Our Organization

BELN is a non-profit dedicated to serving BIPOC elected leaders across the US, at the school board, city council, and state legislature levels in all 50 states. We are bipartisan and provide a space for BIPOC elected leaders to convene, discuss, and collaborate, while also providing consulting and policy solutions. Our organization integrates blockchain for governance of the organization and artificial intelligence for consulting and policy development.

Crowdfunding Campaign

We are launching our crowdfunding campaign on Giveth to provide funding for hiring staff, managing volunteers, and covering general operating costs of our organization. Our costs for the next two years is estimated to be $100,000, which is our fundraising target. As a non-profit, we operate based on charitable contributions and grants, and seek to allocate funds in a manner that leads to the greatest impact. Your contributions will provide the seed funding for the establishment of our decentralized autonomous organization infrastructure and the creation of an in-house policy center.

Our History 

BELN first started as a network between city council members in Minnesota in 2021. It was prompted by the protests surrounding the killing of George Floyd, when BIPOC city council members desired to have a space where they could connect, exchange information about racial equity policies, learn from each other’s experiences, and coordinate in case of emergencies. Having been fiscally sponsored by the Saint Paul-based non-profit Nexus Community Partners (https://nexuscp.org/) for the past two years, the organization is now an independent nonprofit expanding to support BIPOC leaders in all 50 states at the school board, city council, and state legislature level. BELN integrates artificial intelligence and data science into its policy approach and seeks to support BIPOC elected leaders in the US along an exponential growth trajectory. Part of this roadmap is the creation of a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) that allows for the members of the non-profit (BIPOC elected leaders) to participate in the governance of the organization and vote on the policy that the network produces. With this DAO infrastructure in place, the organization aims to develop a policy center that will be able to produce extensive policy for BIPOC leaders and eventually create a BIPOC New Deal that will address the concerns of BIPOC and non-BIPOC communities at all scales of governance.

BELN’s Chief Executive Officer and founder is Leo Franchett Ndiaye, who has a track record of executive leadership at non-profits. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/leo-ndiaye-27450a202/) 

Vision Statement

We envision a thriving community of BIPOC elected leaders excelling in their roles, mutually supporting each other, and advancing equity and prosperity in our communities.

Mission Statement

We convene an inclusive and dynamic congress of BIPOC elected officials for peer learning, mutual support, and strategic policy coordination, catalyzing transformative change to foster resilience and sustainability within communities. Empowering BIPOC leaders to unite, advocate, and lead, we envision a future where our communities' voices and needs are valued and uplifted across all levels of governance and policy-making.

Values Statement

Our organization embodies inclusivity, equity, and diversity. Each member is committed to upholding personal integrity, advocating for universal justice, and fostering resilient communities. Our relationships always are grounded in trust, collaboration, and mentorship.

Our Members in Action