Theo Pride
Theo Pride is a community organizer with Detroit People’s Platform, a social justice organization committed to building power for majority Black Detroit. His work focuses on equitable development and strategies to build and implement inclusive, collectively owned, solidarity economies communities of color. He leads the Detroit Budget Justice Coalition which seeks to win annually a municipal budget that invests in low income, Black neighborhoods and one designed through participatory decision-making by residents. Theo brings his unique experience as a teacher/researcher of black liberation movements and its impact on revolutionary politics and social change to inform his organizing work.
Presentations from Facing Race 2024
For the People and For Justice: Building Black Power in Detroit
In this moment, the rise of authoritarianism and increased attacks on democracy call for Black-led movements to have sustainable long-term strategies that include defensive tactics that protect Black communities, and offensive strategies that address the root causes of economic disparities. The urgency in confronting criminalization, gentrification and exploitation of Black communities often leads funders to focus on supporting short-term, “winnable” reformist campaigns, which limits grassroots organizing and community power building.
This session will offer a deep dive into the power of investing in transformative community-led organizations working at the intersection of racial and economic justice in Detroit, Michigan. In this session, you will hear from Black community organizers and their philanthropic partner on effective ways to fund community organizations to win, and how to prioritize the needs of Black movements while centering impacted voices in strategy and solutions.
Housing, employment, criminalization, land rights, and racial justice are just a few areas that make up this crucial intersectional work. This session will highlight recent successes in Detroit, home to the nation’s largest Black-majority city, as a case study for this discussion.
Wellspring Philanthropic Fund, Detroit Justice Center and Detroit Peoples Platform will discuss with attendees innovative ways to support and implement successful campaigns for economic security and stability in Black communities. This session is open to funders and organizations who support or want to engage in organizing, power building, and supporting strategic campaigns in Black communities.
Speakers: Breechaye Milburn, Nancy A. Parker, Theo Pride, Renard Monczunski