Hyper Local Impact

Everything I did at Hyper Local ImpactI learned from some job that I was probably under-qualified for but used my privilege/social currency to get.

So.

I'm going to pay that forward and this lovable idiot is going to teach anyone that wants to know the basics of 1) how I built this brand, 2) how I approach social media, and 3) how I approach crowdfunding/social fundraising. I’ll do this in three donation based webinars.

If you make a donation to Family & Friends Fund you'll automatically get access to these classes for as long as I feel like keeping them online (in theory, forever). I’m making no money from this. Why? Because at some point, someone somewhere taught ME this stuff for free.

I've created a simple google form for you to express interest in one, two, or all of these classes. Once you let me know you're interested, I'll send a group email out for each class. I'll ask you to send me "proof of donation" (any size counts, this is meant to be accessible) and then I'll send you a link to the class itself.

This is my "farewell" tour for what's been an incredible ride with this thing. And a way to remind you that you reallllly don't have to gatekeep knowledge -- especially knowledge you were simply lucky to acquire.

Also - an *i hope* unnecessary disclaimer -- I am not an "expert" at branding/marketing or social media. That being said, when we lock knowledge up with experts, it's usually those who have been historically marginalized that are left behind. So I'm sharing what I know -- not because its "perfect" but because it works.

Alright.

xo

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdGqmCoZjHW5VHc3gIwM6in9p0PUN80aGwc0SgGo8wJqz54Nw/viewform

Do you know and love a girl between the ages of 12 and 24 in Fort Wayne, IN?

If so, you can help build a better future for them by setting them up and supporting them as they complete this survey from Women's Fund of Greater Fort Wayne. (But don't hover, we all know their answers will change if you do :-))

Share widely, the more honest responses the fund receives the more clarity they will have as they move forward with their urgent work!

This survey and its answers are even more urgently important from Black, Indigenous, Latina, and immigrant young women in our community.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/W6FRF5R?fbclid=IwAR2mA_sGqm2jpDBuJTYh6cJ2zij2B3Rb9K89v_xbmxokk-5XGFqcKauC2fU

Fort Wayne + Allen County Young Women and Girls Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

Since our event is cancelled on Saturday, we’re going to use the rest of the week to share some of the information we put together for the event, starting here:

A 2013 report found that 93% of foundation executives are white. That percentage is higher locally.

We state this as a fact and an opportunity, not as a criticism or accusation (though often white supremacy causes us to hear facts as criticisms).

The Family & Friends Fund was started as a way to offer a new model here locally for how a foundation or fund might operate.

Most foundations look for leaders with a career spent with a close proximity to wealth, to ensure the “sustainability” of the foundation itself. The reason for wanting to sustain the foundation is often pure and practical: social problems will always exist, so the foundation wants to be around forever to help with those problems. Thus, proximity to money, power, and investment prowess becomes paramount to that sustainability.

But Toni Morrison once said something that we treasure at : “As you enter positions of trust and power, dream a little before you think.”

Our thinking minds tell us that poverty/racism/economic injustice can’t be solved — so foundations must be around to treat their symptoms.

But at Family & Friends Fund our DREAMING minds tell us that the people closest to the problems of economic injustice, poverty, and racism have been using creativity to overcome these obstacles for millennia. We believe systemic issues CAN be solved (and in our lifetimes) if we only unlock risk capital for the dreamers closest to those obstacles.

We might be wrong. But at least we’ll be wrong dreaming.

BIPOC decision makers need a chance to put their dreaming and thinking to the test locally and nationally. We’re proud to be leading the way.

We're pretty sad to share that, once again, we're finding ourselves on the wrong side of Covid as we approach or THIRD date for our celebration/fundraiser for HAC/FFF.

We've just learned that we've had a direct Covid-19 exposure in the past 24 hours and due to the nature of the illness, we won't have true confidence of our status by the scheduled Saturday event.

We continue to take Covid-19 very seriously, especially as the most devastating results continue to affect people of color most dramatically.

Look for a reschedule date -- most likely in February.

Thank you to all of you for continuing to support us, and for respecting our commitment to protecting public health.

WOW!

Thanks to an anonymous donation of $5,000 (!!!) we are making Saturday's event COMPLETELY FREE TO ATTEND!

If you've raised a dime for the Family & Friends Fund or volunteered or fundraised for Human Agricultural Co-Operative we're inviting you to be our guest on Saturday, December 4th to celebrate how far we've come and to chart out how far we still get to travel together.

RSVP at the link in bio!

Only FIFTY tickets available!

See you Saturday!

When you look at the habits you’re trying to change, do you count apathy towards injustice on your list?

I’ve fallen prey to the inertia monster more times than I can count. BUT more than I want to eat better, exercise more, gossip less, etc. I want to CARE MORE and CARE WITHOUT CEASING.

It’s a muscle and a habit to keep showing up. Look for accountability, gamification, whatever you need. Just decide this is the one habit you won’t quit.

[ID: Twitter style icon photo of KG with a quoted tweet stating: Inertia dictates that every time you stop caring/doing, starting again requires extra energy and effort. Your body and mind want to stay stopped. White progressives’ painfully short attention spans create serious time + energy costs for movements for justice.]

Here I am back with my unpopular opinions.

We all know the verdict that was thrust upon us on Friday. Feel your feelings about it, truly. I spent much of the weekend in magnified fury and frustration and helplessness.

And I heard a lot of people asking "what do I do now?"

But here's the thing: flurries of activity surrounding bad outcomes don't change the world. Constant, devoted, relentless showing-up over the course of weeks, months, and years -- ESPECIALLY when white supremacy isn't in the spotlight -- is what will change the world.

If you're wondering "what to do now" AND you've never stopped working to dismantle the white patriarchy since you first committed: my answer is keep going and don't burn out. Just keep going.

If you stopped thinking about systemic racism in the months following George Floyd's death, or finished your antiracist book club (or DEI program) and then moved on, or donated to a fund like or a black-led nonprofit or a BIPOC gofundme once...I ask you to start with this step first: EXAMINE WHY YOU STOPPED. I don't know why you stopped. Only you do. So why? Why did you stop the work (both internal and external)? Because until you do this work of discernment, we run the risk of you getting all excited again… just to quit again. We need you for the long haul.

Next:

Look to the doers. We all know who they are in this community. And I don't mean those who are paid handsomely to DO, but those who just *fu***ng* do. Look to them. Don't slide in their DMs and ask how you can help. Most of them give you ways to get involved daily. Do those things.

Finally:

Decide that when the next disappointing news story about upholding the white cis-heteropatriarchy comes down the pipe (like we know it will) that you'll be one of those in the position to mourn and then keep up the work you're already doing.

My people. Hello.

I'm posting because Ty and I need your support for our event coming up on December 4th supporting Human Agricultural Co-Operative and Family & Friends Fund! We are looking for 3 event chairs that can take some of the stress off of Ty the day of the event. Do you love making sure people do what they say they're going to do? Do you track time by the minute? Do you love meeting new people and thrive under tight deadlines? And, most importantly, do you care about redistributing power to BIPOC communities?

Sign up at link in comments!

We're also looking for corporate sponsors for our event. I'm going to be honest -- we could've put together shiny sponsorship perks but that's not who we are. If your organization sponsors this fundraiser we want it to be because you know that to those whom much is given, much ought to be expected. Its because you recognize you were given breaks and $$ to get off the ground, and you want to do the same for local businesses who lack your connections. We're looking for a handful of sponsors -- we will thank you from the stage, share on social media, and be forever grateful to you. But we won't do much more than that -- because our main focus is on the businesses who will directly benefit from your support.

Sign up at link in comments!

Finally, we need these tickets to sell! Are you willing to sign up to try to get 5 people to join you at Sweetwater on December 4th? Just like with our fundraising, all we ask is for your willingness to try. No contract here, just a willingness to do your best.

Sign up at link in comments!

If NONE of these apply to you -- we hope you'll consider buying a ticket for yourself or making a donation.

As you know we have a BIG announcement coming and this last minute push will help add fuel to our fire.

we love you.

When I say Ty Simmons and I have been busy working behind the scenes on the model of the Family & Friends Fund … you have no idea.

We’re working our butts off (in between our paying gigs, homeschooling, volunteering, and sleep(?)) and we are so thrilled to share the fruits of our labor on December 4, 2021.

This new model will take the weight off of the shoulders of passionate individuals like you all and streamline the distribution of money and power to the communities that need them most.

Sign-up to be the first to hear on our newly revamped website: www.familyandfriendsfund.org

Better yet, buy a ticket for our December 4th event at Sweetwatet to hear about the big pivot in person. (Tickets available on website, too!) https://www.familyandfriendsfund.org/events-1

This is what our fund is doing with money. Bringing in diverse advisers, and getting those whose good intentions might harm those advisers and their communities OUT OF THE WAY. Including me. - KG

Uncharted announced its cohort of ten early-stage social ventures for the Economic Inequality Initiative, a six-month accelerator supporting solutions addressing economic inequality in the U.S. The selected participants will receive $25k in unrestricted funding, access to a peer support community, and introductions to subject-matter experts like Ai-jen Poo, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, and Edgar Villanueva, Founder and Principal of the Decolonizing Wealth Project.

Family & Friends Fund is among the ten selected ventures. We're honored. We're validated. We're national (!!!) And we're committed to making the most of this opportunity for Fort Wayne and for the World. Ty Simmons 🎉

Uncharted received 344 applications from early-stage ventures across the U.S. and collaborated with a diverse selection committee to pick ten participants.

We know they chose us because they could see that even if local foundations, institutions, and government agencies aren't behind us...the HUMANS of our city are. Our community is. YOU ARE. This is your award, your commendation, your validation.

The link in the bio will tell you about the incredible ventures we'll be sharing space with. 80% of the selected participants identify as female, 60% identify as people of color, and 30% identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community.

ALL of the cohort are brave game-changers looking for a better way. Just. Like. Us.

So congrats to all of you! And thank you for believing in a new way. And for helping us experiment and fail forward AND for parting with your time, your treasure, and your talents for the southside of Fort Wayne.

LETS GO!!

In one week we get to share what folks on the national stage have to say about the work you all have done on behalf of BIPOC founders in our city.

In one week we get to share how we changed the game here — and how our next plans will deepen and solidify the impact you all made.

In one week we get to rest for a moment and feel pride and gratitude for how far we’ve come by being relentless in our pursuit of community-led .

But for now we’re admiring the very real impact we’ve already made as a city: by thinking there MUST be a better way, and iterating and exploring and failing and succeeding and growing and breaking down and waking up and doing it all again. By not giving up. By being brave.

One week y’all.

While we work for and rally for the abolition of the institutions that uphold white supremacy, we’ve got to find ways to make sure marginalized people groups secure the bag in the meantime.

One of the fastest ways? Providing FREE “translation services” to those doing the damn work who don’t speak “white gatekeeper” as their primary language.

Do you?

I know I do.

Because we're being pretty damn inefficient focusing on $20 donations when the real money is being given out RIGHT NOW to white-led nonprofits from local white gatekeepers. These orgs are really focused on real harm reduction and they definitely aren’t focused on eliminating the need for themselves (which should be the goal for most nonprofits). These “gatekeeper” financiers include business owners, private foundations, community foundations, corporate foundations, donor-advised funds, government grants, government contracts, and more.

Most of the above listed wealth-holders (hoarders 😬) say they want to give their $$ more equitably. But they are married to their systems. And their systems are systems of whiteness.

So what's the fastest way to access that money? Speak their language. NOT play by their rules but speak the language of their systems.

Who else has this skill? Are you an amazing grant writer? A copywriter for websites and magazines? Do you have a creative writing degree that you've never put to use? What if instead of an army of retweeters we had an army taking the diligence, creativity, and work of our BIPOC neighbors and friends and translating that work to the language of the white-gatekeepers?

What would they do if leaders of the movement infiltrated their systems perfectly and adeptly and as if it was their first language?

Just this week I've had five potential writing projects of “translations” to white-supremacy land on my desk. Who wants to share the burden with me? (This is a fantastic non-cash form of personal reparations).

Comment below if you’re open to being connected to someone who needs your skills.

Reminder from your friendly neighborhood buzzkill.

[ID: blue waves with flowing words stating, “rising tides only lift those with access to ships”]

Allow Elijah's to serve you a whole new taste experience. Great atmosphere, awesome food.

What your mama really wants for Mother’s Day: fresh fruits and veggies and investing local. Slide for details.

Hi guys.

This is Kristin coming out of a brief disappearance, learning and dismantling my own BS.

I want to say that I've been dealing with a lot of shame over the past months about the things I haven't done perfectly with the Family & Friends Fund. Struggling with the voices telling me that not being donor-centered is the reason we haven't reached $1,000,000 yet (even though donor-centrism is classist, racist, and problematic AF). Struggling with the rejection of the people I rejected for their upholding of systems that enforce racism locally (it feels lonely to not be status quo in FW).

But I'm coming out of it stronger. I confronted the shame monster and called her what she is: a tool of white supremacy to keep me from being as bold as these moments call demand.

So here's where I've landed. White people: it is our job, our responsibility, and our moral obligation to be the financing arm of Black liberation. In 2019 the median white household held $188,200 in wealth—7.8 times that of the typical Black household of $24,000. We have this advantage because of centuries of racist systems that have locked Black Americans out of accumulating wealth.

And while its tempting to skip to a future where capitalism has been entirely dismantled and all the wealth has been magically and equitably redistributed by a benevolent government or by the people/for the people or whatever...that future for most Black Americans is so far outside of reality that it isn't even a dream.

So we, as white people, have a moral obligation to fund Black excellence and wealth building and businesses and schools and therapy and art RIGHT NOW. Not because its a perfect solution, but because its a solution that mitigates harm for REAL Black people living right now, not HYPOTHETICAL Black people in some utopian future (hypothetical Black people are always white people's favorite Black people).

So here's my reminder. There is a way to fund Black futures and presents right now in Fort Wayne. And its the Family & Friends Fund. Your money will all be redistributed by Black leaders in Fort Wayne to BIPOC Fort Wayne residents who have been marginalized (and often are still being marginalized). The money doesn't stagnate. White people don't get to determine who is worthy.

So far, money has gone to some of the most outspoken activists in our city -- Black leaders who will NEVER get invited to the nice white tables because they refuse to abide by nice white values. This is MASSIVELY important.

These groups and individuals are literally ineligible for other funding because they're a voice for Black liberation. And they're the priority at the FFF.

So give. Now. Sign up to fundraise. Now. (link in comments). Join us as we finance Black liberation and success and generational wealth building and ownership in Fort Wayne, IN today. This is and it is our job.

My favorite LinkedIn follow.

Which part of the equation is your life’s work solving for?

FYI. I have racism and biases and misogyny and classism and so much other imperfection and darkness in me. I want you to know I’m not going quieter because I care less or know less, it’s because I care more, know more, and am listening more.

Big love, we’ll be back and more healed soon.

Tuesday we acknowledged.
Wednesday we processed.
Thursday we reframe.

What a tardy and inconsequential “first step”.

My words yesterday were flawed. Of course they were, I often can’t see past my own racism and biases.

Here’s what I tried and failed to say:

Repost from using - Nancy Pelosi thanking George Floyd for his "sacrifice" is violent bulls**t that enables the continued dehumanization of Black people.

Repost from

There's no justice without economic justice BECAUSE...

If you don't have economic power you DO NOT have a seat at the table. Our elected officials are elected based on the change they can spend not the change they will make.

So when I say NO JUSTICE without ECONOMIC JUSTICE I mean...wait for it...REPARATIONS.

If you're woke enough to post you should be woke enough to divert a significant portion of your income (or company ownership) directly into the wallets of Black people.

Right now the average wealth of a white American is 90% higher than that of Black American. This creates a POWER DYNAMIC that has us debating police mistakes instead of discussing abolishing the police as a result of THEIR failure. We'd fire the CEO of a company and then SHUT THEM DOWN if there were this many deaths on their watch at their employees hands.

Want to participate in community-led reparations today? Donate to the Family & Friends Fund where we're distributing $$ and decision making power to Black leaders to invest directly in building Black wealth in our city. With no strings attached.

Link below.

RIP Daunte.

I have racial bias.

This could’ve been me (the murderer, not the victim).

We have to do better.

Today I’m grieving, but more importantly I’m repenting. I’m so sorry for the one million small deaths I’ve inflicted on Black men and women because of my own biases I haven’t fully dealt with.

No more.

Happy birthday to meeee
Happy birthday to meeee
Happy birthday dear meeee
Here I served you some TEA!

In case you need to be reminded why the exists. This is not about charity. This is about white people disproportionately holding wealth, resources, and power. By distributing not only wealth through the investments made from the funds raised, but also the power to make the decision about those investments, we are changing the narrative of oppression.

Learning the language, the triggers, and the trauma of diverse populations thorough DEI training without having to give up any power, only empowers oppressors to do the same sh*t more efficiently and insidiously, and without “upsetting” the non-cis-hetero-white people they employ.

While white people are called to use our power to dismantle structures of oppression, we are also called to share our wealth and power within the current systems with BIPOC people so that they can survive to be part of the future we’re all building.

This is and without you we’re nothing.

(Happy 1st Birthday Hyper Local Impact, we've come a long way)

We need you.

We've had success, so much of it thanks to you all.

The stakes are now higher, the attention is now lower.

And.

If you want to know why I've been sad and mad and frustrated... we've had some backwards motion. No one has said this explicitly, but we think some people "disappeared" because they've decided that no one is paying attention anymore. So they no longer see the benefit for showing up for and GIVING POWER to BIPOC leaders and BIPOC businesses. And we don't hate them (maybe we did at one point but we've processed it and moved on).

So we need you.

We're OFFICIALLY launching round two of grassroots fundraising for the Family & Friends Fund. New language, new training webinar, testimonials from our first and second round recipients and more. If you already participated in round 1, we want you to play again! It's a new year and its not only appropriate to repeat some asks, its also strategic since we have so much new info.

We hope you'll join us. Sign up at the link in comments.

We're one week away from our first birthday, my friends.

I'm surprised by my emotional state here. This feels more like the mourning you feel as a mother with the passage from infancy to toddler-hood than the joy you feel celebrating a friend or a lover.

I'm so proud of what we have built, together. And I'm cognizant this is ours, not mine.

I've been trying to think of the right way to celebrate. But I have to be honest, if we can't be together it doesn't feel right. I literally dream about the day this entire community is in a giant field or at a park and we're hugging and laughing and shaking hands and pulling down our masks to see the smiles that we've yet to see in person. But also as we sob in each others arms about how fu***ng hard it has all been and continues to be.

Because I also know that HyLo grew and continues to grow where there is adversity. All of our early momentum was pandemic related. And our mid-year work was literally on the heels of a racially charged and state sanctioned murder. It's so very complicated.

So maybe there isn't really anything to celebrate anyway. The money we "gave away" was never ours. The hours we spent baking and wrapping and digging and moving boxes and shopping and spending and saving and asking and crying and confronting were hours that too many do not have.

So maybe the celebration is in the continued work. We're really work friends after all.

So for the next week I'll be reminding you about the work, pointing you towards the work, and engaging in the work.

And maybe next Friday I'll pop a bottle of champagne and celebrate that our little square can now participate in "on this day" posts.

I love each and every one of you.