August Share the Plate: The Equity Alliance

Founded in 2016, The Equity Alliance is Tennessee’s most influential Black-led organizing force, promoting intentional, unapologetic, innovative, and culturally relevant year-round civic engagement among Black communities. We’ve registered over 90,000 voters and mobilized communities across Nashville, Memphis, and Clarksville, with plans to expand into additional communities across Tennessee.  

Our approach is simple: meet people where they are–from the trap house to the White House–and give them the tools to transform the systems that govern their lives. We don’t just want a seat at the table. We’re building our own tables. We educate, empower, and mobilize Black people to take action and keep our government in check.

When Tennessee expelled two Black legislators for standing with their communities, we led the fight to get them reinstated. When the state tried to criminalize voter registration, we fought back and won. These victories prove that Tennessee isn’t a lost cause–it’s fertile ground for transformation.

Our 501(c)(3) foundation handles nonpartisan civic education, leadership development, and community research. Our 501(c)(4) advocacy organization leads direct policy campaigns and legislative advocacy without lobbying restrictions. The Tennessee Black Voter Project focuses specifically on voter registration and election mobilization. Our economic development entity works on wealth-building initiatives and community investment. This structure allows us to educate voters, advocate for policies, run campaigns, and build economic power–all while staying coordinated and strategic. 

We build independent community power through organizing and mobilization, while simultaneously placing allies in key institutional positions where decisions get made. This creates pressure from multiple directions that drives real change.

Current Priority Campaigns:

• Universal Childcare (#Childcare4All)

With 41% of Tennessee families spending most of their income on childcare, we’re fighting to cap costs and increase state funding.

• Housing Justice

Creating pathways to homeownership, fighting displacement in gentrifying neighborhoods, and ensuring development benefits existing communities

• Environmental Justice

Addressing environmental racism and ensuring Black communities have a voice in decisions affecting their health and safety