The latest episode of Tracy’s Keepin’ It Real brought two of the African-American Leadership Forum’s top leaders to the table for a candid, energizing conversation about the organization’s mission, its vision for a radical Black future, and the many ways Minnesotans can plug in.
Host Tracy welcomed Dara Beevas, the Forum’s chief executive officer, and Shanaya Dungey, chief operating officer, for a wide-ranging discussion that touched on everything from policy advocacy at the State Capitol to preventative health care for Black men.
20 Years of Community-Centered Work
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the African-American Leadership Forum — known widely as “the Forum” — which was founded by Gary Cunningham at his kitchen table by a group of community and corporate leaders committed to closing racial disparities in Minnesota.
The organization operates around six core pillars: education, holistic healing and health, public safety, generational wealth, economic prosperity, and environmental justice.
“We are driving what we call a radical Black future,” Beevas said. “If we can be thriving in those six areas, we believe that we will be able to actualize whatever our individual dreams are.”
A Think and Do Tank
The Forum describes itself not just as a think tank, but as a “think and do tank” — meaning every policy position, report, and public initiative is grounded in direct community input.
“We are never speaking from a place of deficit,” Beas explained. “We are always speaking from a position of abundance. There is no cup, there is no barrier, there is nothing in your way.”
That community-first approach is operationalized through what the Forum calls Black Center Design methodology — a framework rooted in human-centered design that keeps community voices at the center of every decision. Focus groups, design sessions, policy briefs, and regular community convenings all feed into the Forum’s work.
Dungey, who has been with the Forum for five years and has watched it grow from a team of four to nearly 20 staff members, emphasized that the data the Forum collects goes beyond traditional statistics.
“Our community’s grandma, great-grandma — our community has flourished and thrived off of storytelling,” she said. “A lot of information may not be written, but we know it because grandma told me the story. That is our data.”
On the Ground Right Now
The Forum is currently active on multiple fronts. Beevas noted that she has been at the State Capitol advocating around artificial intelligence policy, raising the alarm about how AI-driven automation could eliminate entry-level white-collar jobs that have historically provided a pathway to careers for people without college degrees.
The Forum is also in the middle of a deep dive on Black health, running focus groups and planning convenings through June. One specific call to action: Black men — or those who identify as Black men — are being urged to sign up for a health-focused focus group. The data, Beas noted, shows it is especially difficult to connect Black men with primary care physicians for regular checkups, and the Forum wants to hear directly from that community.
Additionally, the Forum launched North Side Forward last year — a community co-created plan calling for $1.5 billion in investment in North Minneapolis over the next 10 years.
Fellowship Applications Now Open
The Forum also announced that applications are currently open for its leadership academy fellowship, now in its 11th year. The six-month fellowship is open to Black leaders of all ages — there is no age requirement and no academic credential required. What the Forum is looking for is a demonstrated connection to community and a vision for where that passion leads.
“We have a philosophy that we all are leaders,” Beevas said. “We all lead in different ways.”
How to Get Involved
For community members looking to engage, there are multiple entry points:
- Visit the Forum’s website to explore the Action Center, where you can register to vote, track legislation, and engage on policy issues directly affecting Black Minnesotans.
- Sign up for the newsletter to stay current on events and opportunities.
- Apply for the leadership fellowship if you are a Black leader with community roots and a vision.
- Attend Forum events, which are held every four to six weeks and serve as both community gatherings and design sessions.
- Contact the Forum about the current Black men’s health focus group by emailing: brand@aalftc.org
- Donate to support the Forum’s ongoing research, policy, and community work.
“We Are the Technology”
Both leaders closed with a message of affirmation and a call to action.
“Everything that we need, we have,” Beevas said, pointing to Minnesota’s deep ecosystem of Black entrepreneurial, nonprofit, and corporate talent. “We show other cities and communities across the country how to do that, because we do that well.”
Dungey echoed the sentiment: “We are the technology. All the solutions that we need are within us. It’s really just about us working together.”
Watch above or listen to this episode of Tracy’s Keepin’ It Real on the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder’s podcast platforms. To learn more about the African-American Leadership Forum, visit their website or email brand@aalftc.org.