The Illinois Black Advocacy Initiative is dedicated to Black self-determination. IBAI adds to the ecosystem of Black advocates fighting to dismantle systemic oppression & racial injustice so that all Black people have full and abundant lives on their own terms. IBAI was founded in 2021 in response to the urgent need to create and advance a statewide Black advocacy agenda in Illinois. This need sprung from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Black lives, as well as the ongoing police terror Black communities have experienced for decades, highlighted by the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Chicagoan Laquan McDonald, and unfortunately, many others. With this backdrop, IBAI was developed to provide Black Illinoisians with an advocacy and organizing organization that prioritizes their well-being, prosperity, and needs. IBAI believes that though this work is not new, now is the time to accelerate targeted strategies, resources, and skills to launch a unified, Black-led, Black-focused agenda effectively.