RUNWAY Roots brought Fertile Ground LIVE to Chicago for the very first time—and it was a fruitful, sold-out gathering that brought together a vibrant ecosystem of Black entrepreneurs, dreamers, builders, and community leaders. After over a year of meeting virtually, being in person was powerful—to be able to laugh, share meals, throw cheeky side eyes from across the room, learn, problem-solve, and build power together. It was something we didn’t even realize we had been longing for until we got to collectively experience it. Together, we dug deep into the urgent question of how we build power, wealth, and legacy in a time of uncertainty and shifting landscapes.

RUNWAY’s evolution into RUNWAY Roots marks a deeper commitment to reshaping the economy with care, trust, and justice at its center.

When we gathered in Chicago last month to celebrate RUNWAY’s evolution into RUNWAY Roots, there was a quiet, yet palpable hum in the air—a certain vibration, a certain resonance. The kind of vibration that’s generated when something you can’t quite name moves through a room. 

The evening felt like a reunion—familiar faces, new allies, and local legends coming together to usher in the new chapter of RUNWAY. 

This was Resonance: RUNWAY’s Evolution into RUNWAY Roots. 

We are so proud to introduce RUNWAY Roots and our next season of growth—nourished by where we’ve been and reaching toward new possibilities.

RUNWAY, the pioneering financial innovation group, is excited to unveil its new name and visual identity, transitioning to RUNWAY Roots. The rebrand signifies a transformative journey towards reparative finance that centers on love and support for Black communities.

In a time where movement work can often feel transactional, this moment felt spiritual. It reminded us: we have gathered here as kin—to believe in each other and to build futures together.

When I was nine, the only thing I thought about being when I grew up was maybe a mama. It wasn’t a clear dream of a career or a specific job, just the thought of nurturing and loving someone deeply. Then, on the day you were born, that dream came true in a way I never expected. London, in so many ways, you made me a mama. From the moment I held you, I knew I had a responsibility to show you what was possible—not just through my words but through my actions.

The state of the world may be fractured, but the people are rising. That was the heartbeat of the State of the People POWER Tour. A reminder that when we move together, we can turn harm into healing, ideas into action, and vision into lasting change.

I have been searching for the throughline that connects my values to how I choose to exist in both my personal and professional spaces. I wanted to understand what love, work, and self share in common because I could feel their connected threads pulling at me. I know this to be possible.

Economic justice must be at the center of all social justice movements. It requires more than just tweaking policies here and there. What’s needed is a radical overhaul of how resources are distributed.

You are your ancestors’ wildest dreams. Though it may feel like the world has counted you out, honey, you have no idea of the greatness you will unveil simply by listening to your inner voice and moving toward a world designed for you to thrive—a world where love, joy, and celebration surround you, embracing all the ways you are unapologetically you.

At RUNWAY, we know that power is not just about capital—it’s about agency, autonomy, and the ability to define our own futures. That’s why power building is central to our work. Read more.

What’s up P? This letter is coming to you from a much older version of yourself. I am 54 now, and I am writing this letter to you, my 14-year-old self. I know you have your heart set on being a high-profile lawyer as an adult.

At its core, Reparative Capital seeks to address and amend historical economic injustices, particularly those inflicted upon Black communities, by providing immediate, tangible resources that empower these communities to thrive.

As I write to you, Babygirl, I want to share a piece of my journey and, more importantly, my vision for the future—a future I’m working toward with all my heart. My work at RUNWAY is not just a job; it’s the fulfillment of a promise I’ve made to myself, to you, and to our community.

Looking back on this year so far, it’s clear that at RUNWAY, we’re building something that’s redefining the financial landscape. The future demands creative energy, a relentless belief that we can and will do more, and a commitment to imagine a world far beyond the limitations we face today. 

I recently learned you were an entrepreneur, but I don’t know if you saw yourself that way. You might’ve said you were simply doing what needed to be done to raise eight children, and honestly, that alone was probably enough to earn you the title.

I’m writing from the year 2024 where I serve as the Creative Director of a financial innovation firm called RUNWAY. I work with a formidable team of Black and Brown financial activists, organizers, creatives, and entrepreneurs…

We can meet where Believe-in-You Money and Reparative Capital converge and create a movement that not only supports Black entrepreneurs but transforms our entire economic system.

Our trip to Chicago was a celebration of the city’s rich entrepreneurial spirit and a commitment to fostering a more just financial ecosystem.

Believe-in-you money—that early, patient, flexible capital that turns Black brilliance into reality—can be the key to accelerate repair, restoration, and a fundamental reimagining of our economy.