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Author Archives: valaida
Revealing Meaning
“Storytelling reveals meaning without committing the error of defining it.” — Hannah Arendt
Charles W. Thomas Jr., photographer
Giving Back: A Tribute to Generation of African American Philanthropists—reframing portraits of philanthropy by telling our stories.
‘A way of feeling, of touching, of loving…’
Charles W. Thomas Jr, photographer
“Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever… it remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything” — Aaron Siskind, photographer
We’ve begun scheduling book events to share Giving Back—our newly published book that reframes portraits of philanthropy. Our next one is a book signing at The Light Factory Contemporary Museum of Photography and Film on Thursday, October 27 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.
You’re invited! Here’s your invitation via Paperless Post, along with an R.S.V.P. card.
Let us know if you plan to come by. The Bookmark will be selling books…and we would like to ensure enough books on site for you and others to purchase.
Hope to see you at The Light Factory! — VF
Goodreads Giveaway Winners
A colleague told me about Goodreads.com and its book giveaway program to promote new releases. So I signed up. For the giveaway, I offered two complimentary copies of Giving Back to book lovers across the United States as well as Canada, United Kingdom, South Africa, Kenya…and a few favorite island nations.
The book promotion ran for about six weeks and 539 readers entered the contest which ended last night. This morning I’m pleased to announce the winners are: Brad M. of Hilo, Hawaii and Claire A. of West Sussex, England.
Brad and Claire will soon receive their copy of Giving Back, and hopefully they’ll love it, rate it with 4 or 5 stars, write book reviews and share news of it with their friends.
The Goodreads Book Giveaway is a wonderful way to connect with fellow book worms around the world and to introduce a new book, worldwide. Arguably, I’ve won more than Brad and Claire. Thanks Goodreads.com! — VF
Valaida Fullwood (author), Charles W. Thomas Jr. (photographer) and Casajulie (cover and book designer)
Five Things
New Generation of African American Philanthropists is relying largely on word of mouth and grassroots marketing to publicize the release of Giving Back, so we’re asking readers to help spread the word. Below are five things you can do to help publicize Giving Back—our new book that reframes portraits of philanthropy.
5 Things You Can Do to Help Publicize Giving Back
- Post a book review on one or more online sites for book buyers, e.g. Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com and Goodreads.com
- “Like” the Facebook page for Giving Back
- Tell a friend about Giving Back
- Follow us on Twitter: @valaidaf and @sankofaphotog
- Buy copies of Giving Back as a gift for friends and family
Participate in sharing our stories, for good! Every book purchased keeps giving, since proceeds are invested in philanthropic causes—and since the stories inspire readers to give. Thank you.
Perfectly Cloudy Thoughts
Rain and clouds outside inevitably precipitate word clouds here. This week’s cloud is a distillation of recent reviews and media stories about Giving Back. Leave it to a cloud to make the book perfectly clear.
“Behind every cloud is another cloud.” — Judy Garland
Judy’s quip proves true here…here…here…and here!
Wordle.net
Telling Our Stories For Good
Along with Charles and members of New Generation of African American Philanthropists, I am so appreciative of recent media coverage about the release of Giving Back. Media have helped generate a buzz around the book, prompting broad interest and brisk early sales.
Tracey Webb, creator of the popular blog BlackGivesBack.com and founder of The Black Benefactors giving circle, deserves an extra special thanks. Her blog posts about Giving Back…found here and here…have helped us reach national audiences and connect with kindred spirits who are building on the traditions of Black philanthropy.
“There is no agony like bearing an untold story inside you.” — Zora Neale Hurston
Zora’s statement rings excruciatingly true with me. Giving Back contains a vast collection of stories—photographic imagery and narrative form—I ached to tell. And I’m grateful for the media stories that are sharing news of our book of stories about good people doing good.
If you missed any of the coverage to date, here’s a list with links:
BlackGivesBack.com | Oct 2011
Charlotte magazine | Oct 2011
Loop21 | Oct 2011
NCGives | Oct 2011
The State of Things | Oct 2011
Charlotte ViewPoint | Sep 2011
KamWilliams.com | Sep 2011
PHILANTHROPY 2173 | Sep 2011
Charlotte ViewPoint | Sep 2011
KamWilliams.com | Sep 2011
PHILANTHROPY 2173 | Sep 2011
QCityMetro Q&A | Sep 2011
BlackGivesBack.com | Aug 2011
Business Journal | Jul 2011
Philanthropy Journal | Jul 2011
A Gift for All Seasons, iContact e-blast | Jul 2011
Giving Props…Again
Charles W. Thomas Jr, photographer
The circle of members composing New Generation of African American Philanthropists joined with me to bring to fruition our book Giving Back. Proceeds from book sales will support the mission, philanthropic initiatives and grantmaking of our collective giving circle.
The Giving Back Project—our giving circle’s civic engagement campaign to reframe portraits of philanthropy—has benefited from the financial support of a host of tribute sponsors, individual donors and organizations.
We would like to thank our project supporters again, and below is a list of the people and organizations that helped bring our stories to light.
Tribute sponsors and individual donorsEdwin Atlas, Brant Aycock, P. Jean Bligen, Alexandré Bailand Bohannon, Renee L. Bradford, Joyce M. Brayboy, Brenda Erwin Brewer, Christa Carter, Ph.D., Ronald L. Carter, Ph.D., Ruthye Cooley, Rashad Davis, Patrick L. Diamond, Ayanna Fisher (in memoriam), Dawn A. Fisher, Rosalyn V. Frazier, Valaida Fullwood, Diatra Fullwood, Doris “Ann” Fullwood, Allen W. Fullwood, Karen Geiger, Ph.D., Bridget-Anne Hampton, Sharon Harrington, J.D., Bryan Hassel, Ph.D., Arthur Jamison, Sandra Jamison, Sheila Jamison, Melandee Jones, Coron Jordan, Mary Klenz, Kathi M. Knier, Michelle S. Langdon, Candice Langston, Eric Law, Dee K. Lee, Dionne Lester, Myrna E. Lewis, Cori Lindsay, Athan L. Lindsay, Britt Brewer Loudd, Bilenda Madison, Nettie McGimpsey McIntosh, Willie McIntosh Jr., John F. McKinley, Lisa Nannette Moore, James Mitchell (in memoriam), Dorothy Murray, Edna M. Norwood, Dimeji Onafuwa, Cathy Peterson, Pam Pompey, Reginald F. Pretty, Tracy Russ, Kathryn Sain, Meka S. Sales, Octavia Seawell, Stoney Sellars, Tonya Sellars, Jenene Seymour, Shades of Brown Book Club, Jehan Shamsid-Deen, Eric Shelton, Geraldine Sumter, J.D., Mildred Dwiggins Swift, Charles W. Thomas Jr., Vonda K. Villines, Edward Wall, J.D., Qiana L. White and anonymous donors.
Sponsoring partners
Amplifying Our Stories…New Lines of Sight, New Voices
Here’s yesterday’s interview with Charles, me and host Frank Stasio on WUNC’s public radio program “The State of Things.” Please listen.
Photo credit: Charles W. Thomas, Jr.
1621 Days
“If there’s a book you really want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” ― Toni Morrison, Nobel Prize and Pulitzer Prize-winning author
After one thousand, six hundred and twenty-one days, I can, at long last, announce the publication and arrival of Giving Back: A Tribute to African American Philanthropists—a new book that reframes portraits of philanthropy. Hallelujah!!!
Buy the book…and read more about Giving Back on these sites:
Valaida Fullwood (author), Charles W. Thomas Jr. (photographer) and Casajulie (cover and book designer)
valaida 