Truist Fdn: Where does change start?

Truist's purpose is to inspire and build better lives and communities. But, where does this change start?

For too long, efforts to drive systemic change have only tackled surface-level challenges. At Truist Foundation, we believe change starts when one person speaks out, continues when they are heard, and change is made when we work together to overcome injustice.

With this in mind, in early 2023, Truist Foundation announced the creation of Where It Starts, a $22 million, multiyear program to strengthen small businesses and open career pathways for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) individuals across the U.S. To launch the program, Truist Foundation awarded grants to three anchor partners: CAEL, which received a $15.7 million grant, and Living Cities (LC) and Main Street America (MSA), which received a joint $6.3 million grant.

Each organization will spearhead a place-based initiative in target cities, including Atlanta, Charlotte, Memphis, Miami and Nashville. CAEL will launch “Where It Starts: Build Better Careers,” focusing on creating career paths for BIPOC workers in industries that have historically been inequitable such as financial services, and LC and MSA will co-lead “Where It Starts: Breaking Barriers to Business,” providing tools and resources to help break down systemic barriers for entrepreneurs of color.

Where It Starts illustrates the importance of working together — across organizations and industries — to catalyze change. And this is just the start.