Introducing Our Collective and the 9 Pillars
By us on July 11, 2025
Welcome to our library, where we ― the collective ― share ideas and actions to strengthen Black American communities.
We believe in a holistic approach: our mission is to empower everyday people through nine interconnected pillars of
“people activity” (Neely Fuller). Each pillar focuses on a different area (from economics to health to culture) that
builds the foundation of community well-being. By strengthening all nine pillars together, we can lift up Black families
and neighborhoods.
For context, Black Americans are about 13% of the U.S. population and wield nearly $1.8–$2.0 trillion in annual buying power
(blackwallstreet.org).
We want that power to benefit our own communities. Through this site, we explain how each pillar works and why it matters.
Our nine pillars are:
Together these areas cover all aspects of life that can improve our collective future. Over the next articles,
we’ll dive into each pillar and explain how community members can make a difference.
Introducing Our Collective and the 9 Pillars
The Nine Pillars
What’s Next