Porches connect us to who we are, where we belong, and what we come home to. They are spaces we may hope to leave, only to later realize we miss the peace of sitting, waving, and saying hello to those who pass by. Porches give you the opportunity to put down that which you are carrying, and to take a few minutes to breathe and collect yourself before deciding on next steps.

Porches operate as spaces of infinite possibility. From front, back, and side porches, people celebrate milestones and holidays, launch businesses, engage in family counseling and healing, and lead community schools. On their porches, neighbors may have:

• soft seating and luscious plants;

• combs, grease, and packs of beads;

• freezers full of water ice and a box of soft pretzels; and

• a stack of t-shirts and an airbrush machine.

Together, each porch helps transform residential blocks into spaces where people meet their own needs.

Porches hold space for the complexity of life. As folks gather, share memories, or process experiences, porches weave together the histories of the people who visit. The time spent on a porch, whether together or alone, can help us learn more about ourselves and each other. These private spaces in public create potential for more humane responses to human actions, and provide time for processing and reflection that serve to strengthen our resilience and help us continue forward on the journey toward liberation.

Porches are where:

• the neighborhood salon can be erected in the time it takes to say, “Just give me a minute.”

• tomboys on timeouts contemplate the unbound potential of their own strength and commitment to rejecting gender norms.

• fish fry platters are assembled with yams, mac & cheese, collards, and a piece of cornbread; then exchanged for a reasonable price that will go toward the mortgage.

• children gather after school and act right or risk their parent receiving a report from the neighbor across the street who doesn’t seem to be paying attention, but as an active member of the community, she’s always lovingly on watch.

• adults gather to share cold beverages, play cards, and replay memories of the good old days.

At first glance, uninformed parties may only see a collection of materials – concrete, wood, cast iron – but if given time, communities reveal that porches are portals that help carry you to anything you want to do or be.

Najah is a youngest cousin who first discovered the beauty of life by twirling under the blossoming trees that lined the street she shared with her paternal grandmother, aunt, and cousins. Raised in the light of her older siblings, Najah is often described as being wise beyond her years.

You shouldn’t try to find Najah, as she is probably asleep. Whether on a cross-continental train trip, a plane to a conference, or hanging out with friends, Najah is always going to find time for a nap. Through dreaming, she problem-solves and imagines new ways of being.

To survive under capitalism, Najah has been employed in municipal governments and philanthropy. To stay connected to her humanity, Najah’s work has always centered on creating the conditions by which communities are able to inform decisions and self-determine outcomes. From launching a neighborhood-based traffic calming program to reducing process and paperwork hurdles for grant seekers, Najah always centers the people who have been forced to dance at the margins.

Najah’s greatest joy is in helping people to remove barriers and realize their own brilliance. Through Porches & Co. she hopes to help other Black women and people move a few steps closer to where they want to be.

Liz is a sister, cousin, mother, and friend.

Najah & Liz were raised in Abrahamic faith traditions. Despite the diverging paths of Isaac & Ishmael, Najah & Liz found their way to each other when they arrived at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) the summer before freshman year. Although they were assigned roommates, they didn't become friends until they connected via mutual friends. This beginning is representative of the ways in which they prioritize natural relationship building and consent over false familiarity.

Always ones to forge their own paths, Najah & Liz spent their time at MIT learning from leaders in business, urban planning, and the humanities. Through shared coursework like poetry, photography, and dance, they continuously explored the human side of one of the most technology-focused places on Earth.