A RETURN TO UNITY
Image credit: Leonard Freed,
March on Washington, August 28, 1963
MISSION & HISTORY.
The Kijani Collective is a Black-led nonprofit formed to address systemic barriers to Black engagement in the climate sector. What began as a policy advocacy training program quickly evolved into a broader movement that empowers Black community members to shape climate justice initiatives. Today, we lead four key initiatives aimed at creating lasting change: policy advocate training, Black voice amplification, Black-specific resilience hubs, and a Black climate resilience ecosystem of innovations and services.
Our mission is to leverage relational partnerships and culturally specific learning programs to equip Black advocates and entrepreneurs to lead in climate justice through advocacy, resilience-building, and innovative ecosystem solutions.
The Kijani Collective was born out of the need to address inequitable policies in the climate sector that hindered Black engagement. Supported by Seeding Justice, United Way, and the Blueprint Foundation, we expanded our focus to include initiatives designed to drive systemic change and promote environmental justice. To date, we have conducted asset mapping, completed gap analyses, and are now working to implement our initiatives, recruit additional participants, and create lasting community partnerships.
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE.
The Kijani Collective is structured like plant cells—specialized committees working in harmony to drive systemic and cultural change. These committees collaborate closely, ensuring alignment and mutual support in advancing climate resilience, environmental justice, and economic empowerment for Black Portlanders.
At the core of our structure is a steering committee, akin to a cell wall, which fosters communication, resource-sharing, and cohesion across all initiatives. To maintain alignment and inclusivity, we use sociocratic processes, ensuring transparency, shared leadership, and equitable decision-making. We also provide templates and processes to support committee formation, planning, and execution, allowing each group to stay focused on its objectives while contributing to the collective’s overall growth and impact.
Intentional Design for Equity & Community Power.
The Kijani Collective intentionally moves away from traditional nonprofit models that often reinforce white supremacy cultural norms and capitalist frameworks. Our structure is designed to be more equitable, collaborative, and community-centered in five key ways:
1. Decentralized Power & Shared Leadership: Leadership is distributed through a steering committee of active members who contribute directly to Kijani’s work. This approach promotes sociocratic decision-making, reduces gatekeeping, and ensures that all voices are valued in shaping our direction.
2. Rooted in Community-Centered Values: Our leadership reflects the lived experiences of the Black communities we serve, fostering authentic accountability and cultural responsiveness—something traditional board models often fail to achieve.
3. Relational & Collaborative Decision-Making: Governance at Kijani prioritizes trust, relationships, and shared responsibility over rigid efficiency-driven models. This collective approach is critical to building a culturally specific and resilient organization.
4. Challenging Capitalist Success Metrics: Rather than measuring impact through financial metrics alone, we define success based on healing, resilience, and empowerment—outcomes driven by and for our communities.
5. Structural Equity & Self-Determination: Decision-making power rests with those who share the lived experiences of the communities we serve. This ensures self-determination, representation, and a direct response to systemic inequities often perpetuated by traditional nonprofit boards.
Steering Committee Responsibilities.
Our steering committee functions as the board of directors, overseeing legal compliance, financial stewardship, and collective fundraising. However, in contrast to hierarchical models, strategic planning, governance, advocacy, and community relations are shared responsibilities across the collective. This cooperative approach ensures that leadership remains community-driven, non-hierarchical, and deeply accountable to our mission.
Want to see our work in action? Stay updated on our latest initiatives in The Latest section of our website.