Building Relationships Across Differences with Angelique Power

Episode Overview

How do you build trust, meaningful relationships, and authentic community in a world marked by division, polarization, and disconnection?

In this milestone 50th episode of Black Philanthropy: Our Stories, Angelique Power, President & CEO of the Skillman Foundation, shares powerful insights on bridge building, relationship building across differences, civic engagement, forgiveness, coalition building, and leading with love. Drawing from her experiences as a Black and Jewish woman, Angelique explores identity, belonging, community, and the importance of finding common ground across racial, religious, political, and cultural divides.

As this episode airs just before Rosh Hashanah and the High Holy Days, Angelique also reflects on renewal, accountability, healing, and repairing relationships, offering timely wisdom for anyone seeking connection in a fractured world.

What You'll Learn

• How to build relationships across differences
• Why trust is essential for strong leadership and healthy communities
• Practical strategies for bridge building and coalition building
• How forgiveness can strengthen personal and professional relationships
• The importance of civic engagement in strengthening communities
• How to find common ground without sacrificing your values
• What belonging looks like when you navigate multiple identities
• Why public education can be a pathway to liberation and opportunity
• How to remain connected during times of division and polarization
• Why community is the antidote to cruelty, isolation, and distrust
• How young people inspire hope, possibility, and civic imagination
• What it means to lead with love in challenging times

Key Themes

Building Trust Across Differences

Trust is the foundation of meaningful relationships. Angelique shares why building trust requires curiosity, humility, listening, and a willingness to engage people whose experiences and perspectives differ from your own.

Finding Common Ground

In an era defined by political and cultural division, Angelique argues that progress happens when we focus on shared values rather than ideological purity. Common ground does not require agreement on everything. It requires a commitment to solving problems together.

The Power of Bridge Building

As someone who grew up navigating Black and Jewish communities, Angelique shares how bridge builders help people move beyond assumptions and create opportunities for connection, empathy, and collaboration.

Community as an Antidote to Division

Loneliness, distrust, and social isolation are growing challenges in modern society. Angelique explains why authentic community remains one of the most powerful responses to division and disconnection.

Leadership Grounded in Love

Whether in philanthropy, education, or civic life, Angelique believes leadership must be rooted in care, humanity, accountability, and love. Real change begins with how we show up for one another.

Renewal, Reflection, and Repair

With Rosh Hashanah and the High Holy Days approaching, Angelique reflects on the importance of self-examination, forgiveness, healing, and repairing relationships. These practices offer a framework for both personal growth and community transformation.

Memorable Quotes

“The antidote to cruelty is community.”

Action Steps for Listeners

Angelique's Homework

Spend time with people whose experiences, backgrounds, beliefs, or perspectives differ from your own.

Practice listening.

Look for shared values.

Seek common ground.

Build relationships that strengthen your community.

About Angelique Power

Angelique Power is President & CEO of the Skillman Foundation, a Detroit-based philanthropic organization dedicated to improving outcomes for Detroit youth through public education, youth leadership, systems change, and community power.

A nationally respected philanthropic leader, writer, and poet, Angelique is known for her work in bridge building, community engagement, racial equity, civic leadership, and creating pathways for meaningful social change.