Get Bear Sumner Sr BACK ON HIS FEET! ❤️

Hi everyone! I'm starting this fundraiser on behalf of my good friend Bear. If you know him, you know he's one of the coolest, kindest & most selfless people on god's green earth.

Bear has been under the burden of tax debt which has been holding him back for over a decade. And the strain has been getting worse in the face of health problems, caretaking for his elderly mother, and irregularities in social security payment. Bear has given so much to us; I hope you'll join me in donating to help him get back on his feet.

Bear has made an immeasurable impact on the lives of those who know him, and he's helping transform Rhode Island's economy for the better. He's the newly elected chair of Co-op Rhody, a board member of the Rhode Island Black Business Association, a founding member of the Break The Cycle Cooperative Hub, and a founding member of Freyo-Mind Flowers. That's on top of pouring his heart and soul into supporting his friends and family, especially his two teenage kids.

Bear and I met in the course of our organizing work: like many others, we both believe in the power of worker-owned cooperative businesses and have been fighting for this cause for some years now. He co-authored the Break the Cycle Report , which shows how worker-owned cooperative businesses can give formerly incarcerated citizens the power to build stability, community, and generational wealth. It's an extraordinary piece, and at that just one modest example of Bear's impact.

A personal story: I remember the day after my father died in a car accident last year, Bear gave me one of his classico bear hugs and stood by me outside White Electric cafe for what felt like hours. I showed him pictures from my childhood. We talked about Fathers. He made me feel less alone. A few days later, Bear met up with a mutual friend Emma and the two of them decided to put together a GoFundMe on my behalf. I can't begin to express what a difference that made for me and my family.

Now Bear needs our help.

"This financial burden has had a profound impact on my overall financial stability and has even affected my ability to obtain a valid driver's license. The work I do for these organizations is of utmost importance to me, as it allows me to contribute to the betterment of our community. Unfortunately, my financial struggles have reached a critical point. My bank account is currently overdrawn, and the accruing penalties are adding to my already challenging situation. I find myself in a position where I require immediate assistance to alleviate this financial burden and prevent further repercussions."

Bear needs $5,000 so he can finally resolve his immediate tax debt. But given how many people love this guy—or love people that love this guy!—I'm hoping that we can share this far and wide to raise $10,000 and give Bear a safety net, too. We all deserve to thrive, not just survive. And we all know that for every penny we put in Bear's pocket, he'll give it back a hundredfold to our community.

Thank you for reading & helping however you can❤️

Love & Solidarity!