Black Seeds School: Cohort 6

Program Type: Training cohort for movement building

Geographic Scope: Portland, Oregon (Kerns Neighborhood)

Cost: Free to participants

Participant Stipend: $1,500 total per participant (payments can be distributed directly to individuals or hosting organization)

Program Overview

The Black Seeds School is a five-day intensive training cohort designed to build the capacity of Black movement organizers, activists, and strategists. It contributes to building the critical mass required to sustain social movements.

Black Seeds is a school within Imagine Black's Black Leadership Academy (BLA), which has trained over 101 Black leaders and graduated five cohorts (as of Cohort 6). Through the BLA, Imagine Black builds a cohort of transformative Black leaders who see themselves as kin—a collective, critical mass fighting behind, for, and with one another.

Eligibility

Who Can Apply:

• People 21 years and older who identify as Black or of the African Diaspora
• Able to travel to Kerns neighborhood, Portland, Oregon for in-person participation
• Room and board are not available, but participation stipends are available

Ideal Participant Profile:

• Unapologetic: Bold, progressive Black leaders who want to learn a framework rooted in Black radical imagination and with a Black Queer Feminist Lens
• Community Focused: Believe that Black people and families are experts in their lives and the solutions needed to build a better future
• Involved in Movement Work: Currently part of an organizing effort or seeking to strengthen organizing practice through base-building strategies
• Diverse: The program embraces diversity and commits to building a cohort representing a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills within the African diaspora

Expectations

• Ideal participation: 100% attendance at all sessions
• Minimum requirement: 80% attendance
• Participants expected to arrive on time, participate actively, and demonstrate self-reliance in learning
• Room and board are not available

Training Dates & Schedule

• Wednesday, January 18, 2023: 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
• Thursday, January 19, 2023: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
• Friday, January 20, 2023: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
• Saturday, January 21, 2023: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
• Sunday, January 22, 2023: 10:00 AM - 2:30 PM

Instructors

Esperanza Tervalon - Queer, Afro-Puerto Rican woman and native daughter of Oakland, California. Founder and Principal of Dancing Hearts Consulting, LLC. 17+ years of experience building political power for the working class, immigrants, and communities of color. First woman of color to lead a 501c3, 501c4 & PAC collaborative civic engagement formation. Co-Chair of the Funders Committee for Civic Participation. Statewide Campaign Manager for the Oregon Hard to Count Census Campaign.

Ekundayo Igeleke (he/him) - Popular educator, culture worker, national strategist, grassroots organizer and writer. Resource Generation's Multi Racial Basebuilding Strategist and founding Creative-in-Chief of Culture Dream Lab. Extensive experience organizing Freedom Schools and advocating for youth justice and base building.

Organization Background

Imagine Black (formerly PAALF Action Fund) is a 501(c)(3) multi-issue grassroots organization in partnership with sibling 501(c)(4) organization, Imagine Black.

Mission: Helps the Black community imagine the alternatives they deserve and build political participation and leadership to achieve those alternatives.

Founded: 2009

Vision: A world where people of African descent enjoy the rights, resources, and recognition to be a thriving, resilient, and connected community.

Approach: Uses Black Queer Feminist (BQF) theory and practice, which provides a more holistic understanding of Black people's conditions and connectedness. Lifts up voices, experiences, and prioritizes issues of historically silenced and vulnerable groups within Black communities—specifically queer, trans and GNC, femme, poor, disabled, working, and undocumented people.

Contact Information

• Email: info@imagineblack.org
• Phone: 503-764-9019
• Address: Kerns Neighborhood, Portland, Oregon (specific address shared upon acceptance)

Important Notes

• Imagine Black will share the specific training address upon acceptance into the school
• Participant stipends of $1,500 total can be distributed directly to individuals or their hosting organization
• This cohort has passed as of today's date (2026-04-03)

How to Apply

Application Deadline: Monday, December 26, 2022, at 11:59 PM PT

Note: This deadline has passed as of today's date (2026-04-03). This information is provided for historical reference.

Application Options

Applicants can choose between written application or video application.

Written Application Path

Step 1 (~30 minutes):

Fill out the written application interest form

Video Application Path

Step 1 (~7 minutes):

Fill out the video application interest form

Step 2 (~23 minutes):

Respond to 7 short video prompts

Submission

• Applications must be submitted through the online portal
• Deadline: Monday, December 26, 2022, at 11:59 PM PT

Questions

For application questions, contact:

Email: info@imagineblack.org