Founding Story

In June of 2020, as the world was reeling from the impact of a viral video depicting the lynching like murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis Minnesota, a Call-In to the WNY Start-Up community for folks who wanted to take antiracists action started a conversation that evolved into BetterTogether.  We had no plan, just passion and desire to be part of making and sustaining a more antiracist world.  So we started meeting weekly and talking.

We all knew....   Antiracism is a VAST topic. Cultural competency can’t be learned in a book (except maybe Black Like Me).  And, in America today, the many racist policies and systems so deeply imbedded in our government and societal structures that many folks are unconscious that the ideas used to support those policies and systems are racist, and blind to the impact they have on our day to day life.  And finally, the social identity of a group unlike your own can feel mystifyingly and exclusive until someone is generous enough to help unlock understanding, especially if they are smart, kind, and funny.  So we kept talking.

Better Together has today reached a small pod of like minded folks, fluid and continuously working to expand our states of beings, and knowing that together our group has become something quite fractal and gestalt.  We have had many deep and meaningful conversations, the majority of which were spontaneous, and extemporaneously dealing with whatever topics folks brought to explore.   We have found, through conversations grounded in transparency and ownership of self, our beings expanded.  Our discussions weave personal experiences, human experiences, and [what sometimes feels like] esoteric history. We conduct these discussions with open hearts, minds, and bravery as we speak up to tell our truths, give grace to ask our ‘stupid’ questions and then listen, to honor and consider the voice of every individual in the room who wishes to speak.  Discussions where debating beliefs and correcting untruths with civil discourse becomes an opportunity for expanding our being, not seeds of conflict. Discussions enhanced through myriad expertise contributed by the individual learning journey of each group member.  We exhibited enthusiasm and passion in priceless time devoted to learning and teaching cultural competency to ourselves and others that join our efforts.

We decided to name our group “BetterTogether” because we know we are. Merriam-Webster in part defines ‘to be better’ is to improve health and mental attitude, and together we have created a safe space in harmony of being that stimulates healing, understanding and creativity.  (In another part) ‘to be better’ is to have improved accuracy and performance, and together we have become more appropriately prepared and balanced to be composed in mind and manner when encountering racism in discussions. 

We are committed to bringing the resolve we find in our weekly workouts (#bettertogether meetings) to our daily lives.

We have learned to do something hard, something that others are interested in learning to do something that demonstrates an impactful model, something that can impact bridge building and reparations projects like TechAcadamy.  Something that not only begs the questions of being #bettertogether, it is hypothetically a viable model for intervention with groups, companies, and organizations-alike.

We are:

• An articulate and unique discussion group and brain trust, experienced at having frank and audacious discussions that are important and deliberate attempts at healing America, right now.

• A creative amalgam of intellectuals and conversationalists who bring diverse experiences and perspectives in tackling issues and concerns in social injustice, racism, even narcissism.

• YOU.