Southern Rooted, Freedom Bound
Building the Next Era of Black Wealth in the American South
The South has always shaped America's economy.
The South has generated extraordinary wealth through Black labor, birthed movements that transformed democracy, and remains home to more than half of Black America.
It generated extraordinary wealth through Black labor. It birthed movements that transformed democracy. It remains home to more than half of Black America and holds some of the greatest opportunities to build intergenerational Black wealth in the twenty-first century.
The question is no longer whether the South matters.
The question is who will invest in its future.
Who We Are
Southern Rooted, Freedom Bound is bringing together investors, philanthropists, community institutions, entrepreneurs, researchers, and movement leaders to build the infrastructure for Black wealth across the American South. We are raising $20 million to invest in a coordinated policy, narrative, and capital placement strategy that enables more shared ownership and mutual aid infrastructure.
Not through isolated grants.
Through coordinated investment.
Through ownership.
Through institutions.
Through partnership.
Grounded in community leadership, Southern Rooted, Freedom Bound advances a regional strategy for capital deployment, policy innovation, research, storytelling, and economic infrastructure designed to increase Black ownership, strengthen local economies, and build lasting prosperity.
OUR PARTNERS
Why the South?
More than 55% of Black Americans live in the South.
The region represents America's greatest opportunity to close the racial wealth gap.
Yet Southern communities continue to experience generations of underinvestment, barriers to capital, land loss, business displacement, and institutions that have been asked to solve enormous challenges with far too few resources.
When the South prospers, Black America prospers.
When Black wealth grows in the South, it changes the economic future of the nation.
What We're Building
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Building investment pathways that expand Black ownership.
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Connecting leaders across philanthropy, finance, entrepreneurship, and community institutions.
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Producing research, data, and ideas that shape the future of Black wealth.
Southern Rooted, Freedom Bound is developing the connective infrastructure that allows Black wealth-building organizations across the South to move further, faster, and together.
Together we are advancing:
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Changing how America understands investment, ownership, and the South.
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Supporting locally rooted strategies that can scale across the region.
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We believe Black wealth is built through ownership.
Through land.
Through entrepreneurship.
Through investment.
Through strong institutions.
Through networks of trust.
Through coordinated capital.
Southern Rooted, Freedom Bound Dinner: Unlocking Black Wealth Across the South
Washington, DC
Join us during the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference in Washington, DC on Thursday, September 17, 2026 from 5:30 pm - 8 pm to advance a regional strategy for capital deployment, policy innovation, research, storytelling, and economic infrastructure designed to increase Black ownership in the South with special guest, Kelly Burton CEO of the Black Innovation Alliance and author of The Price of Union.
Stories From the Field
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Black History Is Economic History: A Charge Toward Black Futures
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Now Is the Time: A Policy Playbook for State and Local Action That Builds Black Wealth in the South (2026)
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The South Has Something to Say: COVID-19 and Our Chance for Transformation
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Believe-in-You Money: What Would the Economy Look Like If It Loved Black People? (2023)
Get connected.
Every major shift in American history has required leaders willing to move before consensus existed.
This moment is no different.
Whether you lead a foundation, family office, corporation, community institution, university, investment fund, or civic organization, your influence can help shape the next chapter of Black economic history.