Social Innovator
Oakland, CA
TOPICS
Democracy
Race
Activism
Leadership
Social Entrepreneurship
Rodney Foxworth believes that an economy that works for everybody is possible. A native of Baltimore, where he led a wide variety of entrepreneurial projects focused on racial equity and social innovation, he now leads Common Future, a network of leaders (re)building an economy that includes everyone. Their work unites wealth-holders and wealth-builders across the U.S. and Canada to advance a more equitable economy.
Rodney has spoken at Social Capital Markets (SOCAP), Social Finance Forum, the Brookings Institution, and numerous other conferences. He is also a gifted writer, penning widely-read essays and op-eds about philanthropy, impact investing, social entrepreneurship, and economic development. He is such a sought-after source because his expertise is at the beating heart of what this country is so urgently struggling with: how do we work across urban/rural and racial divides to increase prosperity for everyone? He is a master at finding common ground, whether he’s speaking to progressive people of color fighting gentrification and food deserts, or small town business owners who are fed up with massive corporate conglomerates extracting local resources. Or both at the same time! He’s a visionary with two feet firmly planted on the ground–whether that’s gritty city streets or palatial farmland.
By localism, we don’t mean parochialism. We mean creating direct relationships within the context of capital.
The people and communities most adversely impacted by economic extraction and wealth inequality are resilient and have long innovated solutions to enduring systemic challenges...They’re doing the hard work. Now it’s time for policymakers, philanthropists and investors to follow their lead.