July 2025

Progress Newsletter

Guest post by Omari Souza, Founder, State of Black Design

The State of Black Design is a designated fund at PVF. We are proud to support their work that fosters inclusivity and elevates Black designers through spaces for cultural expression, dialogue, and growth. Read below to learn about their recent Juneteenth event.

On June 19–20, 2025, something extraordinary unfolded in Minneapolis, MN: State of Black Design’s, We On Point – A Celebration of Black Design Excellence. Far beyond a traditional design conference, it was a sanctuary, a celebration, and a rallying cry. A space intentionally built for Black designers, creatives, students, and allies to gather in joy, resistance, and community.

State of Black Design (SoBD) is more than an event series; it’s a movement. I’ve often described SoBD as a “hush harbor,” a sacred space to a!rm, align, and activate Black excellence in design. This year’s “We On Point” gathering, strategically timed to coincide with Juneteenth, embodied exactly that: a moment to honor freedom, cultivate connection, and push the boundaries of what design can be.

I founded the State of Black Design in the aftermath of the George Floyd murder, five years ago and just a few miles from our host campus, the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD). I was teaching near Austin, TX at the time, and my students, like many others around the country, wanted answers. I couldn’t give them that, but instead, I pulled together 13 Black design professionals, educators, leaders for a visceral conversion about the intersection of race and practice. From this first symposium, SoBD has grown into a movement of over 10,000, providing representation, education, and community to an intergenerational network around the world.

We On Point brought together attendees from across the U.S. — from Minnesota to Texas, California to New York. The energy was electric from the very first moment.

Over two days, the conference featured dynamic panels, deeply immersive workshops, vibrant student showcases, and powerful performances. Highlights included opening spirituals from an award-winning operatic vocalist and composer and a moving conversation with three quilters from the Gee’s Bend Quilting Collective, who reminded us that “to everything, there is a season, and you’ll know it when you’re on point.” Their spontaneous quilt-making activation became a living metaphor for intergenerational connection and Black futurism.

We held space for hard truths and visionary ideas, built real connections, and honored the legacy that brought us here while imagining the futures we deserve.

From craft to theory to Fortune 500 dynamics, every moment reminded us that when we move together, we move with purpose. Workshops explored navigating corporate spaces, design ownership and legacy, and how Black-Centered design shapes the future that reflects and celebrates Black life in all its complexity and beauty. Every conversation centered on empowerment, excellence, and authenticity.

Panels such as the DEI master class brought together voices from education, industry, art, and health to tackle the complexities of representation. They challenged the audience to summon collective courage, “put it all on the table, and call their bluff.”

Equally vital were the informal moments, the sunlit conversations between sessions, spontaneous hugs in the hallways, and the deep listening that happened in every quiet corner.

Attendees reflected on the importance of relationships and networks, understanding that who you know and how you activate that network is what allows for growth, change, and impact. The conference seamlessly integrated strategy, creativity, and cultural heritage, leaving every participant feeling seen, inspired, and renewed. At Its heart, We On Point was a reminder that joy is itself an act of resistance.

For many, it wasn’t just about design. It was about imagining and building the future we deserve, together. The sense of community was palpable: students saw role models who looked like them, emerging designers found mentors, and seasoned professionals reconnected to their purpose.

Looking ahead, the momentum continues. SoBD's next gathering, “Still Tippin’: Driving Forward Design and Culture’,” will take place from October 30-November 1 at Prairie View A&M University near Houston, Texas. If We On Point taught us anything, it’s this: these are the spaces where transformation begins — and you don’t want to miss them.

To everyone who showed up, shared, listened, and created: thank you for reminding us that design is not just what we make but the world we build together.

With thanks to our partners and sponsors: Best Buy, City of Minneapolis, Department of Arts & Cultural Affairs, Minneapolis Institute of Art, MCAD, Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design, Pimento Jamaican Kitchen, Tinycup Coffee.

State of Black Design is proud to be a designated fund of Philanthropic Ventures Foundation.

The Tom Ford Fellowship in Philanthropy was created to provide young professionals with intensive, mentored experiences in domestic foundations in order to educate Stanford graduates about the role of philanthropy in society and encourage them to enter the field. This program is made possible through PVF’s partnership with Stanford University’s Haas Center for Public Service and with funding from Susan Ford Dorsey and the Sand Hill Foundation.

Read a guest post by Estefania Acuña Lacarieri, a 2024-2025 Tom Ford Fellow, on her experience as a coordinator with the Girls and Women Strategy team at the United Nations Foundation, originally posted on the Standford Haas Center for Public Health’s blog.

Savannah Lira, Program Manager, is responsible for program management and development, as well as communication materials at PVF. She is an AmeriCorps Alum and has a background in economic development and grantwriting.