Reparations Commitment
Our Commitment
At Fifth Element, we believe that justice is an active practice and repair is a structural responsibility. Reparations respond to long histories of extraction, exclusion, and state‑sanctioned discrimination of Black, Indigenous and People of Color that have produced persistent racial and economic disparities. Recent efforts, such as city and state reparations commissions and local programs addressing housing discrimination, demonstrate the growing public and political momentum for reparatory measures. Our intent is to align our commitments with this broader movement by centering our focus on local leadership and lived experience.
Our commitment to reparations are woven into how Fifth Element operates: into our budget, our programs, and our relationships. They are not symbolic gestures; they are measurable commitments to redistribute resources and power in ways that respond to historical and present harms.
Our Framework
We center transparency, intentionality, and community leadership in every step of this work.
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Revenue Allocation: A fixed percentage of our monthly revenue is redirected to reparations efforts as a non‑negotiable operating expense. Embedding this allocation in our budget ensures repair is consistent and not subject to market fluctuations or short‑term priorities.
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Transparency: We publish clear, accessible reports on where funds are distributed and why. Each contribution is announced on our blog with named recipients, amounts, and the rationale for the allocation, to invite public accountability.
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Access Equity: Our sliding‑scale model intentionally redistributes access to Fifth Element services so that higher‑income clients subsidize participation for those historically excluded from coaching, leadership development, and somatic support.
Priority Communities
Our reparations commitments prioritize communities shaped by historical and ongoing harms. These priorities are informed by local histories and the leadership of community organizations.
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Indigenous Nations: We contribute to Wabanaki‑led organizations and initiatives in Maine as an acknowledgment that we live and work on Wabanaki land and a commitment to support Indigenous sovereignty, cultural revitalization, and land‑based healing.
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Black Communities: We support Black‑led business incubators, mutual aid networks, and scholarship funds to address the racial wealth gap and strengthen Black economic and cultural self‑determination.
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Frontline & Marginalized Labor: We subsidize coaching access for immigrant workers, caregivers, and service workers through targeted scholarships, sliding‑scale spots, and proactive partnerships to remove barriers to participation.
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Climate‑Impacted Communities: We channel resources to grassroots climate resilience projects in frontline areas, recognizing that climate harm is racialized and economic and that repair must include investments in local adaptation and stewardship.
Accountability
Reparations are structural commitments that require ongoing accountability. We follow the leadership of Indigenous and Black communities in defining what repair looks like by listening first and funding what communities request. This approach allows us to defer to local expertise and elevate the perspectives of those with lived experiences of marginalization and oppression.
We review and adjust our allocations annually to ensure impact and integrity. This review includes community feedback, financial transparency, and public reporting on outcomes and lessons learned. We also commit to internal practices that align with reparative goals, such as partnering with equitable contractors, and making informed supplier choices. We acknowledge the risks of reparative justice, such as public misunderstanding, perceptions of performativity, and legal or policy constraints. We work to mitigate these risks by centering community decision‑making, publishing transparent reports, and pairing external giving with internal policy changes.
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How to Engage
If you are a community organization, mutual aid group, or grassroots project seeking support, please reach out through our contact form and include a brief description of your work and needs. Clients and partners are invited to read our transparency reports and to participate in public conversations about our allocations and priorities.
Reparations at Fifth Element are a practice of relationship, responsibility, and repair. We are committed to doing this work with humility, rigor, and the leadership of those most affected by historical and ongoing harms.