FUSE Corps is thrilled to be working in partnership with John Legend to launch HUMANLEVEL, a new initiative to uplift communities disproportionately impacted by institutionalized racism.

The initiative kicked off with FUSE executive fellowship projects in 11 communities: Atlanta, AustinBirmingham, Durham, Houston, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Oakland, Pittsburgh,and Washington, D.C. Over the coming year, we will be engaging additional partners across the country in this vital work.

FUSE is working with communities to develop high impact, strategic, projects designed to address immediate needs, while working toward sustainable and equitable policies in the areas of workforce development, affordable housing, educational access, public health, and criminal justice reform. This exciting new partnership builds on FUSE’s ongoing work to expand opportunities for communities that have been limited by a history of racial injustice. This campaign is supported by Jack Dorsey’s #StartSmall, Emerson Collective, Ford Foundation, Ballmer Group, The Rockefeller Foundation, William & Flora Hewlett Foundation, Sony Music Group, Walton Family Foundation, and others.

Over the last decade, FUSE has managed over 250 projects in 39 cities and counties across 18 states. The organization has effected change in communities, sparked institutional culture change, and strengthened the capacity of local governments to provide services to residents. To ensure that as many people as possible can benefit from these efforts, our network of current and former FUSE Executive Fellows and government partners regularly collaborate and share best practices from their work.

Communities are at the heart of our efforts to drive transformative change. We partner with civic leaders, nonprofit organizations, residents and those who are most impacted by the challenges that we are working to address. Most FUSE Executive Fellows grew up in the communities they serve and we are continually inspired by the passion, leadership and catalytic insight they bring to this work in their own communities.

As the country continues to battle the impacts of this pandemic, we have a unique opportunity to reimagine and rebuild American cities. We are thrilled to be working with John Legend to launch HUMANLEVEL, which will bring experienced talent, innovative ideas, and transformational energy to this important movement.

Read the full press release.