We recently connected with Roni Bennett and have shared our conversation below.
Roni, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
In 2015, South Florida People of Color (SFPoC) was founded in response to the need to have equitable political representation in the small town of Miami Shores (MS). At the time MS leadership and boards were majority white and a few white presenting Latines. Our objective was to encourage and support PoC participation in the political process where we discovered the barriers. Color blind racism/Classism barriers such as the majority of these positions including the mayor and council were volunteer jobs where you get a $1 year to be a mayor; however it could cost $30k to campaign for those positions.
So our solution and thus vision was to mobilize people “across the racial, ethnic and cultural divides” through community dialogues, education, training, and diverse cultural events that would broaden the scope of our shared experiences.
In 2016 we executed our first BHM programming in Miami Shores (MS) where we discovered the huge demand to learn about our historical past and facilitated discussions with people of diverse backgrounds. We are convinced that racial healing and dismantling oppression in all its forms – individual, institutional and systemic – starts with education, dialogue and advocacy and key across the racial, ethnic and cultural divides.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
In my role as a community leader and organizer, I have successfully merged my technical and marketing expertise with my passion for social activism. My background in computer science and my experience working at reputable companies such as IBM, HP, and AT&T have provided me with a solid foundation in managing complex technical and marketing programs involving diverse global teams.
However, I felt a personal calling to contribute to the advancement of equity and inclusion for marginalized groups in our society. This led me to shift my career focus and immerse myself in African American history and community activism. In 2015, I co-founded South Florida People of Color (SFPoC), a non-profit organization committed to dismantling oppression.
Under my leadership, SFPoC has achieved remarkable recognition and awards for our efforts. In 2017, we received the prestigious Rodney Thaxton Racial Justice Award, which acknowledges our commitment to promoting racial equality. In 2018, SFPoC emerged as the winner of the Miami Shark Tank Competition, validating our innovative approaches to addressing social issues. The Black Voices for Black Justice Fund also recognized our organization in 2021 for our impactful work. Furthermore, in 2022, Barry University honored us with the Community Partner Award, highlighting our collaborative efforts to bring positive change.
While the mission of ending racism may seem daunting, I have directed SFPoC’s initiatives towards making a tangible impact in South Florida’s local communities. Through our programs, we have fostered dialogue, provided experiential education, and advocated for policies that promote equity and inclusivity. By focusing our efforts in a specific region, we have been able to create meaningful change and contribute to the empowerment of marginalized individuals and communities.
How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?
In the beginning, our organization relied on our own funds to carry out Black History events, book readings, movie viewings, and talkbacks. We believed that by becoming a 501c3 nonprofit, we would be able to access grants and fundraising opportunities to sustain our crucial work of dismantling oppression and promoting racial healing.
However, we soon realized that the grant process is extremely time-consuming and heavily dependent on building relationships with foundation representatives. Unfortunately, the majority of these foundations are predominantly white, and most white individuals tend to have established connections with others of their own race. Studies have shown that Black-led organizations receive significantly less funding compared to their white counterparts, further exacerbating the funding challenges we faced.
Another hurdle we encountered was that everyone involved in our organization at the time, particularly those from SFPoC, were volunteers. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, we lost a significant portion of our support, despite transitioning our activities online. Even with the remaining support, key individuals had to step back due to health issues, such as cancer and other personal challenges.
Despite these setbacks, we persisted and shifted our programming online, which resulted in a national growth in our audience. Additionally, we started receiving requests for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training based on our unique training style. This led to the establishment of our Unity360 Institute, which provides DEI training to businesses, organizations, and educational institutions. Our ultimate goal is to foster organizational cultures that are inclusive, where all colleagues feel a sense of belonging, value, and can thrive to maximize productivity. We employ trained facilitators in restorative practices who create engaging, experiential content. Our training is tailored to our client-partners’ specific needs through organizational assessments and an initial “Awkward Dinner/Experience” that identifies areas for improvement and develops strategies for more effective outcomes.
As a result of our Unity360 Institute, we have been able to generate revenue. However, we face significant costs in terms of labor and infrastructure. In response, we are actively implementing a more effective strategy for grant acquisition and fundraising to secure the necessary funding for our organization’s sustainability and growth.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
In our approach to sustainable Equity & Inclusion, we recognize the importance of tailoring our efforts to each client or community we support. While information sharing and knowledge dissemination are valuable, we believe that lasting change towards true inclusivity requires a more profound and personal exploration. We achieve this by incorporating experiential activities and storytelling, which allow individuals to engage with these topics on a deeper level and shift their perspectives and understanding.
By creating opportunities for personal connections, we aim to heighten awareness, empathy, and compassion among individuals. We firmly believe that sustainable transformation begins with building relationships, working through conflicts, developing strategies to dismantle racism, and advocating for change.
To foster inclusivity, we develop enriching and educational organization/community programming. This programming explores a diversity of thought and expands the opportunity for people with varying identities to come together. By delving into history, arts, and culture, we create a platform for deep dialogues that facilitate racial healing, true equity, and a sense of belonging.
Our overarching goal is to go beyond surface-level discussions and engage individuals in a transformative process. Through our curated approach, we empower organizations and communities to address systemic issues, embrace diversity, and promote sustainable change that leads to true inclusivity.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://southfloridapoc.org
- Instagram: @sfpoc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MiamiShoresPoC
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/south-florida-people-of-color-1b7903222/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/MiamiShoresPoC
- Youtube: @sfpoc6542
Image Credits
Roni’s pics by Joe Wesley Photography LLC – http://www.joewesleyphotography.com Fliers and images from South Florida People of Color