Reflections from ABFE: Lessons in Power Building and Community

As a Strategy Officer at Victoria Foundation, my work is rooted in Newark, a city with a rich history of resilience, activism, and community power. Newark, like Oakland, CA, is a predominantly Black and Brown city shaped by generations of leaders who have organized their communities to create real change in the face of systemic inequities. It's a place where the fight for self-determination and justice has always been deeply intertwined with the culture and identity of its people.

At Victoria Foundation, we are committed to supporting this legacy of power building. Through the Thriving Neighborhoods Initiative, we are working alongside residents and organizations to strengthen community power, foster economic justice, and promote youth self-determination. This work is about more than funding; it is about building real trust and supporting the infrastructure neighborhoods need to thrive on their own terms.

Last week I spent time in Oakland and the Bay Area, attending ABFE's 2026 Harambee conference alongside Victoria Foundation Executive Officer Craig Drinkard, Board President Robert Clark, and board members Aqeela Sherrills and De'Shawn Wright. Now that I've been home for a couple of days, I've had some time to really sit with my experience, I can honestly say it was one of the best conferences I have attended. The content was strong, but what made it special was the energy in the room and the people I had a chance to meet and build with. It was the kind of space that pushed me to think deeper while also feeling deeply rooted and connected to a community of Black philanthropy.

During one of the lunch plenaries, there was a panel that highlighted the work happening in East Oakland through the 40x40 effort. Hearing about that work was powerful, but being able to visit East Oakland in person added another level of meaning. The visit was not technically part of the conference, but it felt directly connected to what ABFE helped make possible: real relationship and shared learning.

The work of EOYDC, Roots Community Health, and The Black Cultural Zone was incredible. We also heard about the Brotherhood of Elders Network during the lunch plenary, and while we did not get to see their work in person, what they shared felt powerful. What stood out most was the level of partnership across the organizations and their shared commitment to the future of Black East Oakland. Each organization had its own focus, but you could feel how connected the work was.

At EOYDC, I was really moved by the leadership of Selena Wilson. She came up through the organization's programming and now serves as its Executive Director, which says so much about what becomes possible when young people are invested in over time. What also came through clearly was her deep commitment to making sure young people have everything they deserve. Not just programs to attend, but real access, support, and people who believe in them. I was also struck by the fact that EOYDC's programming is free for young people in the neighborhood. That kind of commitment is critical, especially when we know how many barriers families can face just trying to get their kids connected to opportunity.

Roots Community Health pushed my thinking. Their work is deeply rooted in the health and wellness of the neighborhood, and it was clear that they are responding to what they are hearing and seeing in community. I was especially interested in how they talked about youth mental health and their decision to build a youth wellness center in response to that need. They are also using an innovative social enterprise strategy, which added another layer to how they are thinking about sustainability and long-term community infrastructure. It felt like a strong example of an organization not just naming the challenges facing young people, but building something to meet them.

The Black Cultural Zone's development work was powerful. Their efforts to acquire and develop property in East Oakland, while staying rooted in the Black community, offered a clear example of development as a strategy for ownership and self-determination. What stood out was how intentional the work felt. It was not development disconnected from community. It was development rooted in Black culture and tied to the future of East Oakland.

That visit gave me a lot to think about as we continue shaping Victoria Foundation's Thriving Neighborhoods Initiative in Newark. It pushed me to think more deeply about what it means to support neighborhood-based work with the care and partnership it deserves. The East Oakland work was a reminder that strong neighborhood ecosystems are built through deep relationships grounded in a shared vision and a real commitment to the people who call those neighborhoods home.

Another moment I have been sitting with came from a breakfast conversation with Dale Anglin. She said, "nostalgia is not strategy." That line has stayed with me. It reminded me that honoring what has been done before cannot keep us from asking what is needed now. As I think about my own work moving forward, I am trying to hold that lesson close.

It was also powerful to meet and connect with leaders who have been doing this work with so much depth and commitment. Some of the most important learning happened in conversations between sessions, over meals, and in moments where people were generous enough to share their experiences. Being newer to philanthropy means I am learning every day, and having the chance to build with people who have been in this work for years is something I value deeply.

I came home from ABFE with a lot to keep thinking about. The conference and the East Oakland visit gave me new language and new examples to carry into the work ahead. More than anything, it reminded me how important it is to stay open, stay grounded, and keep learning from people and places that are already showing us what is possible.

Photo: New Jersey contingent at ABFE's 2026 Harambee conference.