Fund to Amplify Change

First of all, BLACK LIVES MATTER. Period.

Second, it is fitting that I am launching this Gofundme on Juneteenth while celebrating my ancestors freedom from slavery.

My name is Kirshan Murphy and I have spent a large portion of my life as an activist/advocate/community organizer in numerous ways, but mostly behind the scenes (outside of my public Facebook social justice posts). I first became "aware" and interested in social justice as an 8 year old following the 1988 presidential election cycle - and viewing the infamous Willie Horton ad. As a teenager, I was active in a number of organizations that sought to have a positive impact on the community. In college, I was a member of the W.E.B. Dubois Honor Society and I volunteered for Al Gore's presidential campaign. In the numerous years following, I volunteered and advised other campaigns as well. For a time, I was a community organizer in New York City fighting to raise the minimum wage and helping to organize tenants to force slumlords to improve living conditions. 

Those experiences, in addition to the experiences that come with growing up as a black male in America, taught me a lot. 

Over the last 15 years I have helped, easily, over 100 businesses grow through my expertise in digital marketing, web design, and business development. I want to put that experience to good use by helping the Black community prosper economically and by helping all business owners position their businesses as a force for good in their communities. 

So here I am. Raising money for Amplify Progress and Black Empowerment Lab.

Many are asking - "Well, what can we do? We are seeing numerous large companies announcing their steps to fight injustice but we are just a small local business." Or "I'm overwhelmed and don't know what to do, I'm just an employee."

That is where Amplify Progress comes in.

Amplify Progress is a social enterprise that will help other businesses and individuals be a force for good in their communities by increasing their impact and visibility. It will:
- help businesses have measurable and verifiable impact on their workers, community, customers, and the environment.
- help individuals position themselves for careers that have social impact
- help businesses and individuals increase their brand visibility and attract clients and customers

Why is a company like Amplify Progress needed?

The 2017 Cone Communications CSR Study found:
- 70% of Americans believe companies have an obligation to take actions to improve issues that may not be relevant to their everyday business
- 78% of Americans believe it's important for companies to stand up for social justice issues
- 73% would stop purchasing from a company that shared a different perspective on these specific issues
- 65% of Americans say when a company takes a stand on a social or environmental issue, they will do research to see if it is being authentic
- 76% of Millennials will do research - more than 10 percentage points more than the average
- 87% would purchase a product because that company stood up for or advocated for an issue that they care about
- 76% would refuse to purchase a company's product or services upon learning that it supported an issue contrary to their beliefs

Americans are voting with their dollars and Amplify Progress can help businesses:
- be part of the movement of companies being more socially responsible
- attract talent - more and more members of the workforce are making decisions about where to work based on the positive impact their work creates and how well an employer treats their team
- set and accomplish goals to have more positive social and environmental impact
- let the world know about the great things a company is doing by amplifying their voice

Black economic empowerment is an important aspect of countering the effects that racism and white supremacy have had on the Black community in the United States.

That is where the Black Empowerment Lab comes in.

Black Empowerment Lab is a social enterprise focused on empowering black business owners and professionals. It will be funded by the surplus revenue from Amplify Progress. It will:
- Offer free programs that will focus on the different aspects of entrepreneurship and business & personal brand development. These programs will be a combination of classes and cohorts to take a hands on approach to help those accepted into the programs grow their business.
- Provide a Black owned business directory that is more akin to Google Maps and Yelp to create better exposure to black owned businesses with physical locations. It will be free for business owners to add their business to the directory.
- Tell the stories of Black entrepreneurs and thought leaders through content created on the website

So how will the funds be used?

- Website hosting that will house all client websites (in addition to our own)
- The website framework, in addition to a number of plugins that will add essential functionality to the websites. 
- A business management tool that will handle numerous needs that include: project management, billing, bookkeeping, client relationship management, and more.
- Start up related expenses that include creating an LLC.
- The funds will also be used for initial marketing and advertising campaigns to grow the visibility of Amplify Progress and the Black Empowerment Lab.
- Video equipment and software that will be used to create content for the website that will shed light on important social issues while showcasing businesses that are a force for good in their communities, in addition to, telling the stories of Black business owners.

The goal is to launch phase 1 of Amplify Progress within a few weeks, so your donation is greatly needed.

With your help, I will be immensely grateful and will be in the position to help businesses be a force for good in the community and be able help Black business owners grow their businesses.