Resonance: Celebrating RUNWAY’s Evolution into RUNWAY Roots
Rooting in Purpose
The program opened with a grounding question: Why are we here? From the outset, the night was framed as more than a celebration. It was a call to collective action. “We are here because capital is more than a transaction,” the room was reminded. “It is the foundation on which we can build strong, sustainable communities” This framework is the foundation of RUNWAY Roots—the home of reparative capital—built on trust, care, and a liberated vision of economic justice.
Then, Founder and CEO Jessica Norwood carried us back to the beginnings, recalling the early days in 2017 when we asked “What would it look like if the economy loved Black people?” From a $500,000 fund to the creation of the ROOTED Fund, our work has always been about repairing, restoring, and building wealth in ways that honor our communities.
“This new name means so much,” Jessica shared. “It signifies that we are still rooted deeply in the soil of our origins and our mission, yet rising toward a future we’ve been imagining for a long, long time.”
The new name also reflects the way we move. Not just forward, but downward and outward—like roots anchoring into the ground, like networks building strength through connection. Because the deeper we root, the more we can weather.
This evolution into RUNWAY Roots is a collective call to courage—a grounding in these unprecedented times that makes the demand for reparative capital and infrastructure that uplifts Black communities even more urgent. Jessica reminded the room that this work is not a one-off. It's an ongoing movement with ripples that extend far beyond a single event, or a new name.
Resonating Conversations
At the heart of the evening was a powerful panel discussion, Capital as Care, moderated by Jamica El, RUNWAY Roots’ Creative Director. Together with Jessica Norwood, Naima McQueen, RUNWAY Roots Director of Training and Education; and Vickie Lakes-Battle, a true Chicago legend and pioneer in mission-driven finance, they explored what it means to build economic systems that honor trust, community, and collective liberation. What systems—economic, civic, political, cultural—need to be reimagined so that Black communities are no longer just surviving under capitalism, but are resourced, protected, and thriving? Their conversation dug deep into what infrastructure that loves us could look like—and challenged us to imagine and build it together.
“Care is not a soft skill—it’s a strategy,” Jamica reminded us, underscoring the idea that the work RUNWAY Roots is doing creates ripples of transformation, grounded in justice and repair.
Investing in Entrepreneurs, Cultivating Legacy
One of the most moving moments of the evening came from Akeshi, founder of Kesh Events, and a valued member of the RUNWAY Roots Entrepreneur Portfolio. Speaking with honesty and warmth, she shared her journey, reminding us that access to capital is rarely just about the capital.
“RUNWAY didn’t just provide capital—they provided community,” she said. “They trusted me. They believed in what I was building.” Her testimony became an affirmation of what reparative capital can achieve. When it is rooted in care and trust, its resonance carries far beyond the balance sheet.
For RUNWAY Roots, investing in entrepreneurs is a deeply intentional act—one that extends beyond financial support to creating opportunities, platforms, and partnerships that nurture vision and legacy. The evening itself was a testament to this ethos, Resonance was hosted at Southern Chicago, a restaurant owned by Xavier Vance and Troy Vivrett, both part of RUNWAY Roots’ Entrepreneur portfolio. In this way, the event embodied the kind of investment that transforms not just businesses, but the communities they touch.
Guests were also gifted thoughtfully curated bags filled with symbols of the evening’s spirit and intention. Scented candles from Kesh Events offered a gentle invitation to pause, reflect, and tend to one’s own light—a reminder that caring for ourselves is the first step in tending to the communities and economies we build together. An affirmation deck from RUNWAY Roots carried daily words of encouragement to ground resilience, creativity, and possibility, echoing the values at the heart of our collective work.
RUNWAY-branded dandelion seeds served as a powerful emblem of repair and persistence, chosen with intention to remind us that small acts, like seeds, can take root and multiply into a force to be reckoned with. A custom reusable tote bag from The Braided Girls, adorned with cowrie shells as symbols of prosperity, protection, and connection, became a vessel for carrying community, vision, and legacy forward. And accompanying these treasures, a copy of Festive Tables from Kesh Events celebrated the art of gathering, inspiring us to cultivate not only space around the table but also economies, communities, and futures that honor us all.
A Call to Action
The night closed with a collective affirmation along with an invitation to all attendees to carry forward the energy of the night—not just as spectators, but as participants in building an economy that cares. “We are building a home together,” Stephanie Glenn, RUNWAY Roots’ Development Director said. “Where investment meets impact, where trust meets transformation, and where reparative capital becomes the norm.”
RUNWAY’s evolution into RUNWAY Roots marks a deeper commitment to reshaping the economy with care, trust, and justice at its center. The work we’ve begun will echo far beyond this night—its resonance will continue to shape communities, transform systems, and inspire generations.
