22: Doing Anti-Racism and Social Change Work from Inside and Outside the System with Nicole Parker

Nicole Parker is a social innovator that knows how to create strategies that lead to transformation. With her sisters, she founded the project Sisters in Business, which has the mission to create a space for women of color to connect, collaborate, and build community to sustain, grow and maximize their vision. In this episode, Nicole talks about her journey through community development, from her lived experience and years as a student in social enterprise to becoming the social innovator and disruptor that she is now. Join us while we discuss the many ways in which we can shift the system and break the barriers that still exist today.

Episode highlights:

(02:16) - Who is Nicole Parker? A social innovator and disruptor supporting black and brown women in entrepreneurship. 

(04:21) - Removing barriers for innovators: Nicole’s journey building a nonprofit and the challenges she faced as a student.

(14:32) - What’s economic justice about: Analyzing the historical patterns around social segregation to shift the system in a new direction

(16:38) - On big companies trying to support black-owned businesses: Conscious actions or just following the trend? 

(23:02) - Getting swiped by the big guys: Trust issues and systemic injustice in the philanthropic foundation space.

(31:32) - Questioning the concept of authenticity: Sisters in Business leading black and brown women through the journey of self-reflection.

(46:39) - Episode’s conclusions + Contact information to know more about Sisters in Business and Charlie’s Place.