SEE THE IMPACT

BLACK EMPOWERMENT WORKS REVIEWERS

Since Black Empowerment Works’ inception in 2020, more than 100 community reviewers have invested thousands of hours reading applications, speaking with applicants and determining the investments in Black-led ideas.

WHAT IS BLACK EMPOWERMENT WORKS?

Black Empowerment Works promotes Black self-determination, social mobility and economic prosperity by providing resources and funding to grassroots/community-based, Black-led work (ideas, programs and projects). To learn more about our impact, read our latest report.

This work exists for two reasons:  

There is an over-representation of Black families experiencing poverty and underinvestment in community-based, Black-led work and expertise to address it.  
We are compelled to hold spaces and provide resources to imagine and bring to life unencumbered, self-determined Black futures.

This work is powered by community reviewers who raise their hand and volunteer their time to read applications, speak with applicants and select grantees.

GRANT REVIEWER TESTIMONIALS

“I loved the recognition that black folks are brilliant, talented, capable, and will be the creators of sustainable changes in our community. I also appreciated the opportunity to take part in a process that sought to address poverty—an issue that black communities have inherited because of generations of systemic racism.”

Josselyn Okorodudu

2020 BEW Reviewer

“It not only helped a community I care about but helped bring light to the crucial role the under-recognized entrepreneurs in the city play to help it grow and develop.”

Garrison Mays

2021 BEW Reviewer

“I think this opportunity provided unique and exceptional networking opportunity to connect with other reviewers… Not to mention a great personal and professional development opportunity for us as reviewers.”

Diamond Brown

2021 BEW Reviewer

“As a reviewer for Black Empowerment Works you are plugged into the many innovative and creative, black-led local initiatives designed to meet the needs in the communities’ individuals live and serve.”

Angela White

2020 BEW Reviewer

Josselyn Okorodudu

2020 BEW Reviewer

“It not only helped a community I care about but helped bring light to the crucial role the under-recognized entrepreneurs in the city play to help it grow and develop.”

Garrison Mays

2021 BEW Reviewer

LEARN MORE ABOUT
COMMUNITY REVIEW

For more details about becoming a reviewer, review the information below and the Reviewer Information Packet. We strongly encourage reviewing this document before you apply for any of our BEW cycles.

WHAT IS A COMMUNITY REVIEWER?

We believe those closest to any opportunity or challenge are closest to the solution. This belief is foundational to the Black Empowerment Works program, both in terms of who receives investment and who has the power to make the investment decisions.

Community Reviewers are community members who are passionate about and invested in Black futures. They work collaboratively to decide what work gets funded each grant cycle.

Community Reviewers will work in small teams of three to five, evaluating a subset of the applications submitted. Through written application reviews and conversations with grant applicants, they will work to identify applicants in their pool they wish to fund. Final funding decisions will be made following the assessment of information collected from all review teams.

No prior experience is required.

What are the benefits of serving as a reviewer?

Each facet of the Black Empowerment Works grant cycle is intended to build solutions and align systems to help families in our community thrive, with a specific focus on Black families and individuals. The grant cycle is not solely about investing dollars into great, Black-led work, but also investing in the people who raise their hands to make the decisions.

Through our training program, we envision that all Community Reviewers will gain a deeper understanding of the following topics:
How racial inequity impacts our community from a historical and current-day lens.
How power and inequity show up in philanthropy and strategies to address it through community-building and relationships.
How your individual strengths manifest, and the power of radical candor to navigate disagreements.

All reviewers will take the VIA Character Strengths Assessment.

By taking part in the decision-making process, Community Reviewers will experience the following:

A deeper understanding of Black-led, grassroots work happening in Greater Cincinnati.
Connections with other community members passionate about providing resources to and funding Black work.
Ongoing opportunities to engage in Black Empowerment Works.

We appreciate the time that our community members put into this process. While this is a volunteer opportunity, there are monetary tokens of appreciation offered.

What makes a good reviewer?

In general, we are looking for people who are:  

Active listeners, empathetic and relatable.  
Active in their communities (however you define them, and preferably in support of Black people).
Passionate about and/or connected to the mission of advancing the well-being of Black people.
Able to commit to fully participating in the process, including attending and completing trainings, application reviews and meetings.
No prior experience is required! You do not have to identify as Black to apply to be a reviewer, though we will seek our selected reviewer panel to be majority Black.

Time commitment

The following is a timeline for the most recent BEW funding cycle. Grants for that period were awarded in 2023, but you may reference the outline below to understand Community Reviewer expectations. Reviewers committed about 30 hours to training, independent application review, decision-making meetings and grant applicant conversations.

Description

Dates

Reviewer Application Due

June 5, 2023

Meet & Greet Happy Hour (Optional)

June 20, 2023

In-person Reviewer Training

Required to attend one of two available sessions
Each session is approximately 7 hours

June 24 or 29, 2023

Virtual Mock Small Group Sessions

Required to attend one of four available sessions
Each session is approximately 1.5 hours

July 6 or 7, 2023

Individual Application Review

Approx. 10 hours total

July 10-25, 2023

Small Team Meeting #1

Approximately 90-minutes (virtual)

July 26 or 27, 2023

Reviewer / Applicant Conversations

Approximately 7 hours per small group

July 31 – Aug. 12, 2023

Small Team Meeting #2

Approximately 90-minutes (virtual)

Aug. 14 or 15, 2023

All-Reviewer Decision Meeting

One-hour session to determine funding scenario

Aug. 21, 2023

INFORMATION & RESOURCE EVENTS

Click or tap below to watch recordings of each Black Empowerment Works Cycle 4 Workshop or watch on YouTube.

Black Empowerment Works Cycle 4 Information Session | May 4, 2023

Our Approach to Grant Review | BEW Grant Cycle 4 | May 11, 2023

HOW TO APPLY

UPDATE: This application window for Community Reviewers closed June 5 at midnight.

Be the first to get the latest Black Empowerments Works news and when the next application window opens by signing up for our emails.

HAVE MORE QUESTIONS? CONNECT WITH US!

EMAIL US at [email protected]
CALL US at 513-762-7233

BLACK EMPOWERMENT WORKS REVIEWERS

WHAT IS BLACK EMPOWERMENT WORKS?

GRANT REVIEWER TESTIMONIALS

LEARN MORE ABOUT COMMUNITY REVIEW

WHAT IS A COMMUNITY REVIEWER?

Description

Dates

INFORMATION & RESOURCE EVENTS

HOW TO APPLY

HAVE MORE QUESTIONS? CONNECT WITH US!

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COMMUNITY REVIEW