Honoring Black History Month: Legacy, Leadership, and Action

By: Simone Hardeman-Jones, GreenLight Twin Cities Executive Director 

As we enter February, now more than ever, it is essential to celebrate and honor Black History Month with deep reflection, pride, and action. It is easy to feel weary when our communities face social, economic, or political challenges. Yet, I find strength in my lineage—a history rooted in resilience, love, and an unwavering commitment to justice.

I am the proud descendant of activists, nonprofit leaders, politicians, mothers, and caregivers—people who dedicated their lives to uplifting Black communities and shaping a better future. As a third-generation Black Minnesotan, my family made an intentional choice to build a life here, forging a legacy that guides me today. Their example gives me the courage to lead with fierce love and an enduring commitment to Black people. From them, I inherited a leadership style grounded in integrity, compassion, and an unshakable belief in community power.

At GreenLight Fund Twin Cities, this legacy informs how I lead. Our work is rooted in the belief that communities hold the answers to their own challenges. We are not here to impose solutions—we are here to listen, invest, and help scale initiatives that center the voices and needs of those most impacted. We take a community-driven, resident-led approach to philanthropy, ensuring that Black and Brown communities are not just included but are the architects of change. 

My ancestors endured unimaginable hardships, yet they pressed forward, built communities, and created legacies that allow us to stand in our power today. Their resilience turned struggle into progress and pain into purpose. Black History Month is not only about remembering their sacrifices—it is about carrying forward their work. It is a time to celebrate Black joy, invest in Black futures, and reaffirm our commitment to dismantling barriers that persist.

I often reflect on the contributions of movement builders who shaped our path, including Ella Baker—a towering but often unsung figure of the Civil Rights Movement. As a strategist, organizer, and mentor, Baker believed in collective action over individual recognition. She reminded us that “strong people don’t need strong leaders”—they need spaces where their voices are heard, their power is nurtured, and their leadership is cultivated. Her vision challenges us today to not just invite Black communities to the table, but to ensure we are the architects of the solutions that impact our lives.

This belief in collective power fuels my work. At GreenLight Fund Twin Cities, we’ve seen how transformational change happens when we invest in community-driven solutions. Whether it’s launching Irth to improve Black maternal health, bringing Let Everyone Advance With Dignity (LEAD) to the Twin Cities to advance a community-driven approach to public safety, scaling Inner Explorer to support the mental health of youth of color or partnering with Food Connect to tackle food insecurity, we are turning our values into action.

I am driven by a deep desire to see my people flourish. With every step, I honor the past, shape the present, and build toward a thriving future. Our history is one of resilience, and our future will be too.

As we celebrate Black History Month, may we not only remember but also act. May we build, invest, and create with intention. May we uplift one another and continue to push for a world where Black communities not only survive but thrive.