Black Future Co-op Fund Seeks Black Washingtonians to Shape the State’s Future Through New Survey

SEATTLE — The Black Future Co-op Fund, in collaboration with Byrd Barr Place, Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, and the Washington State Commission on African American Affairs, today launched a statewide survey to gather the diversity of Black perspectives for an upcoming report, “Black Well-being: Moving Toward Solutions Together.” The report aims to support collective organizing across Washington; direct resources to invest in Black prosperity, health, and well-being; and inform policy change to fix structural injustices and advance equitable opportunities. 

The first iteration of the report, Creating an Equitable Future in Washington State: Black Well-being and Beyond, was published in 2015 by Byrd Barr Place, in collaboration with the Washington State Commission on African American Affairs and the African American Leadership Forum-Seattle. 

The online survey—at https://bit.ly/BWB-survey-2021—is available in Amharic, Arabic, Dari, English, French, Garifuna, Haitian Creole, Oromo, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, and Tigrinya. Those who complete the survey can opt into a raffle to potentially win a $100 gift card to Black-owned business of their choice in Washington state. 

“It was important for us to continue this work because so much has changed in recent years.

"The compounding crises of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic recession, generations of deeply embedded racist policies, and free-flowing rhetoric have accelerated the urgency for structural change,” said Andrea Caupain Sanderson, co-founder of the Black Future Co-op Fund. “The goals of the report are directly aligned with the Black Future Co-op Fund’s vision: a Washington state where all Black people are liberated, prosperous, and self-determined to fully live our lives.”

The survey follows a series of conversations with Black leaders across the state who are working for change in economic security, education, health, civic engagement, and the legal system. The survey is intended to reach Black Washingtonians across income, language, age, gender, religion, and sexuality and solicit input about what’s important for advancing Black well-being.

In early 2022, the survey findings and community-informed recommendations will be shared at a community event co-hosted by Black-led organizations.

“I remember when the first study in 2015 was an idea. We are still using the data from that report, so the timing for this is perfect,” shares Kevin Dawson, corporate sales director at SAP Concur and board member at Byrd Barr Place. “I’m excited to see what we learn and figure out how we can change what’s wrong in our systems.”