About The Collective
Through The Collective, we’re always asking, ‘How much greater can philanthropy be?’
The Black Collective Foundation MN believes Black-led change is genius. As Minnesota’s first Black community foundation and a pioneer of culturally specific philanthropy nationwide, The Collective partners with individuals and institutions to boldly invest in organizations, leaders, systems, and ideas. Together, we are realizing a more just Minnesota where all Black people are holistically well, living in dignity and prosperity.
Our Vision
Advance the genius of Black-led change and build a community where all Black people are holistically well, living in dignity and prosperity.
Our Mission
Build Black philanthropic power to strengthen the ecosystem of Black-led social, political, and economic change in Minnesota and beyond.
Our Origin
The Black Collective Foundation MN (The Collective) was formed against the backdrop of the 2020 uprising for racial justice. As the murder of George Floyd sparked a worldwide movement for freedom and Black-led change, philanthropy, foundations and donors sought to respond to the moment. Philanthropy recognized its position as a powerful set of institutions and structures, and Black leaders working within philanthropy and in their communities asked what they could do together to energize and guide field transformation.
Our three co-founders – Repa Mekha, Chanda Smith Baker, and Lulete Mola – along with many members of our community, started the Black Collective Foundation MN to build a home for the genius of Black-led change. Rooted in community with influence in the sector of philanthropy, we were called to harness the struggles and possibilities of the historical moment to move the sector beyond momentary sympathy and into accountability, solidarity, and transformation.
While Minnesota was a catalyst of this historical moment, many of us in the Black community have always been in a state of uprising against the systems, cultures, and narratives that harm us all. The spirit of the Foundation and its commitment to Black-led change builds on a legacy of Black people resourcing and working to better our communities, not only within philanthropic institutions, but in our communities, every single day. Black-led change is social, political, and economic change led by diverse groups of Black people. It centers the power, interests, and well-being of Black communities and often benefits all people. It is rooted in cultural practice across generations and the diaspora and reflects the inherent dignity and vision of Black people.
While Black-led change continues to prove its impact and necessity, historically, Black-led change has been targeted, under-resourced, and under-recognized. The Black Collective Foundation MN is here to amplify and invest in Black-led change, so that it reaches its full capacity of impact for good. Black-led change makes the world a better place in spite of its opposition, imagine the possibilities if it’s recognized and resourced properly.
This organization is the realization of the legacy of vision, philanthropy, and generosity in Black communities, bringing it from the shadows into the light.
Read our joint statement for philanthropy.
our people
CO-FOUNDERS
Repa Mekha
Co-Founder
President & CEO, Nexus Community Partners
Repa has 30+ years of experience in community-based leadership, community capacity building, asset and wealth building strategies, organizational leadership and development, and systems change work. He is recognized locally and nationally as an innovative and visionary leader and heads up Nexus’ work with national partners.
Repa sits on a number of boards including the Center for Economic Inclusion; The Minnesota Council of Foundations; and Shared Capital Cooperatives. He is also co-founder of the Twin Cities African American Leadership Forum and serves as a member of the Nonprofit Quarterly Economic Justice Advisory Committee.
He holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government with a focus on community development and; a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Urban Studies from the University of Wisconsin. He is a 2005 Bush Leadership Fellow and a 2004 James P. Shannon Leadership Institute Alumni.
Lulete Mola
President & Co-Founder
Lulete Mola is the Co-Founder and first President of the Black Collective Foundation MN. Previously, Lulete was the Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at the Women's Foundation of Minnesota where she led community investments, field-building programming, strategic communications, and bold fundraising that enabled large-scale systems change.
In this role, Lulete also led the Young Women’s Initiative of Minnesota, a $10M public-private partnership to achieve equity in opportunities and improve the lives of Black, Indigenous, and young women of color. Lulete is devoted to engaging in and supporting community organizing, movement building, and work to advance women's political leadership. She is on the Minnesota Council of Foundations Board of Directors and VoteRunLead National Advisory Board.
Lulete is the recipient of the 2020 SOAR fellowship with the Aspen Institute Forum on Women and Girls. In 2022, Lulete received The Facing Race Award for her work in challenging absent and harmful narratives on race, building solutions, and pushing for justice and equity. Lulete graduated summa cum laude from the University of Minnesota where she recently received the College of Liberal Arts (CLA) Emerging Alumni Award.
Chanda Smith Baker
Co-Founder
Founder and CEO, Smith Baker LLC
Chanda Smith Baker is a nationally-recognized strategic leader with a focus on advancing racial equity and broadening social impact. She is the Founder and CEO of Smith Baker LLC., an executive coaching and strategic consulting firm offering expertise in philanthropy, organizational leadership, board governance, and executive coaching services. In Chanda’s most recent role as Chief Impact Officer at the Minneapolis Foundation, she was recognized for her compelling cross-sector work and was instrumental in the development of the organization’s strategic framework.
Chanda serves on numerous boards and advisory committees, including Allina Health, Allina Health Foundation Board, The Joyce Foundation, The Women’s Foundation of Minnesota, and National Association of Corporate Directors MN Chapter. Chanda’s accomplishments have been chronicled by the Chronicle of Philanthropy, Essence, and the Mpls/St Paul Business Journal, and she is the recipient of several awards, including Women in Business, The “real” Power 50, Hubert H. Humphrey Leadership Award and the Distinguished Alumni Award from Concordia University in St. Paul Minneapolis. Chanda is also a host of the award-winning podcast, Conversations with Chanda.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Aretha Green-Rupert
Chair & Secretary
Program Director, Carlson Family Foundation
Jai Winston
TREASURER
Nonprofit Leader
Shawntera Hardy
CEO, Amethyst Advisory Group
Dr. Rachel Hardeman
Blue Cross Endowed Professor of Health & Racial Equity
Founding Director of Center for Antiracism Research for Health Equity, University of Minnesota
Our tEAM & Collaborators
We’re proud to work in partnership with our ever growing village.
Stacy Papier-Meister
Senior Director of Operations & Administration
CeMarr Peterson
Senior Director of Impact
Tedd West
Vice President of Advancement and External Relations
in practice partners
Community leaders who are supporting our work with their expertise.
Cornel Beard
Creative in Practice
Kandace Montgomery
Movement Builder In Practice
Careers
Be part of our team. View open positions and click any opportunity for more information
get in touch
We partner with organizations and courageous individuals who are ready to make a long term commitment to racial justice. We believe equity is a practice that takes daily actions and affirmations to realize.
This is more than a moment, it is a movement. Together we will build capacity for this and other Black-led organizations to better support our community.