By Edward Henderson
California Black Media

Since its inception in 2003, the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) has been America’s premier civil rights organization dedicated to the empowerment of Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer+, and same gender loving (LGBTQ+/SGL) people, including people living with HIV/AIDS.

Operating out of Los Angeles, the NBJC supports Black individuals, families, and communities.

Black LGBTQ+/SGL Americans constitute a significant subset of Black families with 3.7 percent of all Black Americans (more than one million people) identifying as LGBTQ+/SGL, according to the Williams Institute in 2013.

California Black Media spoke with Jeffery Wallace, President and CEO of Leaders Up, which is a member of the NBJC.

What does your organization do to improve the lives of Black people in California? 

Despite California being a progressive state, when we look at economic outcomes, we still see a major gap between us and our White counterparts. Leaders Up looks at how to build an anti-racist and inclusive economy where there is no racial disparity in the areas of education, employment, compensation and benefits. Beyond that, how do we normalize psychological and physical safety in the labor market, equal opportunities for pathways to leadership and sharing power.

We know that the queer and trans community are under full frontal assault. NBJC has allowed us to do is to incorporate an intentionality, a level of consciousness, where we can work with our employers and our development partners around identity and inclusion. Ensuring that when we think about Black folks, we’re thinking about Black queer folks, too.

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What was your greatest success over the course of the last year? 

Our greatest success has been defining how we shift from employment and placing folks into careers to transforming the conditions of the economy and the workplace and education system. Over the last 10 years we’ve been able to place 70,000 people into employment.

In your view, what is the biggest challenge Black Californians face? 

Systemic racism. I think that when we think about a system that has been designed even in California for African Americans to not win, that’s the biggest challenge that we’re facing.

The biggest challenge is also ourselves. For us to organize in a way for us to consolidate our power and shift the conditions under which we operate.

What was your organization’s biggest challenge? 

It’s capital. Finding out how to amass the capital that frees us up to do the work in a more impactful way. So, we’re no longer concerned about sustainability and more concerned about transformation.

Does your organization support or plan to get involved in the push for reparations in California?

Absolutely. The more that the movement incorporates organizations like ours, it becomes important for us to dream big around the capital for Black folks to build economic power.

How can more Californians of all backgrounds get involved in the work you’re doing?

You can visit our website at leadersup.org. We are always looking for professionals who want to give back through career coaching.  You can also visit nbjc.org to connect with the work we are doing nationwide.

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