Martin Luther King's Wisdom Resounds in New Generation of Community Leaders Amid Covid Crisis

Nonprofit organizations, social ventures, start-ups, and small businesses, along with governments and corporations, rely on community leaders and their enterprises to promote economic mobility in the U.S., particularly during challenging times.

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s philosophies and strategies are emulated by many community leaders, as he once stated, "We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny." This means that whatever affects one person directly affects all people indirectly.

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on the health and economic wellbeing of underserved communities, including many Black Americans. However, data shows that the pandemic has also resulted in the highest share of minority-owned businesses and minority employment in industries most impacted by the pandemic.

Nominate a leader from your community: Invest in You: Faces of Change New workplace benefits aim to help: More from Invest in You: Faces of Change 5 ways to reset your retirement savings and save more in 2022: More from Invest in You: Faces of Change

Dennis Parker, executive director of the National Center for Law and Economic Justice, stated that individuals and communities are utilizing their agency to address the community's immediate requirements. These individuals are aware of the consequences and are taking proactive measures to bring about change.

In honor of Black History Month, CNBC + Acorns Invest in You: Ready. Set. Grow. will highlight influential individuals who are making a difference in their communities through investing in neighborhoods, schools, and small businesses. These individuals are working towards a brighter financial future for themselves and others.

To be recognized during Black History Month, nominate someone from your community by submitting your nomination no later than 11:59p ET on January 28, 2022 here.

According to Shelly Omilâdè Bell, CEO of Black Girls Ventures, the evolution of technology and access has led to a shift in mindset among individuals who discovered that they could work effectively from home during the pandemic. This realization has prompted people to start their own businesses, as they question the need to return to an unappreciative work environment. Bell emphasized that the pandemic has provided an opportunity for individuals to try something new and take advantage of the changing landscape.

In 2016, Bell, a computer scientist and entrepreneur, founded Black Girl Ventures with the goal of hosting crowdfunded pitch competitions for aspiring entrepreneurs. Today, it has evolved into a community-building foundation with a network of corporate partners, including Nike and the NBA, that have collectively provided capital access to over 270 businesses owned by Black and brown identifying women.

One potential positive outcome of the current wave of women, particularly women of color, leaving jobs is that they will create new employment opportunities. These women will re-enter the workforce with a unique skill set, including entrepreneurial thinking, which they have developed through building something from scratch. As a result, their perspective on things will be different.

"Leaders working to address issues affecting their communities should be supported in their efforts related to wages, fair housing, public health, student loan debt, and access to capital for small businesses," Parker stated.

Great leaders, like Dr. King, have demonstrated the power of community advocates and organizers in shaping effective strategies for improving education, health care, housing, technology, and wealth-building for all Americans.

Advance economic equity and opportunity by nominating a changemaker who translates issues into action. Click on the "Faces of Change" link.

Disclosure: NBCUniversal and Comcast Ventures are investors in Acorns.