Blueprint: Start Here - DESTINY DIVINE

Feeling Overwhelmed? Start Here.

I hear you. You just read the blueprint and your head is spinning. Economic boycott. Local power. Platform building. Mutual aid. Twenty demands. A 12-month calendar. It’s a lot.

Here is the truth: You don’t have to do everything. You don’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to have all the answers.

You just have to start.

This page is for people who want to do something—but don’t know where to begin. Below are three simple steps. Do one. Do two. Do all three. Then come back for more when you’re ready.

Step 1: Move Your Money

The single most powerful thing you can do right now is take your money out of a bank that harms us, and put it into a bank that helps us.

Big banks like Chase, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America charge billions in fees to poor and working-class people—fees that are waived for the wealthy.

They fund pipelines, prisons, and politicians who oppose us. You can stop funding them today.

Here’s how I did it after 30 years at Chase

I want to tell you something personal.

I banked with Chase for over 30 years. Three decades. They knew me. I knew them. It was comfortable. Familiar.

But I started to see how major banks really operate. The obsession with “fees” is an ongoing issue—and in my opinion, it drains the wealth of the people who can least afford it.

These fees are waived for wealthy customers, leaving poor and working-class people to shoulder the burden. That generates massive profit for the banks and their shareholders.

So, I decided to leave.

I switched to a local credit union. I was able to open an account online with only $5.00.

Soon after, I started transferring my direct deposits. I set up my autopays with my new credit union.

Then I transferred the money from my Chase account and closed my accounts.

It was the best decision I could have made.

Banks are for-profit corporations owned by shareholders, while credit unions are not-for-profit financial cooperatives owned by their members.

At the credit union, there are no minimum account balance requirements. I can make as many transfers as I want per statement cycle period between my checking and savings without restrictions or incurring a fee.

There is no more stressful dance of moving money between accounts to make sure I don’t fall below a minimum balance to avoid a fee.

That stress? It’s gone.

Now, let me be honest with you: I am not yet at a Black-owned bank. I want to be.

And I am hoping that if this boycott initiative is successful (and I believe it will be), we will start building more Black-owned banks in our neighborhoods for our banking needs in our community.

But in the meantime, a credit union is a giant leap away from the predatory big banks. And it’s a step toward the world we want to build.

If I can leave after 30 years, you can leave too.

Your turn. Here is what to do:

Pick a Black-owned bank or community credit union from the list below.
Open an account online or in person. (Takes 15 minutes.)
Move at least $100. (Takes 5 minutes.)
Pat yourself on the back. You just shifted power.

Don’t have $100? Move $20. Move $5. The act of moving something is what matters. Progress over perfection.

Where to put your money:

Citizens Trust Bank (GA, AL, TN, virtual)
OneUnited Bank (MA, CA, FL, virtual)
Carver Federal Savings Bank (NY)
Any community credit union near you (use the NCUA Credit Union Locator)

[Download the full Bank Fee Escape Checklist for step-by-step instructions on closing your old account]

Step 2: Attend One Meeting

You don’t have to speak. You don’t have to know anything. You just have to show up.

City council meetings, school board meetings, and county commission meetings are where decisions are made about policing, housing, schools, and land.

Most of the time, these meetings are empty. A handful of people show up. Your presence changes the math.

Here is what to do:

Go to Google and search: “[Your city] city council meeting schedule”
Find the next meeting date and time. Put it on your phone calendar right now.
Show up. Sit in the back. Just watch and listen.
If you feel brave, sign in to show you were there. You don’t have to speak.

Don’t know your city? If you live in Flint, search “Flint City Council meeting schedule.” If you live somewhere else, put your city name in the search.

[Read the full How to Attend a Meeting guide]
[Read the sample speech if you want to speak]

Step 3: Help One Neighbor

The system is not coming to save us. But we can save each other.

Mutual aid is not charity. It’s neighbors helping neighbors, no hierarchy, no paperwork, no waiting for approval.

You have something to give—even if it’s just your time, your listening ear, or your presence.

Here is what to do:

Think of three people in your life: family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, someone at church.
Ask them this question: “Is there anything you’re struggling with right now? Can I help?”
Listen. Don’t fix. Just listen.
Do one small thing for one person this week. Examples:
- Watch their kids for an hour
- Give them a ride to work or a doctor’s appointment
- Bring them a home-cooked meal
- Help them fill out a form
- Send them $5 on CashApp with a note: “Thinking of you”

No money? Your time is valuable. Your attention is valuable. Your presence is valuable. You have something to give.

[Learn more about Mutual Aid]
[Download the Mutual Aid Starter PDF]

You Did It. Now What?

Congratulations. You just started. You are no longer standing on the sidelines. You are in the game.

Here is what you can do next, when you’re ready:

Come back to the calendar. Pick one action from this month and do it. [Link to full calendar]
Join the community. Connect with others who are also starting. [The Divine Readers Community]
Share this page. Text it to one person. Post it on social media. Print it and hand it to someone at church. [Link to printable flyer]
Read the demands. You don’t have to memorize them. Just know what we’re fighting for. [Link to Demands page]
Apply to the Blueprint Council. If you have skills to contribute, we need you. [Link to Council page]

A Final Word

You are not too late. You are not too small. You are not too tired.

Every movement starts with one person taking one step. That person is you.

Welcome to the work.

Disclaimer: The information on this website is for educational and informational purposes only. We are not financial advisors, attorneys, or certified professionals. Consult with a qualified professional before making any financial, legal, or banking decisions. By using this information, you assume all risks and agree that neither the author nor the publisher is liable for any losses or damages.

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