Rukaiyah Adams: Dreaming of Visionary Capital

Dreaming in Color

Welcome to Dreaming in Color, a show hosted by Darren Isom, a partner with The Bridgespan Group, that provides a space for social change leaders of color to reflect on how their life experiences, personal and professional, have prepared them to lead and drive the impact we all seek.

In this episode, our guest host, Jasmine Reliford, a Manager at Bridgespan, welcomes Rukaiyah Adams, a distinguished financier from Portland and CEO of 1803 Fund.

Listen as Rukaiyah talks about navigating her career and the challenges of investing in community wealth. Rukaiyah shares her reflections on the unique history of Portland's Albina neighborhood, the effects of systemic racism, and the importance of building a beloved community. Emphasizing the contributions and resilience of Black women, the conversation explores the creation of the 1803 Fund, a venture designed to empower Black Portlanders through strategic investment, advocacy, and inclusive planning. They also discuss the personal sacrifices and triumphs involved in leading such an initiative, underscoring the significance of collective achievement over individual success.

This is Dreaming In Color.

Jump Straight To:

(01:05.2) Introduction of Rukaiyah Adams, CEO of 1803 Fund.

(03:18.6)) Water In Motion: Rukaiyah discusses her love for Portland and how her family came to set roots in the city that, like water in motion, is always in motion.

(09:16.5) Rukaiyah discusses being an example of policy outcome and the excellent education she experience attending school in Portland’s Albina neighborhood.

(14:00.6) Money as a measure of energy: Rukaiyah explains the different forms of capital and how she strives to be the capitalist that teaches the next generations to convert creative or socia captial into financial capital for collective benefit.

(19:00.9) “Woe is me” vs. “whoa, it’s me.” Rukaiyah embraces her struggle and reflects on the heroism of Black women in the industry and the sacrifices they endure to reach career and life milestones.

(22:09.9) Rukaiyah explores the difference between working for freedom vs. working for liberation.

(37:09:9) We learn the origin story behind 1803 Fund.

Episode Resources:

• Connect with Rukaiyah on LinkedIn
• Learn more about 1803 Fund through their website
• Learn about the history of Portland’s Albina neighborhood here.
• Learn more about Albina Vision Trust through their website.
• Watch Rukaiyah’s TEDx Talk “A Love Letter to Portland.”
• Watch Rukaiyah’s TEDx Talk “Homegirls’ Guide to Being Powerful”
• Explore the Alvin Ailey Dance theatre Rukaiyah references here.

Listen to the Dreaming In Color Spotify Playlist here.