Renown leader and entrepreneur T.D. Jakes has officially launched The Global Exchange: Unlocking Wealth & Opportunity Across the Diaspora, a platform created to strengthen connections between Africa and its descendants worldwide.
The initiative seeks to transform cultural and historical ties into tangible collaborations across philanthropy, business, and innovation.
The inaugural convening took place on August 7–8, 2025, at Martha’s Vineyard.
Held during the island’s peak cultural season, the event gathered a diverse community of leaders from policymakers and investors to faith leaders and cultural pioneers.
I t marked the beginning of a long-term vision: repairing the historic fractures caused by centuries of displacement while creating pathways for economic empowerment and social progress.
A Call for Reconnection
Founded and curated by Jakes, The Global Exchange aims to be more than a one-time gathering.
It is designed as an enduring platform for dialogue and collaboration that can mobilize diaspora wealth and African innovation.
“We cannot repair what was broken in silence if we refuse to speak across oceans. From Nairobi to New York, from Ghana to Georgia, and from Kingston to Kansas City, our work, our ideas, our sense of urgency, and our faith must guide not only our philanthropy, but our purpose in the world,” Jakes said.
By framing reconnection as both healing and innovation, Jakes set the tone for an initiative that bridges philanthropy with entrepreneurship and policy.
Voices from Across the Diaspora
The two-day convening featured influential figures whose work spans continents.
Wally Adeyemo, former U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary, joined Zimbabwean business leaders Shingai and Karen Mutasa, among the most prominent investors and philanthropists in Southern Africa.
Their presence underscored the platform’s ambition to bring together the world’s largest economy the United States with Africa, the fastest-growing economic region.
This blend of voices highlighted the possibilities of aligning U.S. influence and African growth, with philanthropy serving as both a connector and a catalyst.
Four Pathways to Collaboration
- At the core of the inaugural event were four signature experiences that mapped out practical entry points for diaspora–Africa cooperation:
- Healing the Divide: Mental Health, Black Masculinity & Ministry of Reconnection brought discussions on wellness, identity, and community resilience.
- Capital Investments & Doing Business in Africa featured Adeyemo and the Mutasas, challenging outdated views of Africa as a charity case and reframing it as a collaborator in global markets.
- Innovative Technologies on the African Continent & Beyond spotlighted fintech, AI, and sustainable infrastructure through insights from google and independent innovators.
- Community Building & Wealth Creation Through Real Estate emphasized property development as both a justice tool and a driver of generational prosperity.
These dialogues collectively illustrated how philanthropy intersects with investment and innovation, pointing to models that prioritize sustainability and equity over short-term aid.
Africa’s Role in a Changing World
The Global Exchange is built on recognition of Africa’s pivotal role in the global future.
By 2050, Africa is projected to represent 25% of the world’s population, while the World Economic Forum estimates the global Black economy will reach $6.8 trillion by 2027.
These numbers point to a shared opportunity: aligning demographic strength and economic power to shape new pathways of wealth and influence.
Future activations of The Global Exchange will focus on scaling this vision, with emphasis on real estate, technology, and targeted investments rooted in community needs.
For African philanthropy, this signals a shift from fragmented engagements to structured, cross-continental partnerships that mobilize diaspora resources for long-term impact.
From Gathering to Movement
The Martha’s Vineyard convening also marked the first time Jakes recorded two official episodes of his forthcoming iHeartMedia podcast slate before a live audience, further amplifying the platform’s reach.
“Reconnecting the diaspora isn’t just about heritage it’s about healing, shared leadership, and shaping the future with innovation, disruptive solutions and intelligence. This is a call to action.”Jakes added.
For African philanthropy, the platform carries deep resonance.
It reframes reconnection as a strategy for shared leadership, collaborative wealth creation, and healing historic divides.
By integrating philanthropy with innovation and investment, The Global Exchange points toward a future where Africa and its diaspora work together to shape economic and social systems.
As Jakes emphasized, reconnection is not only about remembering a shared past but about building a shared future.
The Global Exchange positions itself as that bridge linking diaspora buying power, Africa’s demographic strength, and a commitment to innovation to create equitable pathways for generations to come.
