What We Do
Legacy 64 helps people from under-served communities focus on career development, entrepreneurship, and restorative justice – creating legacies that can build generational wealth.
Instead of looking at the past, I put myself ahead twenty years and try to look at what I need to do now in order to get there…
– DIANA ROSS
Mission Statement
“LEGACY 64 provides business education, offers financial literacy, and thereby expands access to capital, for those in underserved communities. We work to increase economic opportunities to socially and economically disadvantaged individuals that have not had fair access to the foundational skills required for economic self-sufficiency. Our goal is to achieve economic justice by building communities that have the skillset, opportunities, and resources to build legacies for themselves and their families.”
JEDI Policy
While many social equity programs focus on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI), LEGACY 64 finds that Justice is an equally important variable. Our JEDI policy is what defines our core ethos, as well as how we operate Legacy 64.
Justice
We should not be judged more harshly because of our skin color; we should not be paid less because of our gender, and we should not be refused access because of our background. Justice is the quality of being fair and reasonable; doing what is right because it is the right thing to do.
Equity
We all deserve access to participate in the same opportunities. Sometimes our differences or history can create barriers to participation, so we must ensure equity before we can enjoy equality! Equity works to ensure everyone gets the support they need in order to be successful.
Diversity
We all benefit most from the wide range of distinct characteristics, backgrounds, and perspectives that are present in society. These differences in race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, abilities and experiences enable us to create an inclusive culture that values and utilizes the talents of all its members.
Inclusion
We support all people to do their best work and help them continuously improve by hearing, valuing, and leveraging peoples talents and differences. By asking for input from all of those affected, we can achieve having the right people do the right work at the right time which benefits the entire community.
CULTURE
Ensure that all members of the organization help to create and support an inclusive JEDI culture by taking actions to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion in our workplace, programs, and events. Develop and implement a plan to provide managers with access to receive employee and participant feedback and coaching for inclusion at the center. Conduct analysis to identify any barriers to equal employment opportunities or participation in any of the organization’s programs. Establish timelines to regularly review programs and take action to remedy any policies, procedures or practices that created the barriers. Implement a voluntary internal survey to provide feedback and a full picture of the diversity in the organization at all times.
CAREER
Recruit, hire, and develop a high-performing workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. Increase opportunities for employees and program participants to be engaged in developing career goals with trained professionals. Host events that promote diversity in hiring practices and networking opportunities for program participants to have access to high-level executives and development opportunities. Promote entrepreneurship as a career choice, and implement leadership development programs.
COMMUNICATION
Develop compelling messages, including opportunities for dialogue and discussion, that encourage all employees and program participants to see the importance of JEDI to the success of their business or organization. Provide clear, consistent, and regular messaging of the JEDI vision and share the actions being taken to achieve the stated goals. Develop a social media presence that is engaging and reflects the broad and diverse talent pool of the organization and its program participants. Contribute to the Improvement of affordable, high-speed broadband access for underserved entrepreneurs, especially those in rural communities.
CAPITAL ACCESS
Reduce barriers to capital access by increasing access to financial services, education, and opportunities to manage capital in short-term projects that provide experience and financial management skills. Ensure collaboration among all relevant agencies to maximize the participation of small businesses in contracting opportunities. Partner with organizations to increase the utilization of public-private partnerships and expand successful outreach models such as the Community Navigator Pilot Program to ensure that hard to reach communities can rely on a network of trusted providers.
COMMUNITY
Promote the building of a wholly independent economic structure that can produce jobs, goods, and services for the members of the community. Create a code of conduct that expresses the ways in which the diverse community members will respect each other and work for the benefit of the community. Select representatives that advocate for the needs of the program participants and that can speak on behalf of the good of the community and not self-interest. Our firm will utilize the State Treasury 2023 Opportunity map to identify underserved communities that could benefit from the program.
COMMITMENT
Advocate for JEDI in FDIC business activities and at regulated financial institutions, and foster financial inclusion in the banking industry. Identify barriers that underserved communities face in taking advantage of procurement and contracting opportunities and work to ensure the inclusion of SEDI-owned businesses in capital access programs.