BRIC x ULC: Shared Purpose, Power, and Place

By LaDawn Sullivan

In a world where partnerships often feel transactional, the relationship between the Black Resilience in Colorado (BRIC) Fund and Urban Land Conservancy (ULC) is something different—something deeper. It’s a testament to what can happen when two organizations move beyond surface-level support to embody true solidarity rooted in shared values, mutual trust, and an unshakable commitment to justice.

This is more than a collaboration. It’s a communion of purpose.

From the very beginning, BRIC and ULC recognized in each other a kindred mission: to build communities that center people over profit, equity over expedience, and long-term impact over short-term gain. We both know that when Black communities thrive, Colorado thrives. And that’s how we invest, which is just as important as what we invest in.

“We’re not just partnering for projects—we’re partnering for people, place, and purpose,” said LaDawn Sullivan, executive director of the BRIC Fund. “This work is about creating conditions where Black communities can own their future, on their own terms.”

Together, we are reimagining what capital can do when it’s not extractive, but inclusive. When it doesn’t simply build buildings, but builds belonging.

Urban Land Conservancy brings decades of experience in acquiring and stewarding land for community benefit—especially in neighborhoods most vulnerable to displacement. They understand that land is more than an asset. It is memory. It is identity. It is power. And BRIC? We bring the fire of community-rooted giving, built from centuries of Black resilience, resistance, and resourcefulness. We carry the voices of our ancestors and the vision of a liberated future—investing directly in Black-led organizations and initiatives that too often go underfunded or overlooked.

Our partnership is about co-ownership. Co-powering. Co-dreaming.

Through our shared commitment to inclusive capital, BRIC and ULC launched the BRIC Loan Program—an innovative, community-centered lending initiative designed to give Black-led and Black-serving organizations access to flexible, affordable capital that supports ownership, expansion, and long-term sustainability. The loan fund has made $200,000 in low-interest capital available to Black-led and -serving nonprofits to help them own, expand, and strengthen their physical spaces. These dollars are more than financial tools—they are acts of restoration, agency, and vision.

“ULC is proud to stand with BRIC in using capital to lift up Black-led organizations that anchor community and culture,” said Aaron Miripol, president and CEO of Urban Land Conservancy. “This partnership shows what’s possible when investment is driven by equity, not just economics.”

Together, we’ve explored bold, creative ways to infuse capital into community spaces—not just with dollars, but with dignity. We’ve held space for hard conversations about equity in development and philanthropy. We’ve celebrated each win not as a feather in one cap or another, but as bricks laid in the foundation of the beloved communities we’re both helping to shape.

Because here’s the truth: equitable development isn’t just about preserving space. It’s about preserving voice. Culture. Opportunity. And the BRIC-ULC partnership honors that truth every step of the way.

We know that justice doesn’t live in isolation. It lives in relationships. That’s why this partnership works. We trust each other. We challenge each other. We learn from each other. And we show up—again and again—for the communities we love.

As we look ahead, we carry that love with us. A love for Black communities and their boundless potential. A love for land as legacy. A love for what’s possible when capital is accountable and community leads.

This is what it means to do the work together.