The Elevate Initiative supports and uplifts effective strategies that can reduce barriers to economic mobility and workforce development presented by structural racialization. Elevate was created through the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Economic Mobility and Opportunity portfolio.

The initiative is rooted in the understanding that Black and brown people and BIPOC-led organizations are best positioned to identify and advance solutions that address their communities’ most pressing needs. Therefore, the initiative redefines the grantee-funder relationship to center grassroots leadership, foster a community of practice where learning is shared, and connect participating organizations to the technical assistance and resources they want.

The following is a learning report compiling lessons we’ve learned over the last three years of designing and facilitating communities of practice and learning opportunities for the Elevate grantees and recommendations for the future of this and similar learning communities.

Download the report to explore key lessons and recommendations for practitioners seeking to develop learning communities rooted in the needs of Black and brown communities and guided by liberatory values. You can also visit elevateinitiative.us to learn more about each of the Elevate grantees, past and present.