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Dear Impact Collective Community,
Every time I sit down to write to you, I’m reminded of the immense potential we hold together to shape a more just, joyful, and generous world. This community is not just a network. It is an ecosystem of people committed to learning, reflection, accountability, and action.
This season, as we lift up transformative spaces like our Women's Retreat, spotlight Black-led brilliance like BLK & Bold, and open our virtual doors to changemakers like Tynesha McHarris and Janine Firpo, I feel a deep sense of gratitude and urgency. Gratitude for the boldness, care, and imagination each of you brings. Urgency because the world needs us—our courage, our resources, and our willingness to act in alignment with our values—now more than ever.
The path to transformation is not linear. It requires us to gather, to unlearn, to listen, and to co-create. Whether you’re joining us for a retreat, tuning into a Collective Conversation, or simply sipping your morning tea with intention, you are part of something powerful.
Let this newsletter be an invitation not only to participate, but to act with purpose, to center relationships, and to embody the future we know is possible.
With hope and solidarity,
Julia Johannsen Founder of the Impact Collective
Transformative Retreat for Women Q&A With Sara Narva & Julia Johannsen Via Zoom
Join us for a virtual Q&A to learn more about our upcoming in-person retreat in the Bay Area. Come connect, ask questions, and begin your journey toward deeper clarity, confidence, and impact.
The Transformative Retreat is a powerful opportunity for white women committed to aligning their resources and values with meaningful action. Grounded in community, historical context, and honest reflection, this retreat offers a supportive space to explore the intersections of race, gender, and money with care and accountability.
We're excited to spotlight BLK & Bold, a Black-owned coffee and tea company that’s brewing change with every cup. Founded with a mission to make purpose popular, BLK & Bold pledges 5% of profits to support youth-focused initiatives nationwide. Whether you're fueling your day with a bold roast or winding down with a soothing tea blend, every sip supports social impact and community empowerment. My absolute favorite BLK & Bold product is their Hibiscus Citrus herbal tea! ​
A Conversation with Janine Firpo Co-Founder of Invest for Better & Author of Activate Your Money Friday, May 2, 12–1pm ET/9–10am PT via Zoom
Join us for a powerful conversation with Janine Firpo, Co-Founder of Invest for Better, a nonprofit movement empowering women to take control of their finances and align their investments with their values. Whether you're just beginning your investment journey or looking to deepen your impact, this conversation offers inspiration, tools, and community to help you take meaningful steps toward financial change.
Janine will share her personal journey of transforming her relationship with money and introduce practical strategies to engage in values-aligned investing—from shifting your cash and equities to exploring impact opportunities in real estate, fixed income, and beyond.
A Conversation with the Black Feminist Fund Co-Founder Tynesha McHarris Friday, Jun 6, 12–1pm ET/9–10am PT via Zoom
Join us for an inspiring and illuminating conversation with Tynesha McHarris, Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director of the Black Feminist Fund—a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to moving $100 million to Black feminist movements around the world. Established in 2021, the Fund confronts the chronic underfunding of Black women and gender-expansive leaders by providing long-term, flexible grants to grassroots organizations across Africa, the Americas, and Europe.
During this Collective Conversation, she will share the transformative vision behind the Black Feminist Fund, offer insights into its mission to bridge the "trust gap" in philanthropy, highlight the power of participatory grantmaking, and discuss the profound impact of investing in Black feminist leadership to create a more just and equitable world.
April Collective Conversation with Rachel Sherman Recap
Last month, we held a Collective Conversation with Sociologist and Author Rachel Sherman, whose groundbreaking book Uneasy Street: The Anxieties of Affluence examines how affluent individuals navigate the emotional tensions between privilege, identity, and inequality. Rachel shared insights into how wealthy families reconcile their values with systemic advantage, and how these internal conflicts shape their interactions with money, community, and self-perception.
Our discussion explored key themes such as how some affluent individuals construct a “middle-class” identity relative to their environments, the intersections of race and wealth, the emotional labor and discomfort tied to philanthropic giving, and the nuanced class dynamics that unfold within elite institutions and communities. Participants reflected on the need for both accountability and grace in wealth conversations, and how trust-building across class lines requires deep, long-term commitment.
Where Do Black Men Live? Film Screening
Thursday, May 15 at The Foundry – our official premiere
Thursday, May 29 at The Cambridge Public Library (Main Branch) – community screening focused on Housing Justice
Monday, Jun 19 at The Brattle Theater – followed by a Juneteenth Festival on Cambridge Commons
Thursday, June 26 via Zoom – including a talk back with the creative team behind the film
The Black Response is proud to premier and screen Where Do Black Men Live?, their short film depicting the lived experiences of Black men navigating housing insecurity in Cambridge, MA. The film is a powerful fictional dramatization inspired by the 1994 documentary by director Lee Mun Wah, The Color of Fear. Written by Gift Tapiwa, Joy Wrolson, and Stephanie Guirand, the film uses a verbatim theatre style—meaning the script is composed directly from the real words of Black men interviewed about their housing experiences. The film imagines eight of these men in conversation, seated in a circle, sharing their stories with one another. What unfolds is a deeply moving exploration of the challenges and triumphs they’ve faced in finding and keeping home.
29th Annual Mother's Day Walk for Peace Sunday, May 11, 2025, 8am ET Location: Town Field Park in Dorchester, MA 02122
The Mother's Day Walk for Peace (MDW4P) is a beloved Boston tradition honoring the lives of our loved ones who have been murdered. It is the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute’s (LDBPI) largest fundraising event to grow and sustain our services, advocacy and training. This year’s theme is "Cultivating Cycles of Peace.” In our society, we are constantly looped into cycles of violence that overshadow the transformative power of peace. We have the agency to cultivate these cycles by empowering survivors, supporting returning citizens and their families and investing in Generation Peace, the young people shaping the world.
We are stronger together! Consider starting or joining a walk team. Ask your friends and family to walk with you and support the LDBPI’s work in transforming society’s response to homicide.
The Big We: How Giving Circles Unlock Generosity, Strengthen Community, and Make Change By Hali Lee
The Big We is an inspiring exploration of how everyday people can drive meaningful social change through collective giving. Drawing from her own experiences and the stories of diverse giving circles across the U.S., Hali Lee illustrates how groups of individuals—often women and people of color—are pooling their time, money, and energy to support causes they care about.
The book delves into the transformative power of these grassroots movements, showing how they not only democratize philanthropy but also deepen community bonds and amplify marginalized voices. With warmth, clarity, and purpose, Lee redefines what it means to give, urging readers to move from “me” to “we” in their approach to generosity.
WOMEN'S RETREAT
Privilege & Purpose: A Transformative Retreat for Women Spring 2026, Schedule TBA
Transformative Retreat is for women with more than enough money to thrive and a curiosity about their role in the financial system. Anchored by a powerful in-person weekend in spring 2026, this 3-part hybrid experience is designed to fit your life, family, beliefs, and financial situation. You will move from awareness to action to empowerment and leave with a personalized plan to align your money with your values.
Money & Values in Action: An Introductory Workshop for Men with Ethan Kerr, Founder of Breaking the Mold Spring 2026, Schedule TBA
Join Ethan Kerr from Breaking the Mold for a 3-session virtual workshop designed to help you move from awareness to action and empower you to align your resources with your values. Within a community of white men learning together, explore the complexities of race and money—and how to drive action. Through a mix of contextual learning, group discussions, and personal reflection, you’ll gain tools to make a tangible impact and promote equity.
Money Talks: Aligning Finances & Values in Relationship Spring 2026, Schedule TBA
This Couples Workshop will offer a unique opportunity for couples to explore some of the challenges and opportunities of aligning their money with their values. We will examine our relationship dynamics through lenses of race and gender, and consider some of the implications for our partnerships, our money, and our impact on the world.
We want to use this newsletter to support the racial justice and economic events, programs, and opportunities you care about. Please share with us by emailing Emily.
DISCLAIMER These resources are provided for educational and information purposes only. Inclusion of any investment opportunities does not suggest an endorsement. You should perform your own research before you make any investment decision.
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