Awareness: Action-Oriented Economic Re-Education that Prioritizes the Black Experience
Alumni Day 2025: 10 Years of DIFFvelopment – A Family Gathering at the Threshold
At DIFFvelopment, awareness is more than a mindset—it’s a mandate. For ten years, we’ve championed historically centered re-education to help Black visionaries confront systemic disempowerment and build new legacies rooted in sacrifice, purpose, and strategic action.
Our sixth annual Alumni Day, themed “10 Years of Development: A Family Gathering at the Threshold,” was a powerful reminder of how far we’ve come—and what’s next. With thanks to Santander Bank and and the generous support of team members Nadia Joseph, Kalima Davis, and Sonia Ribeiro, our alumni engaged in transformative conversations on leadership, wealth building, and community-driven entrepreneurship.
From our CEO Esi Kagale Agyeman Gillo’s Holy Saturday masterclass From Sacrifice to Legacy, to Resident DIFFvelopment Educator Dr. Opoku Agyeman’s reflections on global Black leadership through the lens of figures like Yaa Asantewaa and John Okello, the event grounded our work in historical context and spiritual clarity. Former Board Chair and current Philanthropic Strategy Advisor Imani Missouri reignited alumni commitment to philanthropy, while a dynamic panel—moderated by DIFFvelopment CTO Peter Markeeo Gillo—highlighted how DIFFvelopment continues to shape bold, generational visions through our sponsorship of the Good Soil Forum.
That renewed commitment is already producing results.
Alumni Giving Highlights:
- 29% of alumni (19 of 66) have donated—our highest participation rate to date.
- 44% of alumni donors now give monthly, up significantly following Alumni Day.
- Gifts range from $5 to $1,000, with new recurring donors helping us build stability.
These gifts are more than donations—they are declarations of belief in the future of Black leadership and wealth. To recognize and deepen this momentum, we launched the Alumni Giving Circle: Lead the Way. This new initiative invites alumni giving $25/month or more—or expanding DIFFvelopment’s reach through a mission-aligned partnership—to receive exclusive updates, participate in strategic quarterly meetings, and access philanthropic training. Once collective alumni giving exceeds $39,600/year, 10% of the overflow will be invested into alumni-led initiatives serving the global Black community.
If you’re reading this as a friend, family member, colleague, or fan of one of our alumni, and would like to support their giving journey:
Support an Alum’s Campaign Today
- Click the “Donate & Tickets” button on this page: Alumni Day 2025: 10 Years of DIFFvelopment – A Family Gathering at the Threshold.
- Select “No thanks, I’d just like to donate.”
- Choose your donation amount.
- Under “Credit a team,” select the alum’s class (if you know it).
- In “Final details,” choose “Give in honor/memory” and enter the alum’s name.
Together, we are raising more than money—we are raising a movement.
Advancement: Activated & Hungry to Effect Change
Alumni Spotlight: Victor Olaniyi ’18 and Dasia Miles-Langaigne ’19 – Legacy-Bearers Selected for Good Soil Forum 2025
DIFFvelopment is proud to announce that Dasia Miles-Langaigne ’19 and Jasmine Rename ’21 have been selected to participate in the 2025 Good Soil Forum Alumni Trip, an annual sponsored opportunity designed to reignite our alumni’s entrepreneurial fire with modern tools, faith-driven strategy, and visionary community.
Dasia and Jasmine are not just returning participants—they are legacy-bearers.
Dasia, creator of Sincerely Sanguine, had the unique opportunity to participate in DIFFvelopment’s only in-office program, held at our first-ever physical site in 2019—just before COVID-19 made in-person programming obsolete. Since then, her original wellness concept has transformed into a robust mental health platform for Black women ages 18–30. Now completing a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, with concentrations in African-American and Caribbean mental health as well as Couples and Family Therapy, Dasia is building a platform rooted in solution-focused, culturally competent care. “As Black women,” she shares on her website, “community is our best asset.” Her goal is to create a virtual space where healing happens through sisterhood, tools, and truth.
Jasmine, a first-generation Caribbean-American and mental health advocate, credits DIFFvelopment’s historically centered re-education for transforming her perspective and clarifying her purpose. Inspired by her Jamaican and Trinidadian heritage, Jasmine committed to addressing mental health stigma in underrepresented communities. She recently completed her Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University, while serving as Chief Operating Officer and Intern Coordinator at KOLO Publishing, a Black womxn-driven publishing company amplifying diverse voices. Jasmine continues to expand her reach as a mental health researcher, APA Campus Ambassador, and Accommodations Coordinator at Vogue College of Fashion. This opportunity supports her mission to bridge research, leadership, and cultural impact.
This trip is not just a reward—it’s a re-activation. The Forum brings together funders, founders, and faith-based leaders to help our alumni move from survival to sustainable growth. Dasia’s and Jasmine’s participation affirm our commitment to long-term investment in visionary leadership—beyond the initial program.
Want to support their growth?
Give to their class campaign: Click “Donate & Tickets” → “No thanks” → Choose your amount → Credit their class → Honor them by name.
Let’s equip our alumni not just to dream—but to lead.
Transformation: Developing Their World DIFFerently
The Council on Global Black Development
Across the globe, Black people continue to navigate decisions shaped by invisible legacies—histories often untold, erased, or misunderstood. The Council on Global Black Development (CGBD) is working to change that.
Through an ambitious, solutions-driven research initiative, CGBD researchers are investigating a powerful question: How does historical self-awareness influence how Black people lead, build, and live? From financial decisions to identity formation, this research aims to surface insights that can shape education, leadership, and economic development strategies across Africa and the African diaspora.
Now actively collecting data, researchers have launched surveys designed to gather voices from underrepresented Black communities—Afro-Latinx, Caribbean, African American, continental African, and Black Asian. The work is rigorous, but progress is clear.
“Survey design is more challenging than it appears . . . [but] considering the wide range and variety of the different responses you can get has been pretty insightful,” shared researcher Aliyah Williams.
To ensure wider reach, research department teams are thinking beyond the academic box—partnering with influencers, tapping into virtual communities, and reaching out to culturally specific networks.
Esi Kagale Agyeman Gillo, DIFFvelopment CEO and architect of the Council, recently joined one of their collaboration sessions and shared her vision:
“This idea came to me in Ghana in 2021, and I thought it would never happen. But it’s amazing to see it playing out. Thank you for taking this on—it’s not easy.”
Esi also announced expanded support, including organizational branding, legal guidance on informed consent, and alumni outreach. As she affirmed:
“There comes a point where you just have to say—this is it. People will always have opinions, but I think what you’ve built is excellent.”
This is more than a research project. It’s a global movement to reclaim narrative power and inform real-world interventions—from policymaking to mental health, wealth-building, and community organizing.
Be part of this transformation.
📣 Take the Survey
Your story could be the insight that sparks the next solution.
Together, we’re not just studying the Black experience—we’re shaping the future of global Black development.
Learn More About DIFFvelopment
Get an in-depth understanding of DIFFvelopment’s mission, programs, and impact by exploring our DIFFvelopment Organizational and Strategic Impact Overview (2025). This comprehensive document highlights our efforts to empower Black visionaries globally through innovative programs and strategic growth initiatives.
Organizational Updates
From Seeds to Systems: How Alumni Are Growing Collective Power
DIFFvelopment’s latest impact report, Special Impact Vol. 2: Working the Good Soil, captures the transformational outcomes of the 2024 Good Soil Forum, where alumni sharpened their business strategies, deepened their faith, and committed to building collective wealth.
- New Business Growth: Alumni launched or expanded ventures—from mental health brands to diasporic social impact companies.
- Investor Mindset: Graduates began treating their finances and life challenges as tools for legacy-building, opening investment accounts and creating 5-year growth plans.
- Shifted Paradigms: Networking became community-building. Hustling gave way to purpose-driven leadership.
These breakthroughs are more than personal—they’re cultural. They mark the beginning of a new era of faith-rooted, legacy-driven Black entrepreneurship.
Read the Full Special Impact Report »
Fundraising Progress
New $50K Grant Fuels Growth
We’re excited to announce that DIFFvelopment was awarded $50,000 in unrestricted funding through the Black Innovation Alliance TRUST Emerging Cohort. This 8-month program supports Black-led organizations advancing inclusive entrepreneurship and innovation.
With this new support, we will:
- Expand our operational capacity
- Deepen our service to the visionary business owners we create
- Invest in strategic infrastructure for long-term impact
We’re grateful to BIA for recognizing our role in shaping a more equitable entrepreneurial ecosystem.
How You Can Support Our Efforts
Does DIFFvelopment’s mission resonate with you? Join us in expanding our impact by empowering more aspiring Black visionaries to develop their world differently.
There are many ways to get involved:
- Invest in Our Growth: Your support helps us create sustainable personal, generational, and communal wealth-building opportunities.
- Professional Mentorship: Share your expertise to guide the next wave of Black leaders.
- Fundraising Collective: Partner with us to drive resources and grow our programs.
Fill out our Professional Mentorship & Fundraising Collective Enrollment Form and let us know how you’d like to contribute to DIFFvelopment’s mission. Together, we can shape a brighter future!