AYO SANDERSON WILSON Founder, CEO, and President of Empower The Village (ETV) 

The marginalization and oppression of Blacks in America has been an ongoing dilemma for hundreds of years in our society.  Statistics and census reports continue to reveal that the Black community is disproportionately and negatively impacted by unfair policies in the areas of employment, health care, and more. Historically, Blacks have faced challenges, including systemic discrimination and exclusion, that have hindered their socio-economic progress. Yet, they have risen and pursued creative ways to improve their fundamental quality of life.  

The absence of scalable, strategic, and empowering long-term solutions for her beloved community to prosper drove Wilson to vacate her successful professional legal career and role as a corporate philanthropy executive to launch ETV. “I realized so many organizations professed to support the Black community in America.  Yet they did not  always have the trust and understanding of the communities they sought to serve or the right leadership with a relationship and connection to the culture.”  She added, “I felt like I had the opportunity to build something that would not only help and empower the community but authentically connect as a true community partner working together to provide what is needed.” 

For two years prior to ETV’s official launch in 2018, Wilson set out to change the trajectory of the abysmal lack of understanding needed in the nonprofit sector to fortify and invigorate Black communities.  With her self-described “data-driven geek” approach to nearly everything she does, Wilson conducted a multi-generational ‘listening tour’ to gain knowledgeable insights and shape her intentional mission.

“I listened to people from my generation, my kids’ generation, my parents, and my grandparents, to get a sense of what they thought we needed to focus on as a community to thrive, not just survive.” What emerged from her focus groups was a three-pronged approach that supported her vision for ETV: Prosperity. Peace. Power.   

Restoring these three pillars within the Black community will help reduce the staggering racial wealth gap. Still, it can only partially address the dismal state of affairs by galvanizing the engagement of the total community.  “When it comes to economic empowerment, the truth for  all groups  is that small business is the engine of wealth for America. We create jobs by empowering our small businesses to be more sustainable and profitable. These business owners are pillars and role models of the community.  The economy is built on small businesses that become larger businesses – that’s how you build wealth . . . it’s about ownership,” emphasized Wilson.  

According to the latest U.S. Census estimates, the Black-only population is slightly over 13%.  Consumer spending among Blacks currently stands at approximately $1.6 trillion. However, less than 5% of consumer spending supports Black-owned businesses and communities. To help advance a potential solution, Wilson and her team developed and implemented several strategic programs to equip Black Americans with the tools and information needed to build generational wealth, including  the Village Empowerment Network and  Make Every Friday, Black Friday movement. 

Village Empowerment Network  offers free business and financial coaching, counseling, and training from industry experts for individuals, families, employees, and entrepreneurs.  ETV’s partnership with Black-led business and financial coaching establishments has helped scores of people expand their businesses, protect their assets, manage expenses, get their finances in order, and access capital. 

Make Every Friday, Black Friday  encourages consumers to support economic justice and equity by patronizing Black businesses and empowering communities. Based on the fact that 1 out of 7 Americans is Black, ETV proposes that at least one day of the week be dedicated to spending hard-earned dollars within the Black community.  The movement has gained social media momentum and has been championed by Academy Award-winning actress, comedian, and “The View” talk show host Whoopi Goldberg, serving as ETV’s first Ambassador for the movement.   

If you thought the Yellow Pages had no competition, think again. The  Village Black Pages is  the resource for direct access to over 30,000 Black-owned businesses across the country “so no excuse can be made about not being able to find a Black plumber, barber, realtor, lawyer, or architect.  They are listed in our directory,” said Wilson. “We are all fond of saying ‘it takes a village,’ so our view is that if it takes a village to succeed, we must empower the village with the tools and the necessary resources that support the community.”  

ETV’s commitment to preserving mental health in the Black community is equally vital.  Eradicating certain stigmas associated with seeking support and providing affordable access to quality mental health services are critical for collective wellness.  

Through its  Village Assist program,  ETV has established Healing Circles, led by accredited psychologists and therapists, for men and women requesting therapy. 

“Eighty-eight percent of the people surveyed felt more comfortable connecting with someone of their same culture who they could trust. We are all dealing with life’s pressures, but that can be exacerbated by Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome, as many of our community members are accustomed to struggle. Hence, we normalize crisis and struggle — but that’s not normal or healthy.  We need to be seeking and prioritizing Black joy,” stressed Wilson.  

The power of one’s voice and vote takes centerstage as ETV spreads the word with  Operation Ballot Box. It is a non-partisan educational resource and campaign to engage and mobilize voters to leverage the most convenient and reliable ways to vote, including In-Person Early Voting, Election Day Voting, and Voting by Mail.  

ETV has simplified navigating the process with an easy-to-use online resource identifying state and county-specific voting information. It is helpful to note this is not relegated to the upcoming presidential election; it serves as an invaluable and democratic support system for all elections. 

 Empowering Black communities through activism is essential for creating a more equitable society. By advocating for change, Black Americans break barriers, address systemic inequalities, and foster community unity.  As for the future of Empower The Village, Ayo Sanderson Wilson envisions “an expanded locally-based ETV leadership team focused on doing the work of advancing the health, wealth, and empowerment of the community within the states that comprise ETV’s 25-state footprint where over 90% of Black Americans live.

We need the power within our community to thrive, politically or otherwise, no matter what’s going on.  Other groups find ways to do that; we must find our way and build upon our ancestors’ achievements. My ultimate objective is to empower others to do the good work needed strategically. The village is ready!” 

To learn more about Empower The Village and support the mission, visit: www. empowerthevillage.org or contact them at at admin@empowerthevillage.org