BLAC’s Vision

We envision a future of joy and justice for the Black community.

BLAC’s Mission

We’re reimagining the Black experience through education, healing, community, and activism.

The Values that Guide Our Work

Accountability

We strive to practice accountability with ourselves and each other, fostering a culture of transparency, honesty, and responsibility within the community.

Collective Healing

Self-care and group care are foundational to our approach, allowing us to sustain the collective while nurturing individual well-being.

Collaboration

We believe in the power of shared knowledge and experiences to inform decisions, and we prioritize growth through mutual support and collaboration.

Anti-Oppression

We actively challenge all forms of inequality, including homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, misogyny, and ableism.

Inclusivity

We welcome individuals at all stages of their journey, who are open to re-education, resocialization, and continual self-growth.

Compassion

We approach our work with empathy, fostering a space where every voice can be heard and respected.

Redistribution

We actively redistribute resources while focusing on uplifting those who have historically lacked access to care.

Solidarity

We approach our work from a place of solidarity, not saviorship. We collaborate with, not for, the community, ensuring that our work is inclusive and empowering.

What We’re Building at BLAC

Build Love Advocacy Center is a community space in the making. We’re planning and developing worker-directed physical spaces to provide education, healing, and liberation for all Black people and other marginalized groups on the unceded territory of the Akimel O'odham and Pee Posh peoples (otherwise known as Phoenix, AZ).

The dream is three-fold:

Build Love Advocacy Community Center

Our community center will host a growing selection of education, art, and healing programs. It will also be the hub for our coalition and mutual aid work, serving as a place of respite for folks on the frontlines.

Spread the Love Market and Grocery

Our storefront will provide daily access to the rich variety of produce grown on local BIPOC-owned and run farms. Located in the food desert of South Phoenix, it will simultaneously increase food access, support BIPOC farmers, and minimize food waste.

Love Beans Cafe

Our late-night cafe will provide 24-hour access for folks to escape the heat, gather and break bread together, and support locally sourced BIPOC-owned coffee roasters. We’ll have a solidarity menu where those with financial privilege can give funds to cover the experience for our houseless and lower-income community members.

We hope for our center to fully manifest with a grand opening in 2026.

The Folks Doing the Work

The team at BLAC brings together a wealth of knowledge in healing justice, Black organizing, social work, advocacy, and sustainability. Our collective leadership structure ensures our voice represents us all. 

We are predominantly Black. Everyone identifies as a women or gender nonconforming. We intentionally hire and provide career development opportunities for marginalized community members.

Highlights of Our Impact

Since our founding we’ve served and partnered with BIPOC folks across Maricopa County to make strides toward equitable access to systems, resources, and justice for marginalized communities.

Improved local cities’ public processes to make them more equitable for people without power and privilege to be heard.

Surveyed 400 of the most marginalized communities in Tempe including Spanish speakers and those facing homelessness to understand their needs.

Influenced the City of Tempe’s budget to fund an additional crisis response worker, five mental health counselors for middle school, and an energy equity specialist in the Sustainability department.

Help BLAC Create a Joyful and Liberated Future

Your donations help us build love, advocacy, and community for Black folks and other marginalized communities in Maricopa County.

Donate Now

We Are Change in the Making