Our effectiveness at Mill Cities Community Investments (MCCI) + Foundation for Business Equity (FBE) continues to be tied to understanding the historical experiences of people of color in the United States. In honor of Black History Month, we invite others again to reflect and learn more about the triumphs, struggles, and legacies of Black Americans through a curated list of books, documentaries, podcasts, and videos.
Centering Black women’s stories, two award-winning historians tell the inspiring and harrowing story of African American women and their immeasurable contributions across 400+ years.
Ta-Nehisi Coats, a national correspondent for the Atlantic and #1 New York Times bestseller author, offers a powerful framework for comprehending our nation’s history and the reality of being Black in the United States, written as a letter to his teenage sons
This essential essay collection reframes our understanding of how law, race, and racial power intersect throughout history, with contributions from the principal founders and leading theoreticians.
American journalist and historian Adam Hochschild explores King Leopold II of Belgium’s genocidal reign and exploitation of the Congo Free State between 1885 and 1908.
A book that contextualizes race in America prior to Malcolm’s birth, takes an in-depth, nuanced, unflinching look at Malcolm’s life, and then explores his death and its aftermath, all backed by 28 years of research
Freedom Riders details the powerful and inspiring story of the six months when hundreds of civil rights activists challenged the segregated interstate travel system.
King in the Wilderness follows Martin Luther King Jr in the last years of his life, told through the personal stories of the closest people to the civil rights legend.
This documentary, by American musician Questlove, navigates the importance of Black music and how so much of Black culture is inspired by the legendary artists.
True Justice focuses on Bryan Steven’s life and fight against the systemic racism codified by the U.S. criminal justice system and America’s history of slavery, lynching, segregation, and mass incarceration.
Kimberlé Crenshaw, American civil rights advocate and leading scholar of Critical Race Theory, encourages powerful and provoking discussions about intersectionality and race.
Peggy Shepard, co-founder and executive director of the non-profit WE ACT for Environmental Justice, highlights the disproportionate impact of harmful environmental conditions on Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities and encourages us to think about building a truly equitable future.
Ibram X. Kendi, #1 NYT bestselling author and director of the Center for Antiracist Research at Boston University, speaks about his book “Stamped From The Beginning: The definite history of racist ideas in America,” in this Washington History Seminar, co-chaired by Eric Arnesen (George Washington University) and Philippa Strum (Woodrow Wilson Center).
In this thought-provoking TedTalk, Baratunde Thurston, American writer, comedian, and commentator, discusses the power of language to change traumatic stories into healing stories.
Tiffany Cross, author, political analyst, and host of The Cross Connection, discusses the experience of Afro-Latinos in America with Las Alonso and Felice León.
“The New York Times Presents The #1619Project” is a two-hour recorded livestream that acknowledges the anniversary of the ship that carried more than 20 enslaved African people to America, with conversation and performances by Nikole Hannah-Jones, Wesley Morris, Jamelle Bouie, Tyehimba Jess, and more.
A big thank you to everyone who joined us for Nectar’s official launch in Rhode Island. We’re thrilled to be working in the Ocean State, and engaging with the entrepreneurs, ecosystem partners and other attendees at the event boosted our sense of excitement and community.
Since our founding in Massachusetts in 2008, we’ve made it our mission to invest in community and build generational wealth. We’re continuing that commitment in Rhode Island — today, tomorrow and well into the future. This launch event was only the beginning! We’re looking forward to working together, supporting dedicated small business owners, and collaborating with ecosystem partners to build on their successful efforts throughout the state.
In the transition to clean energy, low- to moderate-income homeowners in Massachusetts have the odds stacked against them. And given that the Commonwealth wants to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, we need to make clean energy improvements possible for every homeowner. We can’t afford to leave anyone behind.So, how do we bridge the gap? Our Executive Director Glynn Lloyd shared some ideas in this op-ed in CommonWealth Beacon — be sure to check it out.
Read the op-ed
Join Nectar Community Investments as our Controller and help drive the financial health of an organization making real impact. In this leadership role, you’ll oversee all aspects of Nectar’s accounting operations, from day-to-day functions like accounts payable, payroll, lending transactions, and grant accounting, to monthly and year-end closings, audits, and financial analysis that informs our strategy and growth. Reporting directly to the CFO, you’ll be a contributor, helping to improve processes, problem solve and implement new finance initiatives. As part of our management team, you’ll play a key role in supporting our mission to build wealth and opportunity in historically disinvested communities.
Download Job Description
