Partner Spotlight-Umoja Village
Via Odyssey Impact
Founded by Donald and Donna Wesby on June 19, 2020, Umoja Village is a South Carolina-based charitable organization encompassing a strategic alliance of Blacks and African Americans united with a common goal: Unifying underserved populations and the entire community to bring about positive and sustainable change.
On October 22, 2023, Umoja Village partnered with the University of South Carolina Aiken’s Etheredge Center to host a community discussion and film screening of Descended from The Promised Land: The Legacy of Black Wall Street. About 150 guests, ranging in age and ethnic background, were in attendance. The pre-screening reception featured vendors and community organizations committed to creating generational wealth and provided guests with information regarding financial management, real estate, and small business resources. After the screening, a post-screening panel discussion highlighting key themes from the documentary was followed by a Q&A. Comparisons were made between Tulsa and other once-affluent predominantly Black communities throughout the country. While historical data paved the way for in-depth discussion, a strong emphasis was placed on encouraging the younger generation to create financial resources and persevere amid hardship. The conversation covered various topics, including voting rights, social injustice, reparations, holding public officials accountable, and reducing racial wealth disparities through entrepreneurship and generational wealth.
Donna Wesby said of the screening, "From start to finish, this event exceeded our expectations. Hosting the film screening allowed us to spark much-needed conversation in our community and gain exposure for our cause. We intend to cultivate a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment while serving those impacted by the negative effects of systemic marginalization. This film helps us learn from our history to better our future. Odyssey Impact was a pleasure to work with, and we've received nothing but positive feedback from the event!"
Donna and Umoja Village’s Communications Advisor, Grace Peterson, really stepped up in the planning of the screening by making it a community event and using the film as an anchor to promote their November 4th Mind Your Biz-ness Summit, which was a virtual event where small business entrepreneurs could share their knowledge with the community.
To learn more about Umoja Village, please visit their website or follow them on Facebook or Instagram.
At Odyssey Impact, our partnerships are at the heart of our work. We partner with secular and faith-based leaders and influencers who represent diverse institutions of higher education, denominations, houses of worship, corporations, and national and local community organizations that are inspired to serve as strategic campaign partners, brain trust advisors, screening partners, content partners, and event panelists.
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