130 --> 00:53:30.540
we're gonna have to work with our innovators

1184
00:53:30.540 --> 00:53:33.730
like Damon to build new capital tools,

1185
00:53:33.730 --> 00:53:35.540
sort of a Swiss army knife approach.

1186
00:53:35.540 --> 00:53:36.823
And maybe they need debt.

1187
00:53:38.447 --> 00:53:39.280
Maybe they need philanthropic capital.

1188
00:53:39.280 --> 00:53:41.190
Maybe they need equity investments.

1189
00:53:41.190 --> 00:53:44.020
Maybe we need to help them think about new approaches

1190
00:53:44.020 --> 00:53:47.060
to building their businesses.

1191
00:53:47.060 --> 00:53:48.530
And we're just not gonna wait.

1192
00:53:48.530 --> 00:53:49.920
We're just gonna have to do it.

1193
00:53:49.920 --> 00:53:53.431
So, check out the Echoing Green website,

1194
00:53:53.431 --> 00:53:54.390
echoinggreen.org.

1195
00:53:54.390 --> 00:53:58.080
We're gonna select our next class of fellows in April,

1196
00:53:58.080 --> 00:54:01.250
some more extraordinary leaders coming, but you know,

1197
00:54:01.250 --> 00:54:02.880
would love to have more folks at the table

1198
00:54:02.880 --> 00:54:03.950
'cause we've gotta do this together.

1199
00:54:03.950 --> 00:54:05.730
This is our version of active impact.

1200
00:54:05.730 --> 00:54:08.080
We're never gonna figure it out on our own, so.

1201
00:54:09.180 --> 00:54:11.820
<v ->Gwyneth, final remarks and then while you're doing that,</v>

1202
00:54:11.820 --> 00:54:13.010
we'll bring in Olivia.

1203
00:54:13.010 --> 00:54:15.528
<v ->That sounds great, and I mean,</v>

1204
00:54:15.528 --> 00:54:17.240
I think I would just say that this is work

1205
00:54:17.240 --> 00:54:19.220
that we all have to do together, right?

1206
00:54:19.220 --> 00:54:21.760
I'm super proud to be part of a company

1207
00:54:21.760 --> 00:54:24.040
that not only has that longstanding commitment

1208
00:54:24.040 --> 00:54:25.500
to communities, but has really,

1209
00:54:25.500 --> 00:54:28.940
I think stepped some big ways to meet this moment,

1210
00:54:28.940 --> 00:54:30.440
but also to deepen our commitment.

1211
00:54:30.440 --> 00:54:33.290
And I think that's gonna be really critical

1212
00:54:33.290 --> 00:54:35.510
that this is not just about meeting a moment,

1213
00:54:35.510 --> 00:54:38.290
but it's about continue and deepen engagement.

1214
00:54:38.290 --> 00:54:41.700
And so would encourage everyone that's joined us today

1215
00:54:41.700 --> 00:54:43.160
to continue to invest in

1216
00:54:43.160 --> 00:54:45.540
and to support underrepresented leaders.

1217
00:54:45.540 --> 00:54:47.527
It's not just good for individual businesses

1218
00:54:47.527 --> 00:54:50.990
and organizations like Echoing Green and Game Heads,

1219
00:54:50.990 --> 00:54:54.130
but it's really essential for our communities.

1220
00:54:54.130 --> 00:54:58.110
So thank you for having us today.

1221
00:54:58.110 --> 00:55:00.701
Please, everybody go watch the documentary

1222
00:55:00.701 --> 00:55:04.230
and check out Echoing Green and Game Heads,

1223
00:55:04.230 --> 00:55:05.910
incredible organizations.

1224
00:55:05.910 --> 00:55:07.940
And, and thank you to Cheryl and Damon

1225
00:55:09.246 --> 00:55:10.960
for your extraordinary leadership.

1226
00:55:10.960 --> 00:55:13.500
<v ->Thank you to all, Olivia.</v>

1227
00:55:13.500 --> 00:55:16.630
<v ->Yes, I am so excited for this documentary</v>

1228
00:55:16.630 --> 00:55:20.300
and this was one of the most wonderful conversations

1229
00:55:20.300 --> 00:55:21.680
and refreshing conversations

1230
00:55:21.680 --> 00:55:24.270
I've heard in a very long time.

1231
00:55:24.270 --> 00:55:28.143
What an incredible way to start our 2022 season of event,

1232
00:55:29.090 --> 00:55:31.750
particularly because Comcast NBC Universal

1233
00:55:31.750 --> 00:55:33.330
is such a special partner of ours.

1234
00:55:33.330 --> 00:55:36.010
So thank you so much Gwyneth to you and your team

1235
00:55:36.010 --> 00:55:37.860
for making this possible.

1236
00:55:37.860 --> 00:55:39.722
Thank you, Cheryl, thank you, Damon.

1237
00:55:39.722 --> 00:55:42.120
This is incredible.

1238
00:55:42.120 --> 00:55:45.210
So I wish everyone a wonderful rest of the day

1239
00:55:45.210 --> 00:55:48.970
and don't forget to sign up for June 7th through the 8th,

1240
00:55:48.970 --> 00:55:51.610
we will see you all in Washington DC.

1241
00:55:51.610 --> 00:55:53.950
More to come on that, thank you everyone for being here,

1242
00:55:53.950 --> 00:55:55.700
have a great rest of the afternoon.