BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Black and brown business leaders in Massachusetts have created a fund aimed at helping organizations working to end systemic racism.
Malia Lazu, an executive vice president of Berkshire Bank, is one of 19 executives who used their own money and corporations to created the New Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund.
"So often we think of solutions, and they're naturally white-led," Lazu said. She said this fund is a black and brown-led solution.
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"It's not the amount of money. It's really about how is power is distributed," Lazu said. "I think what the New Commonwealth Fund is doing is really giving us a chance for power to be distributed through black and brown people."
She said the fund is a model for self determination. They already have $20 million in commitments, and hope to raise at least $80 million more.
WBZ NewsRadio's Suzanne Sausville (@wbzSausville) reports
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(Photo: Malia Lazu. Suzanne Sausville/WBZ NewsRadio)