Hey Family,
Six years ago when we founded BlackOUT Collective in the midst of the Ferguson uprising, we were answering a call from the Movement to be in the streets and ensure there were more Black direct action trainers, practitioners and strategists. It has been an honor over the past 6 years to take this small dream of ours and collectively grow it into a thriving organization that has trained thousands, supported hundreds of actions and worked to build countless leaders.
It is with this same level of pride and excitement that I am happy to announce that The BlackOUT Collective is joining the Center for Third World Organizing (CTWO) Hub.
As part of the CTWO Hub, The BlackOUT Collective will continue to develop leaders in communities most impacted by racism and state violence. Our training and organizing approach will always center the experiences and leadership of Black communities. We are taking this bold step in order to better serve the movement, our networks, and participants!
I am also very happy to announce that with this transition I am taking the lead of this Hub, as the new Executive Director of CTWO. Brianna Gibson, Collective member since 2015 and on staff since 2019, will lead BlackOUT Collective as Director of Action Strategy and Program and PG Watkins, a Dark Matter network member, is now full time with BlackOUT and will spearhead network relations and provide training and technical assistance support.
Along with the Black Land and Liberation Initiative (BLLI) and the Ruckus Society, joining the CTWO Hub, will allow us to streamline all of our back-end systems and departments and will allow each organization to place primary focus on their mission and programs. Together, our impact will be greater, our reach goes further, and our organizations become more sustainable.
We are leaning into a long history of collaboration and political alignment, and look forward to deepening our impact on our overlapping populations. We are humbled and excited to be in a position to rethink the scope and methodology of our work, while answering the question, “what can we do together, that we cannot do apart?”
Click here to learn more about what this means for our work moving forward.
I look forward to sharing updates, new training offerings and more information about this transition with you over the next few months!
In Solidarity,
Chinyere Tutashinda
