Together, we can transform the system from within.
Our Mission
The Up From Slavery Initiative was created to heal, inform, and empower our marginalized and underserved communities through racial justice, financial literacy, and wellness. Through this process we are making our brothers and sisters problems our problems, while solving them together.
Our Vision
Our vision is to build sustainable wealth and self-empowerment among the black and brown community. This initiative will create a pathway to freedom from financial confinement and debt, unhealthy mental and physical habits, racial oppression, and thoughts of inadequacy.
Our Board
Darryl Riley
Co-Founder & CEO
Darkeim Brown
Board President
Glenna Matteson
Chief Financial Officer
DeAndrea Williams
Treasurer
Stephanie Layson Executive Secretary
Kevin J Mitchell
Board Member
Teresa Jones PhD
Board Member
Brynn Felix
Board Member
Our Beliefs
We offer a voice to the unheard. We provide a guiding light for those lost in the darkness. We empower them to build their health and wealth so that they can speak for others.
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For underserved black and brown youth in America, every day is a struggle to survive. Caught in a broken system, they give everything they have to simply keep themselves together.
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They want more out of life but can’t break free of the chains. The system doesn’t teach them how to put food on the table or keep the lights on. And they know there’s a bigger world out there, but it wasn’t created for them.
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We envision a world where race does not determine one’s destiny, where every individual has access to equal opportunity, and where justice reigns supreme.
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We will not rest until this vision becomes a reality.
