NRDC-IE News
SGI's Urgency of Now 2 - Day Intensive- Day 1
Day 1 of The Urgency of Now Intensive, presented by Source Global Imagined (SGI) and the National Resources Development Council for Inclusion and Equity (NRDC-IE), brought together business owners, nonprofit leaders, innovators, policymakers, fund managers, and industry experts for a powerful conversation centered on one urgent reality: access to capital can no longer remain limited to a select few.
Held in Rancho Cucamonga, California, the first day of the intensive focused on the growing challenges organizations face in securing grants, contracts, investments, and sustainable funding opportunities. Attendees engaged in transformative discussions around economic development, equity, federal contracting, public-private-philanthropic partnerships, and innovative approaches to rebuilding pathways to opportunity.
Speakers and panelists addressed how outdated systems and inequitable structures continue to restrict access to funding for small businesses and historically underserved communities. Participants gained insight into new strategies, technologies, and collaborative frameworks designed to increase inclusion, strengthen competitiveness, and accelerate long-term growth.
The intensive also highlighted the mission behind SGI and NRDC-IE’s work to “Change the 1%” by helping organizations transition from being consent seekers to becoming partnered industrialists with greater ownership, access, and sustainability. Conversations emphasized the importance of aligning industry expertise, data analytics, AI-powered grant technologies, and strategic partnerships to create scalable economic impact.
SGI's Urgency of Now 2 - Day Intensive- Day 2
Day 2 of The Urgency of Now Intensive, hosted by Source Global Imagined (SGI) and the National Resources Development Council for Inclusion and Equity (NRDC-IE), shifted from awareness to activation — focusing on solutions, strategy, collaboration, and implementation.
Building upon the powerful conversations from Day 1, attendees returned ready to explore what actionable transformation looks like when organizations, leaders, and communities begin aligning resources, partnerships, technology, and vision. The second day emphasized moving beyond discussion and into execution through innovative systems designed to expand economic opportunity and long-term sustainability.
Throughout the day, participants engaged in deeper conversations surrounding the SGI Vertical Integration System (VIS), public-private-philanthropic collaboration models, AI-powered infrastructure, and scalable approaches to building wealth, ownership, and organizational capacity. Leaders discussed how businesses and nonprofits can leverage strategic partnerships, data-driven decision making, and industry expertise to increase competitiveness and position themselves for growth in an evolving economy.
Workshops and presentations explored:
- Building sustainable ecosystems through collaboration
- Leveraging AI and predictive analytics in grants and contracting
- Strategies for scaling organizations without dependence on traditional systems
- Creating pathways to ownership, enterprise growth, and generational impact
- Strengthening organizational infrastructure and funding readiness
- Expanding access to opportunities through innovative public and private sector engagement
Luvina Beckley Honored as Innovator of the Year Ahead of National Multi-City Tour
June 2, 2026
The Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce recently hosted its annual awards gala honoring local small business owners and entrepreneurs. Luvina Beckley, Founder of MHM and Associates, was honored as Innovator of the Year. In addition to founding and running MHM and Associates, Beckley also runs Source Global Imagined (SGI) and company that developed a state-of-the-art software program that assists with grant writing. Beckley left is shown with Rich Wallace, President of the Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce, and Jade Knight, Grants Manager and Head of Software Development for M.H.M. & Associates. Beckley will be hosting a series of workshops nationwide to roll out her new innovative grant writing software.
Ontario, CA — Recently, business leader and funding strategist Luvina Beckley was honored with the Innovator of the Year Award during the Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce Business Awards Dinner in Ontario, CA
The award recognized Beckley’s years of work helping businesses, nonprofits, and underserved communities gain better access to funding opportunities, federal grants, and contracts.
“It was somewhat humbling that we are being recognized,” said Beckley during an interview days after the event. “We believe there’s a lot more value that we can add to it. We feel like our program is going to accomplish what it needs to accomplish, which is to allow more of us to access federal grants and contracts than we have been able to access before.”
The honor became even more meaningful because Beckley celebrated the moment alongside her daughters, Jade and Jordan. She shared that both of her daughters have played important behind-the-scenes roles in helping build the project and vision that led to the recognition.
Later this summer, Beckley will launch the “Urgency of Now” Fireside Series, a multi-city tour designed to introduce communities to her newest grant-funding product and platform. The tour will kick off in the High Desert later this month on Tuesday, June 30th, with stops in Los Angeles in July, Chicago in August, and additional stops in Miami, Baltimore, and North Carolina.
According to Beckley, the two-day events are focused on helping community leaders, business owners, and nonprofit organizations better understand how to access resources and build stronger local economies. Her studies show that only about 1% of minority businesses and nonprofits are effective and consistent at securing federal grants and contracts.
“We’re looking to change the 1%,” Beckley said. “People just need to know that we’re nowhere near where we can be or should be. It’s ours for the taking if we stand up and do what we need to do.”
The tour will feature discussions with leaders, live demonstrations of the platform, and conversations centered on economic growth, sustainability, and community empowerment.
Beckley says the long-term vision is larger than funding alone. Her goal is to help communities create systems that allow businesses and nonprofits to thrive without depending fully on outside support.
“That’s where the real sustainability happens,” Beckley explained. “That’s where philanthropy thrives.”
Community leaders, nonprofit organizations, entrepreneurs, and funding advocates are expected to attend the tour events throughout the summer.