This is not an academic exercise

5 questions for wealth creator and visionary Rodney Foxworth

Usually I’m the one that’s late. Not late late, but five minutes late. I’m rushing to get Stella to preschool and then Maya to kindergarten. I’ve got the to do list already running through my head—Did I pay preschool for last month? What time is that call? I can’t believe I still haven’t answered that email. I get a text from Rodney: “I’ll order for you. The usual?”

“Yes. Coffee. So much coffee.”

“I got you. See you soon.”

This is who Rodney Foxworth is—a guy who is both re-imagining the economics of the entire country, and kindly ordering a working mom her breakfast so she can arrive at the same time as her eggs and biscuit.

I’ve known Rodney since he moved from Baltimore—his beloved hometown—to Oakland to run Common Future, an organization that shifts capital, uplifts local leaders, and advises the development of equitable economies. Despite his crazy busy travel schedule (what was his crazy busy travel schedule?!), we manage to grab breakfast about once a month and talk about everything from philanthropy (he wrote this gorgeous piece) to leadership to love.

He never misses an opportunity to be the hype man for some other incredible entrepreneur, so I take great pleasure in getting to brag on him. He’s a gifted writer, a transformational leader, and maybe best of all, a good human. He was also the first person I heard of who got money out the door and into the hands of people all over the country when the coronavirus hit (a breakdown on how). Here’s what he’s been thinking, doing, and feeling…

Courtney: You were one of the first organizations out there to get money out the door to small business owners and local leaders. Why do you think you all were able to move so quickly and have that kind of clarity, compared to so many others?

We’ve built a broad, geographically dispersed, and deep network of local leaders over nearly 19 years, so we were privileged to have relationships with, access to, and knowledge of an incredibly inspiring group of leaders making change at the local level in a significant way. Because of those relationships, and the conversations we were having with leaders in our network whose communities were being impacted, we had some early understanding of the funding and support needed.

It’s important to emphasize that a number of folks at Common Future have directly been impacted by injustices throughout our lives, and have loved ones who are themselves working at the frontlines of this crisis, or are disproportionately impacted by the outbreak, or both. My colleague Rakiba Kibria wrote about this dynamic quite powerfully and directly, sharing her own lived experience to illustrate how the working class and poor were bearing the brunt of the health and economic impacts of COVID-19.

The proximity to what a lot of folks in our sector term as “intractable social problems” is very real for a number of my colleagues, and certainly me personally. It’s not an academic exercise--and I think that shaped how we were able to respond. We moved urgently because the work is personal and visceral.

So many in your incredible network are the de facto mayors of their communities. What are you hearing from them about how COVID is affecting their lives and organizations? Any patterns that you think the mainstream news coverage is missing? 

Our network is diverse—black, indigenous, people of color, southern, rural and Appalachian communities are all represented. These communities were largely ignored, marginalized, exploited, and extracted from long before COVID-19, so it’s no surprise that these communities are being disproportionately impacted by its fallout. There’s not nearly enough focus by the media and policymakers on how these communities are being devastated. There’s a narrative that COVID-19 affects everyone and every community the same, but it’s clear that some communities bear more than others. 

Leaders in philanthropy and government like to talk about the need to “build capacity” when it comes to the types of organizations and communities represented by our network. But something that is consistently missed is that, these organizations and communities have capacity.

More often than not, what is needed is an investment of resources that are under the control of these organizations and communities.

So everyone—mainstream media included—is missing out on the incredible strength, ingenuity, brilliance, and capacity being demonstrated by these organizations and communities throughout this crisis. 

For example, one of the organizations we were able to support through our Rapid Response Fund has provided personal protection equipment for over 1,000 residents and rental and utility assistance for 100 families. Another organization purchased unused inventory from impact food businesses to prepare and distribute 10,000 free meals per week, ensuring that families have healthy food options during this crisis. Both of these organizations were impacted financially by the crisis, but every day they demonstrate the power and capacity that community leaders possess. Stories like these continue to go unnoticed.  

I can't help hearing “let's get back to normal” as having such a similar ring to “let's make America great again.” You're both a strong proponent of economic liberation and a visionary anti-racist. How do you hear the economic arguments for ending sheltering in? 

I think it demonstrates a profound lack of imagination and significant investment in the status quo. “Normal” meant marginalization and extraction for the communities that have been disproportionately impacted by the crisis. That’s why the leaders in our network were fighting so diligently before COVID-19; the status quo, the economy we were experiencing two months ago, was failing black, indigenous, people of color, southern, rural and Appalachian communities. 

Everyday Americans of course want to get back to work, because how do you otherwise pay your rent or mortgage? How do you feed your family if you’re out of work, ineligible for unemployment, and without health insurance?

The federal response to the economic crisis brought forth by COVID-19 has been anemic. Instead of protesting and demanding that shelter in place orders be done away with, we should be demanding the federal government institute relief packages that ensure that Americans aren’t forced to choose between our health and financial security. We’re suggesting that certain lives and communities don’t matter, which of course, is consistent with our history as a nation. 

What's been the most challenging for you personally, about this moment? Any sweet surprises? 

Two things jump out immediately. I moved to Oakland from my hometown Baltimore a little over two years ago and it’s been incredibly difficult being so far away from family and other loved ones during this time. In addition, as a leader of an organization, I have felt stretched as a leader; no one is ever truly prepared to lead during a time like this. I’m finding myself asking more questions about my responsibilities as the leader of an organization, versus my role as an advocate. These responsibilities are intertwined, but there is quite a bit of departure as well. I’m discovering more about how to balance these twin responsibilities—and finding out more about where I need to grow, where I resist, and wrestling with my own discomfort about certain expectations involved in being a quote-unquote leader.

I miss your laugh. What is making you laugh these days? 

Such a tough question. There hasn’t been anything specific—I find myself laughing everyday, usually because of some banter I’m having with a friend or colleague. I’m a bit of a class clown, snarky, as you know, so poking fun at, well, anything and everyone is sort of my modus operandi. Unfortunately for them, my roommate bears the brunt of it.

To be a part of the radical, reparative work that Rodney and his amazing crew are up to, donate here, and follow them here.

As soon as sheltering in orders cease, I’ll see you here, Rodney. 8:30am. I’ll have the usual. And yes, so much coffee.