GreenBiz

Tawanna is nationally recognized thought leader who is well known for influencing, inspiring and equipping cross-sector leaders to transform a personal conviction for equality into actions that produce equitable and thriving communities. Tawanna is the founder and chief executive officer of the Center for Economic Inclusion and the executive director of Northside Funders Group, a place-based, collective impact organization of 20 corporate, community and private foundations and public-sector investors committed to aligning investments and strategies to catalyze racial and economic equity in North Minneapolis. Tawanna has led the Northside Funders Group since 2013, and in 2018 she launched the Center for Economic Inclusion, an unprecedented cross- sector social enterprise committed to strengthening the Minneapolis-St. Paul region’s civic infrastructure and collective capacity to disrupt systems and influence market forces to catalyze shared prosperity and advance an inclusive economy. Tawanna has lent her leadership to over 35 non-profit and philanthropic boards over the last decade. Today she serves as a Trustee at the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota, board member of the Northside Achievement Zone, Community Advisory Board Member of the Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank’s Opportunity & Inclusive Growth Institute, Co- Chair of the Itasca Project North Minneapolis Partnership, and Immediate Past President of the Minneapolis- St. Paul (MN) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. Tawanna is married to Eric Black and has two children, Traviata (6) and Christian (5).