Author Archives: valaida

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About valaida

writer. thinker. listener. idea whisperer. traveler. mad word geek. absolute scrabble freak. drinker of life. da*n good friend. ridiculous foodie. imaginative dreamer. afflicted party planner. kind conqueror. okra lover. hillbilly w/ southern roots far-stretched global sights. author of book that reframes portraits of philanthropy. Giving Back: A Tribute to Generations of African American Philanthropists | http://bit.ly/htLxQU

Without Limits

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On 15 Feb 2013, Charles Thomas and I will be presenters at TEDxCharlotte. We hope you’ll register and come if you’re in the area.

UNLIMITED: Ideas Take Shape is this year’s theme for the annual, daylong creative forum. As collaborators on Giving Back, Charles and I will share what we learned while pursuing our idea of reframing portraits of philanthropy.

Here’s a taste of what you’ll experience . . .

If you’ve never attended TEDxCharlotte and want to know more, go here. And, if you’re unfamiliar with TED.com and its locally focused spin-off TEDx, go here, too.

After attending the last two years, I can tell you that TEDxCharlotte features a dozen or so selected presenters who share their ideas and 300+ participants who come to . . .

  • hear bold ideas…about technology, entertainment, design and other stuff
  • experience informative, entertaining and/or inspiring presentations
  • see innovative art projects and short films
  • network and connect with a mix of people
  • learn about new topics
  • find inspiration
  • laugh
  • maybe cry
  • eat (really, really) well
  • let loose
  • dance a little
  • never forget the day

Seeing you at TEDxCharlotte 2013 would be great!

peace of ice

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Dawn’s damp chill hanging
behold divinity etched 
Master’s piece in ice

— Ava Wood

Frosty paisley etching seen on my rear windshield last week | VF’s iphone

Quick Biopic ‘On Writing and Giving Back’

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In November 2011, right after the release of Giving Back and during filming for the book’s trailer [ philanthropy reframed ], we created this 3-minute piece….I call it my micro biopic.

After a year, we finally carved out time to complete this short film and just posted it to YouTube yesterday. Watch. Enjoy. Share.

GBP video snapshot

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Here’s my year-end interview with Chad Jones, executive director of Community Investment Network. The conversation allowed me to reflect on the past year, share some thoughts and experiences, and envision the best scenarios in 2013.

 

gvngbydsgn's avatarCollective Influence

Valaida Fullwood, is a founding member of Charlotte’s New Generation of African American Philanthropists giving circle as well as a member of the CIN board since 2009. Yet, she is becoming most recognizable as the author of Giving Back: A Tribute to Generations of African American Philanthropists. In late December, Valaida answered the following questions, from Chad Jones.
________


CJ: What have been three highlights of 2012?

VF: It seems 2012 was overflowing with remarkable experiences. If I must choose only three, the ones that stand out at this moment are:

  1. Co-presenting with Charles Thomas, photographer of Giving Back, at a book talk hosted by the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta. It was one of our first and largest book events.
  2. Participating as a featured speaker at the Bay Area Blacks in Philanthropy State of the

    Race Conference in San Francisco, where I…

View original post 1,201 more words

Blog. Blog. Blog.

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blog2-1“The image of the hands captivated me—aged, weathered and furrowed with wrinkles, strong yet gentle, one hand cupped in the other. I couldn’t help but think of my own mother’s hands.”

— Dan Schipp, The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University

At the end of 2012, I felt tremendous gratification when three bloggers decided to write about me and my book. Here are links to their blog posts. Check them out!

a meticulously beautiful life

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some lower flags to mark a death. here instead is a lower case tribute. perchance, writing will raise my spirit because i’ve been sad all day long.

shaken hard sums me up today since some random web-browsing last night led me to stumble upon the stunning news of a friend’s death…six months ago.

i’ve forever been blessed by an expansive circle of friends of every order. dearest ones i’ve never known life without. a good many found at school and in college. numerous others defining and enriching every chapter of my life.

with a few, the bond remains seamless and the chit-chatting endless. then there are some to dial up or meet up with once a year or so. others go faraway though forever stay near to heart. denyse was the latter and among the rarest of friends. after an instant spark and then years and years apart, she was an unforgettable force who left a profound mark.

denyse created amazing art and showed me how to live fully and fiercely. the meticulous beauty of her life, as she appeared to will each and every one of her dreams into being, makes the loss bittersweet. her passing has left behind a highly regarded body of artistic works; the love of her life with a broken heart; a precious two-year-old whom she adored; grieving family, students, colleagues and admirers; and an unquestionable and permanent imprint on me.

this article and short film tell some of her story: http://www.gwarlingo.com/2012/samein-priester-on-fatherhood-film-loss-of-his-wife-artist-denyse-thomasos/

— vf

Thoughts Before 2012 Sets

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Receiving the call about Giving Back winning the 2012 McAdam Book Award for “the best new book for the nonprofit sector” was without question a major high point this year. Honestly, there were so many exhilarating experiences that it’s impossible to rank them.

Charles W. Thomas Jr., photographer

Charles W. Thomas Jr., photographer

Remarkable sums up the past year of rolling out and publicizing Giving Back. We’ve marked 
many milestones since the book’s release 15 months ago.

The greatest honor in 2012, however, was the opportunity to engage with a 
cross-section of audiences—totaling more than 5,000 people across the 
country—and to participate in conversations about building community and 
philanthropy. In person. In print. On air. Online. These exchanges of 
ideas have been enlightening and gratifying.

Over the course of 2012, I gained a deeper comprehension of the biblical parable in Luke that includes the passage: to whom much is given much is expected. While I remain eternally grateful for a year that brought a multitude of blessings, I also have become profoundly aware of the weight of great expectations. Granted, a good many of those expectations were set sky high by my limitless imagination.

My prayer today is to step into 2013 with more faith, patience, humility and strength to receive gifts granted and then in turn to give even more than expected.

With those thoughts, I wish you a bright and wonder-filled New Year!

— VF

Christmas Past

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The sweetest memories are contained in this photo of me and my sister, one Christmas morning. What a wild and wonderful flashback!

Chistmas Past

Children must early learn the beauty of generosity. They are taught to give what they prize most that they may taste the happiness of giving. — Ohiyesa

A Gift That Keeps Giving

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Photo by Valaida Fullwood

Photo by Valaida Fullwood

A perfect gift book, Giving Back offers wells of inspiration for generous souls and lovers of photography, culture, and humanity. Every book purchased keeps giving, since proceeds benefit the philanthropic causes of NGAAP-Charlotte—and since the stories themselves inspire readers to give.

You can buy it here.

‘Cause That’s How We Do

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Today our book trailer [ philanthropy reframed ] reached 1000 views on YouTube!

Watch it (again) and share it to hear a new voice, to feel a new vibe, to experience a new video and to gain a new view on philanthropy. #getyourgiveon

philanthropy reframed vid screenshot