About
Driving systems change through an equitable model for shared impact
PERC is a justice venture on a mission to transform public funding and investment practices toward equitable development – by centering the collective power and expertise of Black, Indigenous, and Latino/a/x communities into the investment decision-making process and building cross-sector collaborative partnerships nationwide.
Why Justice Venture?
In the absence of existing models for reimagining public investment through the lens of racial justice, we developed the justice venture concept – a new, equitable business model for consensus-building, facilitation, activation, planning, and implementation of public investment and funding practices that centers historically excluded communities as active participants, leaders, and trailblazers in the economy and social fabric of our country.
Public investment needs to be reimagined
Research shows that the processes for infrastructure investment play a significant role in creating and perpetuating racial disparities and inequitable systems. Local and state governments often unilaterally decide what communities and what infrastructure projects to invest public dollars in, ultimately failing to adequately address the needs of the people in under-resourced areas.
Without the perspective and participation of the people most harmed by inequitable systems, challenges in communities persist and impede progress for everyone. When we create space for productive conversations and learnings which center versus exclude or minimize the ideas of those closest to the challenges, the solutions are more likely to benefit the entire community.
Learn more about how we drive impact.
Due to the passage of several historic bills, today we have:
- Dedicated an unprecedented federal investment in community infrastructure
- Multiple projects underway to organize system players and streamline resources
- Unique opportunity to close persistent racial disparities in life outcomes for Black, Indigenous, and Latino/a/x people
…and yet, under the current public investment processes:
- Projects are discrete, siloed, lack shared goals, and ecosystem for long-term impact
- Existing inequitable systems are reinforced and/or supplemented
- Despite significant dollars and activity, the absence of a coordinated racial equity strategy in the deployment of public investment is likely to result in wider gaps for generations to come
A word from the community
Coming together with other communities of color and working on a plan that will help families of color in the future is amazing. PERC has provided a place to make these conversations happen.
Sylvia Perez, St. Paul community table
What we do
Creating powerful, cross-sector coalitions
PERC works to create a network of cities equipped with the political, financial, and social capital to trailblaze a path toward building wealth and wellbeing for communities.
Our unique, participatory model facilitates learning, communication, and partnership between local government agencies, communities, businesses, and philanthropy. We work with cities to strategically form powerful cross-sector coalitions that center the voices and expertise of Black, Indigenous, and Latino/a/x communities, deliver measurable and results-based outcomes, and reimagine the decision-making process for investment, implementation, and longterm impact of public funds.
Our Model
How we drive impact
The PERC model offers a blueprint for coalition building and equitable investment in community development that governmental partners can quickly connect with, apply, and integrate into their own strategies.
Join us
Are you interested in becoming an active participant in PERC’s transformation process? Let’s partner!