The Covenant is in action all over the country. Under the extraordinary leadership of black leaders, organizations—for years and sometimes decades—have been advancing the goals identified in the best-selling book, the Covenant with Black America. We featured many of them in The Covenant, and in its follow-up, THE COVENANT in Action.

We continue to present community leaders who – through their voices, wisdom, and experiences – illustrate that policy change is possible. They show that communities of opportunity can be created when advocates challenge the systems and institutions that make it difficult for black people to advance. Jacqueline Mason-Francis, a community organizer and affordable housing advocate, talks with a few of these community-builders about issues such as tenants’ rights, the digital divide, and economic prosperity. In the spirit of neighbor-neighbor dialogue, their words resonate and inspire.

Nellie Hester Bailey, Harlem Tenants Council
“We need to look at what is happening to African American communities around the country...Now that the value of many of these inner-city neighborhoods is rising, it has brought forth issues around whether poor, and working class people – particularly people of color -- can afford to live there. I have been dismayed that many of our black leaders have not taken this issue to a national platform…”

Carolyn Ford, North Florida Educational Development Corporation (NFEDC)
“We adapted Tavis Smiley’s Covenant for the state of Florida…I have been working in poverty for a long time and know how to eradicate it. The only way you’re going to do it is by doing two things: business development and housing development. It’s all about asset building!’”

Shereen Mitchell, Digital-sistas.org
“We work with people to help them incorporate technology into their daily lives.”